Figure 1.--The famed portratist Serov painted Grandduke Michael. Tsar Alexander III's boys all wore sailor suits. The portrait is dated 1893. Michael was about 15 years old. Serov also painted his sister Olga at the same time.

Michael was the youngest son of Tsar Alexander III. He was made Grand Duke Thronfolger. He is the little boy in the sailor suit in the family portrait on the previous page. Notice how his mother tenderly has her hand on his shoulder. The famed portratist Serov painted him (1893). Serov also painted his sister Olga at that time. Michael caused a scandal at the imperial court when he took Natalia Sergeyevna Wulfert, a married woman, as a lover. Nicholas sent Michael to Orel to be out of sight. Michael was not to be so easily dealt with. He travelled frequently back to St. Petersburg to see his mistress. The couple's only child, George, was born (1910). Michael brought Natalia back to St. Petersburg, but she was shunned by polite society. Michael without approval shocked Nicholas by marrying Natalia. He hoped to be removed from the line of succession. Probably the Tsareivitch hemophilia prevented Nicholas from doing this. Michael and Natalia left Russia to live out of sight in exile abroad in France, Switzerland, and England. With the outbreak of World War I, Michael returned to Russia. He assumed command of a cavalry regiment. Michael is sometimes considered 'Tsar for a day', as Nicholas abdicated in his favor in 1917. Nicholas' son Alexis, who suffered from haemophilia was not expected to live. Michael, however, deferred acceptance of the throne until ratification by a legally elected assembly. Kerensyky ordered guards to surrounded the villa on Nikolaevskaya street where Michael was living with Natalia (August 1917). The Bolsheviks murdered Michael 6 days before Nicholas and his family were killed (July 1918).

Created: 2:18 AM 8/25/2017
Last updated: 2:18 AM 8/25/2017