Grand Duke Dmitri Pavlovich of Russia

Grand Duke Dmitri Pavlovich of Russia was born on September 18, 1891, in Tsarskoye Selo, Russia. He was the grandson of Tsar Alexander II and the cousin of Tsar Nicholas II. Dmitri grew up in a wealthy and privileged family, and he was educated at the Imperial Page School in St. Petersburg. In 1914, Dmitri joined the Russian army and served in World War I. He was known for his bravery and leadership on the battlefield, and he was eventually promoted to the rank of colonel. In 1916, Dmitri met and fell in love with the ballerina, Mathilde Kschessinska. Their relationship was controversial because Mathilde was already the mistress of Tsar Nicholas II's cousin, Grand Duke Andrei Vladimirovich. Despite this, Dmitri and Mathilde became engaged, but their relationship did not last. After the Russian Revolution in 1917, Dmitri fled to Europe with his family. He lived in Paris for several years and became involved in a plot to overthrow the Soviet government. However, the plot failed, and Dmitri was forced to flee once again. In 1926, Dmitri moved to Italy and lived there for the rest of his life. He became a successful businessman and enjoyed the company of artists and writers. Dmitri died on April 5, 1942, in Sanremo, Italy.