Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovitch, his family and life

[Maria_Pavlovna]

Michael is a martyr in the church, his holy day is August 7 (my birthday)


Thursday, August 7, 2008 (July 25, 2008 by the Julian calendar)
8th Week after Pentecost, Tone six

с The Dormition of the Righteous Anna, mother of the Most Holy Theotokos. Holy Women Olympias (Olympiada) the Deaconess of Constantinople (409), and the Virgin Eupraxia of Tabenna (413). с St. Macarius, abbot of Zheltovod and Unzha (1444). New Hieromartyr Alexander priest (1927). St. Iraida confessor (1967). Martyrs Sanctus, Maturus, Attalus, Blandina, Vivlia, Vetius, Epagathus, Ponticus, Alexander and others at Lyons (177) (Gaul). Commemoration of the Holy 165 Fathers of the Fifth Ecumenical Council (553). St. Christopher, abbot of Solvychegodsk (Vologda) (1572). New Hieromartyrs Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich, Nicolos (Johnson) and Peter (Remes). St. Gregory (Kallidis), metropolitan of Thessalonica and Heraclea (1925). New Hieromartyrs Vukosav Milanovic and Rodoljub Samardzic of Kulen Bakufa, Serbia (1941-1945).


this link.


I'm guessing, his not as popular as his brother, his family or his sister-in-law Ella.

It says his a Hieromartyr, but the Grand Duke was not a priest! Someone help me with this one.

  but I have seen icons here and there (rare ones, in NYC, but the people there are snobby, and if you don't speak Russian, there even more snobby, I don't like going there). of Michael, the Konstantinovichi brothers and Prince Paley.

[polignac]

Do anyone know where did George Brasov lived, what was his hobbies, interests...?Wasn't he engaged with someone?

[LisaDavidson]

Do anyone know where did George Brasov lived, what was his hobbies, interests...?Wasn't he engaged with someone?

George Brasov lived in Great Britain and France after the revolution. I'm not aware of his hobbies or interests, and he died at the age of 21, right after graduation from university. To my knowledge he was not engaged to anyone. If I had to hazzard a guess, since he died in an automobile accident, I would say that like his father, he was probably interested in cars and racing, among other things.

[grandduchessella]

There was an article in Royalty Digest detailing his romance with a young lady but I can't remember her name--I think it was something like Betsy or Betty maybe? It was apparently quite serious and there were some sweet photos in the story.

[Maria_Pavlovna]

George Brassov:

[Svetabel]

George Brassov:

Here he has a resemblace to photos of Nicholas II when he was a child.

[Carolath Habsburg]

Yup.I saw the photo and i inmediately thought in this one...




And then...in this one of his daddy

 

[nena]

I can mention resemblace between George Brassov and Aleksei Nikolaevich. Thanks, Mandie, for his photos! 
Mikhail with Imperial Pair:

Mikhail alone:

[nena]

Mikhail and Natasha:


Mihail redaing,from back.

[V_Corona]

Hi!!

Well, how we should call Michael Alexandrovich?
¿Michael II or Michael IV?

I am a little confused, because in the book Michael and Natasha, Rosemary and Donald Crawford call him Michael II, and on other sites and forums call him Michael IV.

Thanks in advance!!!
Fabián.

[Michael HR]

He is Michael II but of course only just. He did not reign and never accepted the Crown unless the government and the people voted for it which they never had the chance to do. His "abdication" document is on here somewhere.

Reading Michael and Natasha myself at present. Very good book and shows what a true gentleman he was.

[Robert_Hall]

One cannot "abdicate" from something ones does not have. The document was more of a renunciation of acceptance.  Michael was never tsar, or more properly  Emperor.  The title of "Tsar" came into being with Ivan IV [the Terrible] in 1547. The only  Michael to  have that title was Michael I, the first Romanov.  Any previous Michael's would have been Grand Princes  or Grand Dukes. And Peter I [The Great abolished that title in 1725, substituting Emperor.
 Even on Natasha's grave, it is inscribed she was the wife of S.A.I. GRAND DUC
 

[Michael HR]

Dear Robert,

Please forgive me but I must disagree. Nicholas II abdicated in favor of Michael and at that point he became the Emperor/Tsar of Russia. His succession was telegraphed over Russia and many of the troops were supportive. He however of course decided not to accept as per his manifesto. as we say in England the King is dead long live the King. There is no provision for a vacuum in imperial power and Michael was Emperor if only for a very short period of time. His wife of course under the law could not be Empress as she was not of Royal line and was twice divorced but one bears in mind the second wife of Alexander II who was not Empress.

Michael was Emperor but did not reign and did not accept the throne. But he was Michael II briefly.

Michael

[Robert_Hall]

I  understand your disagreement, Michael, but  I still have the opposite view.   The succession in Imperial Russia was not the same as it is in the UK.  There are several provisions that must be met before actual succession is achieved. These were not met in Michael's case.  He never accepted nor was accepted for the throne, therefore, he was never Emperor of Russia. He saw the result of pushing the issue, even with a wavering loyalty from the army, was to be certain civil war, which indeed ensue anyway.
 There is also the question if NII actually had the right to abdicate for Alexei- legally.  These are all strictly academic arguments now, and worthless in practical terms.  Still, I stand up for the legitimate LEGAKL view. Just historical trivia.
 Oh, I also do not care for the Crawford book on M&N.  Far too biased, romantic and  sentimental. Just another Romanov apologia.
 Also, you might also look more closely at your own royal succession.  It is not quite as cut and dried as the "king is dead", etc. The Parliament, the Council and the Church all must ok the  the succession BEFORE it is legitimate, which, as a rule is pretty  pro forma now.  This is why EVIII could not abdicate at will, Parliament had to okay it, just as they did his succession.

[Michael HR]

Dear Robert,

In relation to Alexis I agree that N II did not have the right to abdicate for him and I suppose he was the last Emperor in some ways not that it matters now. Can we agree to disagree about Micheal's succession?

The book is a good source for information and I knew little about Michael before I read it. The more I learn of him the more I like him and he seems to have been one Grand Duke worth his salt.

Trust you are well.

Michael HR