Michael of Chernigov


Mikhail Vsevolodovich, known as Michael or Michael of Chernigov, was Grand Prince of Kiev ; he was also Prince of Pereyaslavl, Novgorod-Seversk, Chernigov, Novgorod, and Galicia. He was canonized as a saint in the Christian Church.

Biography

A son of prince Vsevolod the Red from the Olgovichi clan, in 1223 Michael participated in the Battle of Kalka against Tatars. After the death of Mstislav the Brave in 1228, he issued claims to the throne of Galicia-Volhynia, which led him into conflict with Daniel and Vasylko, the sons of Roman the Great, and their ally Vladimir Rurikovich.
Archaeological evidence reveals that Chernigov towns enjoyed an unprecedented degree of prosperity during Michael's rule, which suggests that promoting trade was a priority for him. Commercial interests, in part, also motivated him to seize control of Halych and Kiev because they were channels through which goods from the Rhine valley and Hungary passed to Chernigov. He also negotiated commercial treaties and political alliances with the Poles and the Hungarians. He alleviated the tax burden of the Novgorodians and granted their boyars greater political freedom from the prince.
In 1239, during the Mongol invasion of Kievan Rus', Michaell was forced to flee, taking refuge in Hungary (1000-1526)|Hungary]. After returning, he shortly controlled Kyiv, and later applied for a yarlyk from the Mongol khan in order to confirm his rule over Chernigov. In 1246, he was executed by Batu Khan, reportedly after refusing to submit himself to the court rituals at the khan's residence. According to another theory, the cause for Michael's execution was his pro-Western political orientation.
According to tradition, the prince was murdered along with his loyal boyar Theodore, and both were later canonized as martyrs. Their remains were buried in Chernigov's Transfiguration Cathedral, but around 1580 tsar Ivan the Terrible order their removal, after which the relics were transported to Moscow's Cathedral of the Archangel, where they remain up to this day.

Legacy

''Vita'' of Michael of Chernigov

A hagiography vita of Michael of Chernigov was written some time after his death, describing his life in detail, and framing his execution as martyrdom. It is unclear when this account was written, and how historically reliable it is. Mikhail's death is briefly mentioned in the Older Recension of Novgorod First Chronicle, in the Laurentian Codex, and in the Hypatian Codex, but the full text of the vita is not found in these manuscripts. It is not until the Younger Recension of the Novgorod First Chronicle that an extensive narrative of his demise appears, stating that the bodies of Mikhail and Fedor were thrown to the dogs; but as a sign of divine favor, their bodies remained unmolested and pillars of fire hovered over them. The Nikon Chronicle added even more text to Mikhail's vita, including claims that the Mongols already established a system of military governors and tax collectors in all cities of Kievan Rus' in 1237–1240, which is historically very unlikely.
In the early 18th century another hagiography of Michael was created by Demetrius Tuptalo, based on the scheme employed in the similar works dedicated to themartyrdom of saints Boris and Gleb and employing richly ornamented lexicon typical of the Baroque era. In Tuptalo's depiction Michael is shown not as a simple victim of persecution, but as a kind of missionary who consciously sacrificed his life for Christian faith.

Carpine account

, an Italian papal legate who travelled through the lands of former Kievan Rus' in the late 1240s, wrote the following account of his death in the Ystoria Mongalorum:

Genealogy

Marriage and children

Michael married once and had several children.
  1. Feodula Mikhailovna ; became a nun and adopted the religious name Evfrosinia;
  2. Duke Rostislav Mikhailovich of Macsó ;
  3. Maria Mikhailovna, wife of Prince Vasilko Konstantinovich of Rostov;
  4. Prince Roman Mikhailovich of Chernigov and Bryansk ;
  5. Prince Mstislav Mikhailovich of Karachev and Zvenigorod ;
  6. Prince Simeon Mikhailovich of Glukhov and Novosil;
  7. Prince Yury Mikhailovich of Torusa and Bryansk.

Descendants

The later Upper Oka Principalities of the 14th and 15th centuries were reigned by the "upper princes", each of which descended from Mikhail Vsevolodovich of Chernigov.
In the second half of the 19th century, many family branches stemming from Mikhail flourished: the Baryatinsky, the Gorchakovy, the Dolgorukie, the Eletskie, the Zvenigorodskie, the Koltsovy-Mosalskie, the Obolenskie, the Odoevskie, and the Shcherbatovy.

Primary sources

Scholarly literature

Category:1180s births
Category:1246 deaths
Category:13th-century murdered monarchs
Category:Murdered royalty of Kievan Rus'
Category:Olgovichi family
Category:Grand princes of Kiev
Category:Princes of Chernigov
Category:Princes of Galicia
Category:Princes of Novgorod
Category:Christian saints from Kievan Rus'
Category:13th-century Christian saints
Category:13th-century [Eastern Orthodox martyrs]
Category:13th-century princes from Kievan Rus'
Category:People executed by the Golden Horde
Category:Year of birth uncertain