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Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich of Russia (8 August 1831-25 April 1891) was a Field Marshal of the Russian Empire during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878.
Biography[]
Nicholas Nikolaevich was born in Saint Petersburg, Russian Empire on 8 August 1831, the son of Czar Nicholas I of Russia and Charlotte of Prussia. Nicholas served in the Imperial Russian Army during the Crimean War, and he soon specialized in engineering. In 1864, he became Inspector General of the Engineers and commander of the Imperial Guard, and he was appointed commander-in-chief of the Russian armies of the Danube at the time of the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878. Grand Duke Nicholas was relieved from command after the Russians were repulsed from Rumelia, and he lost his influence after the assassination of his brother Czar Alexander II of Russia, as his nephew, Czar Alexander III of Russia, did not approve of Nicholas' various extramarital affairs. In 1890, he was declared insane, and he soon fell into massive debt. He squandered all of his tremendous wealth, and, following his 1891 death, his palace was sold to pay off his debtors.