GRAND DUKE MICHAEL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1688, 20 March 1917, Page 2

GRAND DUKE MICHAEL.

THE Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovilch, wiio has been appointed Regent in Russia, is the only brother of Nicholas 11. He is 10 years younger, having been born on November 22nd, 1878. Like all the other members of the Imperial House, he received a military training. He served first in the Horse Artillery of the Guards, and then iu the Blue Cuirassiers. In 1011 he was given command of the Tcliernigoff Hussars at, Orel, and displayed such excellent qualities as a regimental commander that he was appointed in the following year to the command of the Chevalier Guards, the premier cavalry regiment of Russia. But he never took over this command. It became known that he had secretly gone to Vienna with a lady, and had been morganatieally married by a Servian priest. The Duke told the Tsar that his most ardent desire was to retire into private life. After repeated attempts to induce him to alter this decision, which involved great difficulties in connection with the succession to the Throne, the Tsar agreed to the course his brother proposed. In virtue of a manifesto issued shortly after the birth of the Tsarevitch, the Grand Duke was appointed co-Regent with the Empress Alexandra in the event of (he Tsar’s demise during the heirapparent’s minority. Until then, he had been, as second surviving sun of the late Tsar, heir presumptive. Upon the events following his morganatic marriage, this manifesto was annulled, and the Grand Duke was relieved of the duties of Regent. When the war broke out, the Grand Duke was visiting England. A few days later he left to join the Russian Army, and shortly afterwards went into the field on the Carpathian front. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-general in August last year.