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Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich of Russia (; 13 June 1918) was the youngest son of Emperor Alexander III of Russia. At the time of his birth, his paternal grandfather (Alexander II of Russia) was still the reigning Emperor of All the Russias. Michael was fourth-in-line to the throne following his father and elder brothers Nicholas and George. After the assassination of his grandfather in 1881, he became third-in-line, and in 1894 after the death of his father, second-in-line. George died in 1899, leaving Michael as heir-presumptive to the throne. The birth of Nicholas's son Alexei in 1904 temporarily moved Michael back to second-in-line, but Alexei inherited the blood-clotting disorder haemophilia and was not expected to live. Michael caused a commotion at the imperial court when he took Natalia Sergeyevna Wulfert, a married woman, as a lover. Nicholas sent Michael to Orel, to avoid scandal, but this did not stop Michael, who travelled frequently to see his mistress. After the couple's only child, George, was born in 1910, Michael brought Natalia to St. Petersburg, where she was shunned by society. In 1912, Michael shocked Nicholas by marrying Natalia, in the hope that he would be removed from the line of succession. Michael and Natalia left Russia to exile abroad in France, Switzerland and England. After the outbreak of World War I, Michael returned to Russia, assuming command of a cavalry regiment. When Nicholas abdicated on , Michael was named as his successor instead of Alexei. Michael, however, deferred acceptance of the throne until ratification by an elected assembly. He was never confirmed as Emperor, and following the Russian Revolution of 1917, he was imprisoned and murdered. ==Early life== Michael was born at Anichkov Palace on Nevsky Prospekt in Saint Petersburg, as the youngest son and penultimate child of Tsarevitch Alexander of Russia and his wife, Maria Feodorovna (known before her marriage as Princess Dagmar of Denmark). His maternal grandparents were King Christian IX of Denmark and Louise of Hesse-Kassel. His paternal grandmother Empress Maria Alexandrovna (known before her marriage as Princess Marie of Hesse and by Rhine) died before his second birthday. His paternal grandfather, Emperor Alexander II of Russia, was assassinated on 1 March 1881, and as a result Michael's parents became Emperor and Empress of All the Russias before his third birthday.〔Crawford and Crawford, p. 20〕 After the assassination, the new Tsar Alexander III moved his family, including Michael, to the greater safety of Gatchina Palace, which was 29 miles southwest of Saint Petersburg and surrounded by a moat.〔Crawford and Crawford, pp. 17, 20〕 Michael was raised in the company of his younger sister, Olga, who nicknamed him "Floppy" because he "flopped" into chairs; his elder siblings and parents called him "Misha".〔Crawford and Crawford, p. 22〕 Conditions in the nursery were modest, even spartan.〔Crawford and Crawford, p. 23; Phenix, pp. 8–10; Vorres, p. 4〕 The children slept on hard camp beds, rose at dawn, washed in cold water, and ate a simple porridge for breakfast.〔 Michael, like his siblings, was taught by private tutors and was cared for by an English nanny, Mrs Elizabeth Franklin.〔Crawford and Crawford, pp. 22–23; Vorres, p. 3〕〔"Mrs" Franklin was not married; the "Mrs" was a courtesy title (Crawford and Crawford, p. 22).〕 Michael and Olga frequently went on hikes in the forests around Gatchina with their father, who took the opportunity to teach both of them woodsmanship.〔Vorres, p. 24〕 Physical activities such as equestrianism were also taught at an early age,〔Phenix, pp. 12–13; Vorres, pp. 26–27〕 as was religious observance. Though Christmas and Easter were times of celebration and extravagance, Lent was strictly observed—meat, dairy products and any form of entertainment were avoided.〔Vorres, p. 30〕 Family holidays were taken in the summer at Peterhof Palace and with Michael's grandparents in Denmark.〔Phenix, pp. 11, 24; Vorres, pp. 33–41〕 Michael was almost 16 when his father fell fatally ill; the annual trip to Denmark was cancelled.〔Vorres, pp. 48–52〕 On 1 November 1894, Alexander III died at the untimely age of 49.〔Phenix, pp. 30–31; Vorres, pp. 54, 57〕 Michael's eldest brother, Nicholas, became Tsar, and Michael's childhood was effectively over.〔Crawford and Crawford, p. 23〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich of Russia」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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