#23: Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich
Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich had the Romanov combination of polish, athleticism, uniformed glamour, and doomed political timing. His romance with Natalia Wulfert scandalized the imperial family, which only made him more interesting because aristocrats hate nothing more than love ignoring protocol. Michael’s charm came with melancholy hindsight: handsome royal, forbidden marriage, collapsing empire. The photographs show refinement. History adds the thundercloud. Very bad for stability, excellent for legend.

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