The august king of French fashion. Part one.

Grand Duke Dmitry Pavlovich Romanov, grandson of Emperor Alexander II and nephew of Alexander III, entered history as one of the participants in the assassination of Grigori Rasputin.

Dmitry Pavlovich's fate was remarkable and tragic. His mother, Alexandra Georgievna, died during childbirth, and he was born weak, with minimal chances of survival. However, Elizabeth Feodorovna studied peasant methods of caring for premature infants, and thanks to her efforts, the boy not only survived but grew into a two-meter tall hero.

Later, his father, Pavel Alexandrovich, was deprived of the right to return to Russia due to a morganatic marriage. Dmitry and his sister Maria were taken in by their uncle, Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich.

Dmitry grew up as a healthy and gifted child, but at the age of 12, he lost his uncle Sergei Alexandrovich, who was killed by terrorists. Elizabeth Feodorovna, selling her property, focused on creating the Marfo-Mariinsky Convent, while the children were taken in by Nicholas II. In this new environment, Dmitry received an excellent education and upbringing.

After graduating from the Officer Cavalry School, Dmitry attempted to volunteer for the Italo-Turkish War, but he was refused. In 1912, he led the team of Russian athletes at the Olympics in Stockholm, finishing 9th in the individual competition and 5th in the team event. Dmitry then organized annual Olympics in the Russian Empire.

During this time, mutual affection developed between Dmitry and the emperor's eldest daughter Olga, and a marriage was planned. However, the intervention of Grigori Rasputin led to the cancellation of the engagement. Perhaps this, along with rumors of Dmitry's homosexuality, was the reason for his involvement in the conspiracy against Rasputin. The Empress demanded severe punishment, but Elizabeth Feodorovna showed compassion. Ultimately, Nicholas II sent his cousin to the expeditionary corps in Persia, which saved his life after the revolution.