Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovitch, his family and life, Part II

[Perislov]

Don't know if this has been posted yet.

George Mikhailovic

[Carolath Habsburg]

The link its broken :-s

[mcdnab]

Very true Lisa
Both the empress and the queen to be honest infantilised their children long into adulthood probably a combination of their devotion to them the pain of losing children young making the surviving ones more precious and both were more devoted to their sons than their daughters - queen Victoria with no sense of irony  given how she treated her daughters was often concerned that Alix and Bertie were reluctant to find husbands for their girls.
Marie F was extremely reluctant to allow Xenia's marriage and Olga's marriage was designed to keep her at Marie's side.
As to Michael the Patsy rumour was apparently the result of Marie and Alix having an indiscreet discussion I think from memory it was after Beatrice was ruled out because of Nicholas saying no  - in fact the rumour ended up being reported as fact prompting formal denials.

I noted in the brief bio I wrote of MA many years ago (for the Alexander Palace Time Machine) that blame must be put on Dagmar in her actions or lack thereof when it came to the marriages of her children. This was also true to an extent with her sister Alexandra, The Princess of Wales. Neither seemed to perform this most important duty of royal mothers, to find suitable mates for her children. In Dagmar's case:

Nicholas - his parents opposed his chosen mate, Alix of Hesse, and after Alexander III's death, their relationship remained chilly. this had a detrimental effect on the monarchy.
George - I'll give her a pass on him, as his illness made marriage an impossibility for him.
Xenia - her mother had nothing to do with arranging her marriage to Sandro.
Michael - she should have arranged his marriage after the death of George in 1899. His romantic history from here on out is evidence of this.
Olga - the only marriage she arranged was to someone she didn't know and had no affinity with

[Ally Kumari]

Is there anyone on the forum, who has read both "Michael and Natasha" and "The Last Tsar: Emepror Michael II" (both books by Donald Crawford)? How do the two books differ, and is it worth having them both?

[amelia]

The first one is excellent but I did not like the second one. There is nothing new in the second, and I found that it is not as well written as the first. I would buy only the first one.

Eva McDonald

[Ally Kumari]

Thank you Amelia! I am not buying anyhting as of now, but I have a spare moment so I am putting together a wishlist for the future. I will pass on this one then!

[Michael HR]

It is one of the great what if's? If he had married and had male sons would Nicholas have been allowed to remain on the throne for so long as he did and the damage associated with his reign. Michael would I feel have been a superb Tsar and was the one man Russia could not afford to lose. The while dynasty just seemed to drift to an abyss and Michael might have been able to stop the rot.   

[Rodney_G.]

What was the first name of GD Michael's faithful personal secretary Johnson? I have read in various sources both Nicholas and Brian.  With both British and Russian parents , either would be possible.

[Maria Sisi]

What was the first name of GD Michael's faithful personal secretary Johnson? I have read in various sources both Nicholas and Brian.  With both British and Russian parents , either would be possible.

I have seen both as well but from what I remember reading first (although don't remember where) his full name was Nikolay Nikolaevich Johnson. Was Brian a known name in Russia? If his family became fully Russified I would think they would pick something more Russian sounding and less British.

From what I remember his grandfather was British and moved to Russia for business and ended up staying. So he was a second generation(?) Russian. His mother was a court musician and he played piano. Apparently his English was not very good which sounds kind of strange.

[Ally Kumari]

To quote from "Michael and Natasha":

"The new secretary, hired in December 1912, was Nicholas Johnson, who despite his name was a Russian."

But yes, I do recall seeing "Brian Johnson" somewhere as well.

[Maria Sisi]

"Imperial Dancer" by Coryne Hall calls him Nicholas as well but Paul Gilbert of Royal Russia says Brian.

The funny thing is while some say Nicholas and others say Brian some just put both, Brian (Nicholas) Johnson

It's very strange

[Ally Kumari]

Any chance "Brian" was a nickname? Or the name of his father?

[Rodney_G.]

I think there's enough information to believe that Nicholas (Nikolai) was probably his formal first name. But one can only say 'probably' because there are at the same time enough references to Johnson being Brian. As GD Michael's secretary he was a known quantity, so to speak. Further, one simply doesn't just come up with a new or false name out of the blue like this, especially as there would have been virtually no other Johnsons  (or Brians) in Michael's circle with whom to be confused.

And with the patronymic "Nikolaevich" we know his father was a Nicholas, not a Brian. And so the mystery remains. Quite frustrating.

[Kalafrana]

I can't say anything definite about Mr Johnson, but it is always possible that he was known to some people as Brian and to others as Nicholas.

My paternal grandfather, Thomas Frederick Lyon, was Fred in the family circle and Tommy to his workmates.

Ann

[Ally Kumari]

Grand DUke Mikhail Alexandrovich and veterans of Russo-Turkish war at the occassion of unveiling the monument to general Skobelev, 1912



Source: http://foto-history.livejournal.com/3225047.html#cutid1