Sophie of Merenberg

She was born at Geneva, Switzerland, the first child of Prince Nikolaus Wilhelm of Nassau and Natalia Alexandrovna Pushkina.[1] As the marriage of her parents was considered morganatic, she was ineligible to bear her father's title or rank. Her paternal grandparents were William, Duke of Nassau and Princess Pauline of Württemberg. Her maternal grandparents were Alexander Pushkin, the renowned Russian poet, and his wife, Natalia Pushkina.

Her brother, Count Georg Nikolaus von Merenberg (Wiesbaden, 13 February 1871 – Wiesbaden, 31 May 1948); married firstly on 12 May 1895 in Nice, Princess Olga Alexandrovna Yurievskaya (St. Petersburg, 8 November 1873 – Wiesbaden, 10 August 1925), daughter of Alexander II of Russia and his morganatic second wife, Princess Ekaterina Mikhailovna Dolgorukova. Sophie would go on to marry the Tsar's cousin, Grand Duke Michael Mikhailovich of Russia.

Grand Duke Michael Mikailovich of Russia (right) with his children (from left to right) Nadejda, Michael and Anastasia de Torby

She married morganatically, on 26 February 1891, Grand Duke Michael Mikhailovich of Russia, grandson of Nicholas I of Russia, in secret at Sanremo, Italy. The Grand Duke and Sophie had met in Nice and instantly fell in love. When his mother heard of the secret marriage to a bride of unequal status, she collapsed and fell ill, then subsequently died of a heart attack in Kharkov. He was blamed for her death and was forbidden to attend the funeral. Grand Duke Michael was denied his military rank and was sent into exile.[1]

Sophia was created Countess de Torby in 1891 by her uncle, Adolphe, Grand Duke of Luxembourg. The title was extended to all three of her children.

They had two daughters and one son:

• Countess Anastasia Mikhailovna de Torby, known as "Zia" (9 September 1892 – 7 December 1977); married, in 1917, Major Harold Augustus Wernher (later Major-General Sir Harold Wernher, 3rd Baronet).
• Countess Nadejda Mikhailovna de Torby, known as "Nada" (28 March 1896 – January 1963); married, in 1916, Prince George of Battenberg (later the 2nd Marquess of Milford Haven).
• Count Michael Mikhailovich de Torby (8 October 1898 – 8 May 1959); an artist, who was not married.

She and her husband lived at Kenwood House in Hampstead, London, prior to World War I. However, the Russian Revolution reduced the Grand Duke's finances. Despite their reduced circumstances, they were friends of King George V and Queen Mary, and they continued to attend society events.

She died in London on 13 September 1927 and was buried at Hampstead Cemetery. Grand Duke Michael contracted influenza and died in London on 26 April 1929, aged sixty-seven. He was buried alongside his wife.

• Count of Merenberg