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Why Nicholas II forbade his brother Mikhail to return to Russia
Why Nicholas II forbade his brother Mikhail to return to Russia

Video: Why Nicholas II forbade his brother Mikhail to return to Russia

Video: Why Nicholas II forbade his brother Mikhail to return to Russia
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The tragic fate of the last Romanovs was part of a long series of events that drastically changed the life of Russia. In previous eras, there were riots, but they were suppressed, and the life of the country was getting better. But then there was still no spiritual abyss between the monarch and the people that had formed by 1917. The loss of the religious understanding of the monarchy as an institution led to disaster. In March 1917, the question of whether or not there should be a Russian monarchy was decided in one of the Petrograd apartments in a house on Millionnaya Street. After the abdication of Nicholas II from the throne, great hopes were pinned on his brother, Mikhail Romanov. The military units were in a hurry to swear allegiance to the "last Russian emperor" Mikhail II, but at the last moment fate decreed otherwise.

No chance of power, or why Grand Duke Michael did not even dream of the imperial crown

Alexander III with his wife Maria Fedorovna. Artist Laurits Tuxen
Alexander III with his wife Maria Fedorovna. Artist Laurits Tuxen

Mikhail Alexandrovich had no political claims and ambitions, he walked the path of a military man. But in 1899, his brother, Grand Duke George, who was still considered the heir to the throne, since Nicholas II had no sons, dies of consumption. The title of Tsarevich was supposed to pass to Mikhail, but this did not happen. The young Empress Alexandra Feodorovna did not want to, hoping to give birth to an heir. However, before the birth of such a throne after Nicholas II, in any unforeseen situation, Mikhail Alexandrovich was supposed to take.

When, finally, a son was born to the royal couple, the emperor, in his manifesto on this occasion, secured the status of regent to his brother in case of his untimely death. Everything seemed to work out as it should. There is an heir to the throne, there is a "reserve player". Only Mikhail Alexandrovich suddenly commits a misdemeanor that called into question his status as regent.

Why Nicholas II stripped all posts and posts of his younger brother and banned him from entering Russia

Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich Romanov and the love of his life Natalia Wulfert (Countess Brasova)
Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich Romanov and the love of his life Natalia Wulfert (Countess Brasova)

Mikhail Alexandrovich marries the twice-divorced daughter of attorney Sergei Sheremetyevsky Natalia Wulfert. Not only did this woman not belong to the "sovereign persons" of Europe, she also had two marriages behind her shoulders - with the musician Sergei Mamontov (Savva Mamontov's nephew), from whom she gave birth to a daughter, and with Lieutenant Vladimir Vulfert, brother-in-arms of Mikhail Alexandrovich …

After his brother's marriage to such a candidate, Nicholas II could not leave him in the status of regent. Moreover, he stripped him of all posts and posts and banned him from entering Russia. However, Mikhail Alexandrovich was quite happy, he lived with his beloved wife and their common son for some time in Paris, then in Cannes and London.

How Michael managed to get the emperor's forgiveness

Mikhail Romanov with his wife Natalia Brasova (Wulffert). Paris, 1913
Mikhail Romanov with his wife Natalia Brasova (Wulffert). Paris, 1913

When the First World War began, Mikhail Alexandrovich wrote a letter to Nicholas II, in which he asked permission to return and take part in hostilities. He received a pardon from his brother and was appointed commander of the Caucasian Cavalry Division. The Muslim volunteers who fought as part of the "wild division" had great respect for their desperately brave commander. Mikhail Alexandrovich showed himself at the front in the best possible way, and was appointed chairman of the Georgievsky Society, and later - the commander of the 2nd Cavalry Corps.

Later, for distinction in hostilities, he was promoted to lieutenant general, and then to general - inspector of cavalry. His wife received the title of Countess Brasova. This fact legalized her position in high society.

Fatal meeting on Millionnaya Street that could change the course of Russian history

Formally, Michael did not renounce the throne, he only shifted the solution of this issue onto the shoulders of the Constituent Assembly
Formally, Michael did not renounce the throne, he only shifted the solution of this issue onto the shoulders of the Constituent Assembly

On March 3, 1917, Alexander Kerensky, Pavel Milyukov, Georgy Lvov and some other members of the State Duma arrived on Millionnaya Street, where the apartment allocated to Mikhail Alexandrovich by the Provisional Government was located. The only purpose of the visitors was to find out whether the younger Romanov was ready to take over the tsarist power, after Nicholas II, who had renounced it (for himself and for his son Alexei). Once upon a time, Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov became the first Russian tsar, now - Mikhail Alexandrovich Romanov was supposed to be the last. And he did not abdicate the throne after his brother, but only expressed a desire for his candidacy to be approved by the Constituent Assembly. This took about six months, but the atmosphere in Russian society was too much electrified, and it was impossible to hesitate in such a situation.

Mikhail Alexandrovich was alone with a difficult situation. The people in his fatherland lost the monarchical feeling - the feeling of the king as a gift and will of God for the people. This feeling weakened and dulled, in all strata of society they ceased to understand why an emperor was needed, why they needed to obey and sacrifice their lives for him.

When Nicholas II was demanded to abdicate, he had no defenders either among his entourage, or in the army, or among the people. In addition to members of society who were really inclined to overthrow the tsarist power, there were those who did not want this, but reacted enthusiastically to the events, because they thought that prosperity would suddenly come after the revolution. Someone was indifferent to everything that was happening. Many were confused and did not know what to do. Mikhail Alexandrovich saw the most negative attitude towards the Romanovs, so he wanted to be sure that he would ascend the throne at the will of the people through the convocation of the Constituent Assembly. But the power of the Provisional Government was quickly replaced by Bolshevik sovereignty, and a constitutional monarchy was out of the question.

How was the fate of Mikhail Romanov after the Bolsheviks came to power

Mikhail Alexandrovich (left) and P. L. Znamerovsky. The picture was taken in Perm in April 1918 by a street photographer. On the reverse side of the photo, Mikhail Alexandrovich's hand says "Prisoner of Perm" and vows that he will not shave until he is released
Mikhail Alexandrovich (left) and P. L. Znamerovsky. The picture was taken in Perm in April 1918 by a street photographer. On the reverse side of the photo, Mikhail Alexandrovich's hand says "Prisoner of Perm" and vows that he will not shave until he is released

The Bolsheviks who came to power exiled Mikhail Alexandrovich to Perm. He, like those accompanying him, lived in this Siberian city freely, but under supervision. For some time, the wife of Mikhail Alexandrovich was with him, but then she left, much upsetting him with this fact.

Until the end of May 1818, Mikhail Alexandrovich could freely walk around the city and its environs. These walks coincided with the inventory of church property by the Bolsheviks. The believers, having learned about the stay of the younger brother of Emperor Nicholas II in Perm, began to seek a meeting with him in order to look at the future anointed of God.

This alarmed the party activists, they regarded this as a threat to the revolution. Therefore, Mikhail Romanov was kidnapped along with his secretary Johnson. They were taken out of the city and presumably shot at the Solikamsk tract (in the Motivilihi area).

But the history of the Romanov dynasty began with Mikhail, when Patriarch Filaret elevated his own son to the throne.

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