Sophie of Merenberg

Countess Sophie of Merenberg, Countess of Torby, (1 June 1868 – 14 September 1927) was the eldest daughter of Prince Nikolaus Wilhelm of Nassau and Natalya Alexandrovna Pushkina.

Early life

Sophie was born at Geneva, Switzerland, the first child of Prince Nikolaus Wilhelm of Nassau and Natalya Alexandrovna Pushkina. 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 the renowned Russian poet, Alexander Pushkin, and Natalya Pushkina.

Marriage and family

She married morganatically, on 10 March 1891, Grand Duke Michael Mikhailovich of Russia, grandson of Nicholas I of Russia at Sanremo, Italy. Sophia was later created Countess de Torby 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 (9 September 1892 – 7 December 1977); married, in 1917, Sir Harold Wernher, 3rd Baronet.
• Countess Nadejda Mikhailovna de Torby (28 March 1896 – January 1963); married, in 1916, Prince George of Battenberg (later 2nd Marquess of Milford Haven).
• Count Michael Mikhailovich of Torby (8 October 1898 – 8 May 1959).

Ancestry