I have recently found a family letter which tells that my gg grandmother's cousin was in the Russian army and eventually became a personal bodyguard to Nicholas II of Russia. I have a picture of him in a uniform with a spiked helmet and a sword. His first name was Michael/Mikhail, I'm not sure of his last name. The letter says:

"There were 6 guards, all six-footers, all blond & blue-eyed, according to what Ma said. Perhaps you didn't know of the colorful life he had as an army man - (cavalry). He had a white horse & was in charge of a division - fought in many wars - captured by Turks, etc., was in all the wars of those times, Japanese, etc."

I have tried to find the names of the bodyguards of the Royal family, but the only specific name I have found is Timofei Jaschik, who was the bodyguard to the Czarina. The uniform in the picture definitely points to the right time period & place. Mikhail's last name might have been Glabovich or something similar. If anyone can help please let me know.