Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovitch, his family and life

[LisaDavidson]

Galina: I don't know who was the instigator in the Michael & Natalia romance. Even if she seduced him, he was still responsible for the end result - the inappropriate relationship. IOW, he could have refused her advances, if that was the case.

As far as her family goes, I'm not sure if there was anyone beyond Pauline Grey alive by the time Natalia died. And there, I doubt she would have known the circumstances her grandmother was in at the time.

[Jane]

From what I have read, it seems GD Michael and Natalia both actively pursued each other, rather than one serving as primary "seducer." Lisa's point about the inappropriateness of the relationship, because of Wulfert's postition in Michael's regiment, is well taken; Michael, however, had a history of inappropriate relationships before he ever met Natalia Wulfert.  His first love was his first cousin, Princess Beatrice (Baby Bee), who was Ducky's youngest sister, then after his family put stop to that, he fell in love with a lady-in-waiting, Alexandra Kossikovskaya (I believe that was her surname), much to his family's horror.  After her came Madame Wulfert.

While neither Michael nor Natalia initially acted within the proper boundaries of societal mores regarding their affair, I admire their devotion to each other, which lasted the rest of both of their lives.  Their love story, to me, is as every bit compelling as that of Nicholas and Alexandra.

Jane

[3710]

Dear Lisa and Jane
you made me to have a different look at M. I realised that I only ever read things about him written by his immediate family, who loved him very much. But looking from a side he does not appear to be  such a nice person at all. (Though Romanovs deny any wrong doings as far as Baby Bee is concerned, but, yes, her family saw it very differently). It seems that he put himself, his own happiness first al the time (and this insensitive mentioning of Alexei's illness in his letter to N as a reason why he had to marry N urgently.....) Hm-m-m-m-m.
He asways seemed to be very much like his brother - good, but weak person (blessed with a strong woman on his side).
Re-read ''M and Natasha'' God, she was more paranoic then Alexandra, accusing MF of wanting her dead etc.!Her  hatered of his relatives does not look very appealing, though. Princess Paley was wiser in that respect.
Galina

[Jane]

...you made me to have a different look at M. I realised that I only ever read things about him written by his immediate family, who loved him very much. But looking from a side he does not appear to be  such a nice person at all...

Galina, for whatever it is worth, I too have always admired GD Michael as a historical figure.  You're absolutely right, his family did love him very much (he was his parents' favorite), as did his wife, and his step-daughter, and his friends, and even, apparently, the men he commanded during WWI, who considered him very brave and honest and wise.  From all I have read about him, he was a very decent fellow.  I certainly didn't mean to criticise him.  As I said, I find Michael and Natalia's story compelling and interesting--he did ultimately choose to marry the woman he loved (no one can truly fault him for that), but the fact remains that he was aware of the response his action caused his family, and it deeply disturbed and tormented him.  I don't believe, based on what I have read, that he was insensitive or dishonorable at all.  Quite the opposite.

Jane  

[3710]

Jane, me, too. Have never read anything critical written about Michael at all, apart from remarks about his weak character.
Just the story of be-friending Vulferts to get close to N suddenly looked very unappealing. Lisa had a point.
Nicolas was very hurt by his marriage (M has given him a word of honour NOT to marry Natalia) and explanation along the lines : your son might die any time and I do not want to be forced to part with Natalia after that' sounds insensitive to me ( as it did to Nicolas).
But then again, it was impossible to keep everyone happy. I wonder how royals managed to have some happy marriages at all, seems to difficult to fall in love with a ''right'' person!
Galina

[Teddy]

For what I know is that almost nobody of the Romanov family ever met Natasha before the Revolution. I thouht only Dmitri, Xenia and MF (in England).

But what about George Brassova. Did he maybe met his Imperial Cousins? Maybe Michael brought his little son to his brohters"family?

Who knows that? Natasha was forbidden in the Imperial Palaces but what about George B.?

[Annie]

Little George was only 6 when the gov't fell, I don't know if he ever visited.

There are some great pics in Michael and Natasha, I hope someone will scan them

[Angie_H]

Michael & Natasha ice skating

Micheal & Natasha 1916

[Annie]

Thank you! Do you have:

the one of Dmitri on the couch
the one of them with the baby and the dogs
the one of Misha with his beard in captivity

any of those would be appreciated and I'm sure not just by me!

[Angie_H]

I read that the photo taken of them in 1916 was displayed in the shop of the photographer and Alix ordered for it to be removed

[Angie_H]

[grandduchessella]

In the bearded one, is that his loyal secretary with him? Poor man.    I wonder what agonies HIS family went through.

[Annie]

Yes, that's him

Thanks for the pictures, they're great!

I like that one of Dmitri on the couch, he looks so handsome just like Felix described him: "tall and handsome with deep, thoughtful eyes, he evoked the images of the portraits of his ancestors"

[olga]

What was Maria Fyodorovna's reaction to Natalia Sergeevna?

[Louise]

The Dowager Empress was not impressed, and refused to see Natalie and barely saw Michael after their relationship was known.

I would have to re-read the boigraphies on GD Olga and Little Mother of Russia to be specific about the Dowager Empress's exact feelings.

Natalie was not received at court by N and A

Louise