Following up on my most recent obsession, we turn to Russia and one particularly interesting figure: the Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich. First cousin once removed of Tzar Nicholas II, from my research he seems to have been a very popular man. During the uprisings of 1905, the Tzar demanded that he use the army to crush the rebels and extend marshal law over Russia. In a particularly awesome scene, the Grand Duke draws his pistol, points it at his head, and threatens to kill himself if Nicholas doesn't institute certain reforms, which ended up (temporarily) placating the masses.
Okay, so the State Duma was a complete bust thanks to Nicholas II being an autocratic idiot, but at least he's got his heart in the right place.
So, when Nicholas II abdicated, his last act was to place the Grand Duke in the position of supreme commander-in-chief. Nikolaevich was wildly received on his way to take over, but within 24 hours of his arrival and takeover, the new head of the provisional government, Prince Georgy Lvov, cancelled his appointment. Nikolaevich spent most of the next two years in Crimea, occasionally under house arrest, never really taking a role in politics. There was some movement among the Whites to rally behind him, but it was scrapped for fear of driving away left-leaning Whites.
Now, Nikolaevich was supposed to be a very good bureaucrat, and, again, a very popular man. I wonder, if given the chance, could have done well enough as supreme commander-in-chief to save Russia? And is there any conceivable scenario that could place him in his office?