Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich was a member of the Russian imperial family, born on December 4, 1878. He was the youngest son of Grand Duke Alexander Alexandrovich and Grand Duchess Maria Feodorovna. Michael served in the Russian army and held various military ranks throughout his life. During the tumultuous period of the Russian Revolution, Michael was initially supportive of the monarchy but later became involved in political movements. He was briefly declared the acting Emperor of Russia in 1917 but abdicated in favor of his brother, Tsar Nicholas II. Michael was executed by Bolsheviks in 1918.