ENCOURAGEMENT FROM GRAND DUKE MICHAEL MICHAEL (Grand Duke, 1878-1918, Tsar for a day, 28th-29th March 1917, Youngest Brother of Tsar Nicholas II)

Remarkable Autograph Letter Signed ‘Misha’, in Russian with translation, to his cousin KIRILL VLADIMIROVICH, (1876-1938, later Head of the House of Romanov and claimant to the Imperial throne of Russia), saying “You ask me why I have seemed uncommunicative and depressed... I had in my head a mass of all sorts of terrifying and heavy sensations, so that I was unable to convey even a tenth part of the sincere and heartfelt sympathy I felt for your grief and earlier mental sufferings. But now I wish you, all, all the best that exists”, referring to his own “very painful and distressing burden; you can entirely take my meaning as I too understand you”, adding “Needless to say, all our conversation is between ourselves alone, except of course Ducky, who knows all and needs to know all concerning Baby. I am glad that at last we have succeeded in having a talk after our hearts, and I hope we may remain for ever close friends. I want you to spend time gladly with her who is more dear to you than anything in the world... Yours with heartfelt affection”, with a P.S. “Good wishes from me, Ducky and Baby, more than I can possibly convey”, embossed monogram A with M crosswise in silver with the Imperial Crown, 3 sides 6¾” x 5”, Krasnoe Seló (18 miles SW of St Petersburg), 6th / 18th June

Written during the height of Grand Duke Michael’s own romantic correspondence with Princess Beatrice (1884-1966, daughter of Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh and Saxe Coburg). They had fallen in love the previous year.
At this time, before Alexei was born, Michael, tall and mild mannered, was heir to the Imperial throne, followed by Kirill’s father and Kirill. Beatrice was his first cousin, marriage with whom was forbidden by the Russian Orthodox Church, and Michael was very unlikely to get special permission from Nicholas II as head of that Church. At the same time Michael was giving heartfelt support in affairs of the heart to two of those closest to him.
‘Baby’ is Michael’s younger sister OLGA ALEXANDROVNA, (1882-1960), with whom he was brought up. Her mother had found for her a most unsuitable husband, Duke Peter of Oldenburg (1868-1924, a descendant of Emperor Paul I). They married in 1901 but the marriage was never consummated, and she fell into a deep depression till in 1903, the year of this letter, Michael introduced her to Captain Nikolai Kulikovsky (1881-1958) at a military review. Olga finally obtained a divorce in 1916, having followed Kulikovsky to the front as a nurse, and they were married quietly in Kiev.
KIRILL, a serving officer in the Navy, had also met the love of his life - his cousin VICTORIA MELITA, (1876-1936, known as ‘Ducky’, Beatrice’s elder sister). Between 1894 and 1901 she had been married unhappily to Tsaritsa Alix’s brother Grand Duke Ernst Ludwig of Hesse and By Rhine. When Kirill married Ducky in 1905, Nicholas II stripped him of his titles and rank and banished him from Russia. He was re-instated in the Navy in 1908, and Ducky was recognised as a Grand Duchess, when after the death of an uncle it was clear that Kirill was fourth, soon to be third, in succession after the Tsarevich and Michael.
When in November 1903, Michael realised he would never get Nicholas II's permission, he wrote a kind letter to Beatrice explaining this, and saying they should cease corresponding in the way they had. Beatrice was heartbroken and became ill, whereupon Ducky wrote a fierce letter to Michael blaming him for initiating a doomed affair.
Michael’s subsequent marriage, to Natalia, created Countess Brassova by Nicholas II, and by Kirill in exile Princess, had many parallels with Kirill’s - a secret ceremony, banishment, and recall to serve in the armed forces, which Michael performed with distinction.

Item Date:  1903

Stock No:  42244      £3750

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