Social Victorians/People/Grand Duke Michael of Russia

Grand Duke Michael

 * Grand Duke Michael Mikhailovich of Russia
 * Michael Mikhailovich, Grand Duke of Russia

Countess de Torby

 * Sophie of Merenberg
 * Sophia Nicholaievna, Countess de Torby
 * Countess Torbi
 * Countess Torbay

Timeline
1891 February 26, Michael Mikhailovich and Sophie Nikolaievna of Merenberg married morganatically, to the extreme disapproval of his family in Russia.

1891, Sophie Nikolaievna of Merenberg was created Countess Torby by her uncle, Adolphe, Grand Duke of Luxembourg.

1897 July 2, Friday, the Grand Duke of Russia and the Countess de Torby attended the Duchess of Devonshire's fancy-dress ball at Devonshire House.

1902, Sophie, Countess Torby's portrait appeared in the Book of Beauties commemorating some of the women at the coronation of Edward VII.

Costume at the Duchess of Devonshire's 2 July 1897 Fancy-dress Ball
Lafayette's portrait of Michael Mikhailovich, Grand Duke of Russia as Henri IV and Sophia Nicholaievna, Countess de Torby as Gabrielle d'Estray in costume is photogravure #18 in the album presented to the Duchess of Devonshire and now in the National Portrait Gallery. The printing on the portrait says, "H.T.H. The Grand Duke Michael of Russia as Henri IV. The Countess Torby as Gabrielle d'Estray," with a Long S in Russia and Countess.

The second photograph (upper right) appears to be the same photograph as the first, but it has not been cropped, so that edges of the painted scenery behind the couple are visible and some handwriting appears on the right of the photograph.

Henri IV of Navarre and France was first married to Marguerite de Valois (personated at the ball by Alexandra, Princess of Wales) but the father of three children with Gabrielle d'Estrées, personated by Sophia, Countess de Torby, Michael's morganatic wife. He was able to legitimize those children by means of official acts from his position as king. After Gabrielle d'Estrées died in 1599, Henri IV had his marriage to Marguerite annulled, and he married Marie de Medici, daughter of the Grand Duke of Tuscany and Archduchess Joanna of Austria. This marriage led to 6 children, solving the succession problems that might have arisen.



Sophie, Countess de Torby
Sophie, Countess de Torby (at 184) was dressed as Gabrielle d'Estray at the Duchess of Devonshire's 2 July 1897 fancy-dress ball at Devonshire House.

Gabrielle d'Estray was Gabrielle d'Estrées (1573–1599), an intelligent and persuasive advisor and diplomat as well as personal confidante of Henri IV. The portrait (right), said to be of Gabrielle d'Estrées, was painted about 1590 and is in the collection at the Musée Carnavalet, Histoire de Paris, means of acquisition unknown.

Grand Duke Michael of Russia
The Grand Duke Michael of Russia (at 8) sat at Table 7 at the first supper seating.
 * "The Grand Duke Michael of Russia was attired as Henry IV., in a costume of black and gold, puffed with white satin, and gold embroidered straps: the cape lined with white and trimmed with gold cord and tassels, white ruff, black hat ornamented with gold braid, and blue silk band with Order."
 * "Henry IV. [in a] costume in black and gold, puffed with white satin and gold embroidered straps; the cape lined with white and trimmed with gold cord and tassels, white ruff; black hat ornamented with gold braid and blue silk band with Order."
 * "The Grand Duke Michael of Russia in a Henry IV. costume in black and gold, puffed with white satin and gold embroidered straps. The cape lined with white and trimmed with gold cord and tassels. White ruff. Black hat ornamented with gold braid; and blue silk band with Order."
 * "His Imperial Highness the Grand Duke Serge of Russia (Henry the Fourth), black and gold."
 * He "was in a black and gold Henry IV. suit."
 * "The Grand Duke Michael of Russia was in a black and gold Henry IV. suit."
 * "The Grand Duke Michael of Russia was in a black and gold Henri IV. dress."
 * His costume was "made by Mr. W. Clarkson, of Wellington-street."

The portrait (left) of King Henri IV of France (1553-1610) is probably not the original, if one exists, of the costume worn by the Grand Duke Michael, but it shows the honor hanging from the blue ribbon and a similar lace collar. Painted after Frans Pourbus, it has been in the collection in the National Museum in Sweden since 1866. In this portrait Henri IV may be about 50, and at the time of the ball, the Grand Duke Michael was about 35. In both portraits, Henri IV is wearing the star of the Order of the Holy Spirit (right) on a blue ribbon.

Except for the Guernsey Star, all newspaper stories and (his and Countess de Torby's portrait in the album in the National Portrait Gallery) say he was dressed as Henry IV. The Gentlewoman has the same description for the costume but misidentifies him as the Grand Duke Serge of Russia rather than the Grand Duke Michael of Russia. In every other way, the descriptions align. The Guernsey Star says that "Among the many other Royal personages present was the Grand Duke Cyril of Russia, who appeared in a telling costume of Henry VI., mainly in black and gold," but nobody else lists the Grand Duke Cyril, and perhaps somebody confused Henry VI and Henry IV; both are described as wearing black and gold.

Demographics

 * Nationality: Russian

Residences

 * Kazbek Villa, Cannes (1899)
 * Keele Hall, Staffordshire (from 1900)
 * Kenwood House, Hampstead (from 1909)

Family

 * Grand Duke Michael Mikhailovich of Russia (16 October 1861 – 26 April 1929)
 * Countess Sophie Nikolaievna of Merenberg, Countess de Torby (1 June 1868 – 14 September 1927)
 * 1) Countess "Zia" Anastasia Mikhailovna de Torby (9 September 1892 – 7 December 1977)
 * 2) Countess "Nada" Nadejda Mikhailovna de Torby (28 March 1896 – January 1963)
 * 3) Count Michael Mikhailovich de Torby (8 October 1898 – 8 May 1959)

Questions and Notes

 * 1) Grand Duke Michael Mikhailovich of Russia was born 16 October 1861, Old Style 4 October 1861.
 * 2) Grand Duke Michael of Russia was wearing orders with his costume to the ball, but which order is yet unidentified.
 * 3) Although the Grand Duke Michael and Countess Torby are not mentioned together in newspaper reports, they were married and were photographed together by Lafayette.