Former Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovic of Russia presents his memoirs and his reflections on the downfall of the Romanov family in this enlightening account of the final fifty years of the Russian Empire. The author narrates his childhood experiences growing up in the Caucuses and explains how he turned away from his expected role within the army in favour of serving in the navy. He describes his visits to South Africa, America and Europe and we see the headstrong Duke’s love of the outdoors. When his cousin becomes Tsar Nicholas II, Alexander Mikhailovic must play a part in the government and the reader is given an inside perspective of the running of the Russian Empire. His distorted perspective of autocracy is presented unapologetically and his opinions are often hypocritical. His hatred of the liberals who were responsible for the deaths of many of his friends and family members is unsurprising, but is contradicted by his own liberal ideas and rebellion against the Orthodox Church. This volume’s contents include: - Our Friends of December the Fourteenth - A Grand Duke is Born - My First War - An Emperor in Love - A Grand Duke Comes of Age - My Relatives - Millions That Were - Nicholas II Read & Co. History is proud to have republished this unique account of the last fifty years of the Russian empire and the events leading up to the fated February Revolution. Not to be missed by those with an interest in Russian history and the Romanov dynasty. Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich of Russia (1866-1933) was a dynast of the Russian Empire and the brother-in-law of and advisor to Tsar Nicholas II. He was a naval officer, writer and explorer. He played a large role in the creation of the Russian military aviation in World War I and was appointed the Field Inspector General of the Imperial Russian Air Service in 1916. He wrote his memoirs while living in Paris and Once a Duke, 1933, is a fascinating account of the last fifty years of the Russian Empire.