Duchess Marie Miechen of Mecklenburg Schwerin, Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna of Russia

Duchess Marie of MecklenburgSchwerin (later Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna of Russia, known as Miechen or Maria Pavlovna the Elder; 14 May 1854 6 September 1920) was born Marie Alexandrine Elisabeth Eleonore of MecklenburgSchwerin, daughter of Grand Duke Frederick Francis II of MecklenburgSchwerin and Princess Augusta of ReussKöstritz. A prominent hostess in St Petersburg following her marriage to the Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich of Russia, she was known as the grandest of the grand duchesses and had an open rivalry with the Empress Maria Feodorovna.