Grand Duchess Elizabeth Mikhailovna of Russia was the second child and daughter of Grand Duke Mikhail Pavlovich of Russia and Princess Charlotte of Württemberg who took the name Elena Pavlovna upon her conversion to the Orthodox faith.
Background
Through her father, Elizabeth was a granddaughter of Tsar Paul I of Russia, and a niece of both Russian emperors Alexander I and Nicholas I.
Elizabeth, nicknamed "Lili", was born in the Kremlin in Moscow and she was named after her aunt who had died earlier that month, the Empress Elizabeth, wife of Emperor Alexander I and a close friend of her mother.
Career
By the end of 1843, Adolf, Duke of Nassau was visiting Saint St. Petersburg and met Elizabeth for the first time. Adolf"s stepmother was Princess Pauline of Württemberg, Elizabeth"s maternal aunt, and so he was related to the Russians in some way. Adolf and Elizabeth fell in love and they eventually got married on 31 January 1844 in Saint St. Petersburg.
Elizabeth was 17 years old and Adolf was 26.
After the wedding, the couple stayed in Russia for some time until they moved to Germany and took up residence in Castle Biebrich in Wiesbaden. Elizabeth, now Duchess of Nassau, was popular among the people.
After only a year, Elizabeth died giving birth to a daughter, who also did not survive. Elizabeth"s sarcophagus can still be seen today inside the church.
26 May 1826 – 31 January 1844: Her Imperial Highness Grand Duchess Elizabeth Mikhailovna of Russia
31 January 1844 – 28 January 1845: Her Imperial Highness The Duchess of Nassau.