Duke Michael is a fictional character from the novel "The Prisoner of Zenda," written by Anthony Hope in 1894. He is the younger brother of Rudolf V, the king of the fictional European country of Ruritania. Duke Michael is portrayed as ambitious and unscrupulous, seeking to usurp the throne for himself. In the story, Duke Michael's plot involves kidnapping his brother and impersonating him to gain power. His actions set off a series of events that lead to political intrigue and adventure, as the protagonist, Rudolf Rassendyll, becomes entangled in the royal conflict.