1613-1645 Tsar of Russia.
He was the first Russian Tsar of the house of Romanov. His coronation marked the end of the long period of chaos and anarchy in Russia. His father Patriarch Filaret was the actual ruler of Russia during his reign.
Background
Lived: 1596-1610.
Mikhail Romanov and his mother were sent to the Ipatiev Monastery near Kostroma in 1600 by Boris Godunov, who had falsely accused Mikhail’s father Filaret of treason.
Romanov dynasty
21 February 1613, Mikhail Romanov was unanimously elected to be the next Tsar of Russia by the Zemsky Sobor assembly of boyars.
Mikhail was then only 16 years old. The delegates searched for him at the Ipatiev Monastery, and when they found him, he refused. He was horrified of the responsibility, and his mother was in despair, but finally he agreed.
According to legend, before the coronation Mikhail had to wait in the Troitsa Monastery. When a group of Polish conspirators came looking for him, a local peasant, Ivan Susanin, saved Mikhail’s life leading the Poles away to a thick wood, where they eventually froze to death. Mikhail Glinka’s opera “A Life for the Tsar” is based on that legend.
Reign
Mikhail I’s reign was long, peaceful and successful. He first made peace with the occupying armies of Sweden and Poland.
Under the terms of the Peace of Stolbovo (1617), Sweden agreed to return Novgorod to Russia.
Under the terms of the Truce of Deulino (1618), Poland agreed to leave Smolensk to Russia for another 50 years.
Living conditions of the peasants worsened during Mikhail’s reign.
Mikhail I
1613-1645 Tsar of Russia.
He was the first Russian Tsar of the house of Romanov. His coronation marked the end of the long period of chaos and anarchy in Russia. His father Patriarch Filaret was the actual ruler of Russia during his reign.
Background
Lived: 1596-1610.
Mikhail Romanov and his mother were sent to the Ipatiev Monastery near Kostroma in 1600 by Boris Godunov, who had falsely accused Mikhail’s father Filaret of treason.
Romanov dynasty
21 February 1613, Mikhail Romanov was unanimously elected to be the next Tsar of Russia by the Zemsky Sobor assembly of boyars.
Mikhail was then only 16 years old. The delegates searched for him at the Ipatiev Monastery, and when they found him, he refused. He was horrified of the responsibility, and his mother was in despair, but finally he agreed.
According to legend, before the coronation Mikhail had to wait in the Troitsa Monastery. When a group of Polish conspirators came looking for him, a local peasant, Ivan Susanin, saved Mikhail’s life leading the Poles away to a thick wood, where they eventually froze to death. Mikhail Glinka’s opera “A Life for the Tsar” is based on that legend.
Reign
Mikhail I’s reign was long, peaceful and successful. He first made peace with the occupying armies of Sweden and Poland.
Under the terms of the Peace of Stolbovo (1617), Sweden agreed to return Novgorod to Russia.
Under the terms of the Truce of Deulino (1618), Poland agreed to leave Smolensk to Russia for another 50 years.
Living conditions of the peasants worsened during Mikhail’s reign.
Filaret