Michael became heir to the throne after George died in 1899, till the Tsesarevich Alexei was born in 1904. Nikolai II abdicated for himself and his son on 28th March 1917, but Michael refused to ascend the throne without the will of the people and himself renounced the throne on 29th March. He was killed by the Bolsheviks at Perm about 28th July 1918.