Grand Duke Michael of Russia was born on December 4, 1878, and was the youngest son of Tsar Alexander III and Empress Maria Feodorovna. He was a member of the Romanov dynasty and held the title of Grand Duke, which is a rank in the Russian nobility. Michael was known for his military service and was involved in various military campaigns during World War I. In 1917, following the abdication of his brother, Tsar Nicholas II, Michael briefly became the head of the Russian state. However, he declined the throne in favor of a constitutional monarchy. After the Russian Revolution, he was arrested and executed by Bolsheviks in 1918.