Tsar Mikhail Romanov. Mikhail Fedorovich - biography, information, personal life Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov

The beginning of the royal House of Romanov

As you know, the change of dynasties was caused by the suppression of the ruling branch of the Rurik in the offspring of Ivan the Terrible. Problems of succession to the throne gave rise to a deep socio-political crisis, accompanied by the intervention of foreigners. Among the contenders for the throne were representatives from different social strata, there were also foreign candidates from among the "natural" dynasties. The descendants of the Rurikovichs (Vasily Shuisky, 1606-1610), then came from among the untitled boyars (Boris Godunov, 1598-1605), then impostors (False Dmitry I, 1605-1606; False Dmitry II, 1607-1610) became kings .).

In 1613, at the Zemsky Sobor, a 16-year-old was elected to the royal throne. Mikhail Fedorovich, and in his person, a new ruling dynasty (“The House of Romanovs”) was established, which ruled Russia until 1917.

Mikhail had a very indirect relationship with the previous ruling dynasty - he was only the great-nephew of Ivan IV's beloved wife, Anastasia. Nevertheless, there was not much to choose from, and therefore the boyar Mikhail Romanov was put in the kingdom.

Mikhail Fedorovich's position remained uncertain for some time. However, gradually he became a symbol of national and state revival, a legitimate monarch, around whom various social strata united.

The situation inside the country was difficult. The devastated country did not have enough of its own means to fight the enemies. The greatest danger to Russia was represented by Poland. King Sigismund III and his son Vladislav did not forget that the throne of Moscow was almost in their hands. At any moment one could expect their new attempts to capture Moscow. In addition, the Poles had many Russian prisoners, including Mikhail's father Filaret.

Because Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich was young and inexperienced, then until 1619 the country was ruled by the great old woman Martha, mother of Mikhail Fedorovich. Then, after the release of Patriarch Filaret from Polish captivity in 1619, the actual power passed into the hands of the father of the tsar, who also bore the title of Great Sovereign. The return of Filaret from Polish captivity was most welcome. The fact is that although the relatives provided Mikhail with assistance in governing the country, they more and more abused their power. By the time Filaret arrived, the Romanov family circle was not only fully formed, but also demanded some curbing of their arbitrariness and licentiousness. Only Filaret, as the eldest in the family, could bring order to the court. And, judging by the reviews of contemporaries, he did it. Many people who were previously close to the king were sent into exile, from where they returned only after the death of Filaret.

After the death of Filaret (1633), Mikhail Fedorovich began to rule independently, relying on a narrow circle of trusted persons-in-laws, in whose hands the leadership of the main orders was concentrated (Prince I. B. Cherkassky, boyar F. I. Sheremetev).

Foreign policy Mikhail Fedorovich was ambiguous, although, of course, Russia has achieved something at the international level. On the one hand, the wars with Sweden were stopped ( Peace of Stolbov 1617, according to which Novgorod lands were returned to Russia in exchange for the entire coast of the Baltic Sea - Izhora land and the city of Korela). However, the signing of this treaty was not the mistake of the government of Mikhail - Russia did not have the strength to conduct further military operations with Sweden. In 1618 it was concluded Deulin truce with Sigismund III for a period of 14.5 years. Its conditions were extremely difficult for the Russian state: the Poles returned to the Russians the father of the tsar, Metropolitan Philaret and other boyars, but left behind them Smolensk, the most important Russian fortress on the western border, and Chernigov, Novgorod-Seversky lands with 29 cities. The Polish King and Grand Duke of Lithuania Vladislav IV renounced his claims to the Russian throne. Thus, Russia lost significant territories, but the Romanovs defended the independence of Russia.

On the other hand, actively exploredSiberia, which brought the Russian treasury 1/3 of all income (due to the sale of Siberian furs abroad). The lower Urals (Yaik Cossacks), the Baikal region, Yakutia and Chukotka were annexed to Russia, and an outlet to the Pacific Ocean appeared. Mining was given special patronage. The tsar repeatedly ordered specialists from abroad to search for minerals. This allowed the Romanovs to lead the country out of the deepest political and economic crisis.

Domestic politics Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov was more extensive and successful than the external one. The main internal political problem of Mikhail Fedorovich was the impostors who had not calmed down after the “distemper”. In 1614, Marina Mniszek and her son Vorenok, who had previously been hiding in the Lower Volga region, were executed in Moscow. During the reign of Mikhail Fedorovich and his father, the most difficult consequences of the Time of Troubles were overcome, a normal economy and trade were restored (it took almost 30 years). In 1632, with the permission of Mikhail Fedorovich, the first iron-smelting, iron-making and weapons factories began to be built near Tula.

In 1624, Mikhail Fedorovich was forcibly married to Princess Maria Dolgorukova, who died of an unknown illness 5 months later.

In 1626, following the results of the show, Tsar Mikhail married the daughter of a Mozhaisk nobleman Evdokia Streshneva. Tsarina Evdokia gave birth to 10 children for the tsar (including the future tsar Alexei Mikhailovich).

Evdokia Lukyanovna Streshneva

The queen's father, Lukyan Streshnev, soon became the richest landowner, who owned estates in seven counties; in terms of the number of lands, he ranked ninth among the richest people in the state.

In history, Mikhail Fedorovich remained as a calm, peaceful monarch, easily influenced by his environment, for which he received the nickname - Gentle. He was a religious man, like his father, and it was natural for them to live according to the laws of faith. Members of the royal family considered it their duty to attend daily services, strictly observe established rituals, and travel on a pilgrimage.

Usually, all the successes of the reign of Mikhail Fedorovich are attributed to the energetic Patriarch Filaret. But for the last twenty years, Michael ruled on his own, and these years, in terms of the importance and complexity of solving state affairs, were not much different from previous ones.

Under Michael, royal power was strengthened, as evidenced by the new state seal. In it, the word “autocrat” was added to the title of the king, and crowns appeared above the heads of the two-headed eagle. During the years of rule of the first tsar from the house of Romanov, Russia was reborn from the ruins, gained strength and power, putting an end to the consequences of the Time of Troubles. Mikhail's government was able not only to bring the country out of the crisis, but also to strengthen it, creating conditions for further faster development.

Mikhail Fedorovich died on July 13 (23), 1645 from water sickness of unknown cause at the age of 49. He was buried in the Archangel Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. After his death, the throne passed to his son. Alexei Mikhailovich, nicknamed the quietest(reign 1645 - 1676).

Sergey Shulyak

Information from the site hram-troicy.prihod.ru

Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov (born 12 (22) July 1596 - death 13 (23) July 1645) - Sovereign, Tsar and Grand Duke of All Rus'. Board from February 21 (March 3), 1613 - to July 13 (23), 1645

During the Troubles

The father of Mikhail Fedorovich was Fyodor Nikitich Romanov, who later became Patriarch Filaret, married to Xenia Ivanovna Shestova, from an humble family. Their son Mikhail was born on July 12, 1596.

1601 - Boris Godunov tonsured Fyodor Nikitich Romanov as a monk with the name Filaret and exiled him to the Sophia Anthony Monastery, and tonsured his wife Xenia under the name Martha and exiled to Zaonezhye, to the Yegoryevsky churchyard of the Tolvui volost.

Mikhail Fedorovich ended up with his aunt Martha Nikitichnaya Cherkasskaya on Beloozero, from 1603 he lived in Klin (the Romanovs' ancestral home), from 1605 - with his mother.

The first impostor elevated Filaret to the rank of Metropolitan of Rostov. His family was reunited and almost until the end of 1608 lived together, and at the time when Filaret was in his honorable captivity - in Moscow.

1610 - Filaret and Prince Golitsyn were sent to the Poles, who did not let him go, and for the next 9 years Mikhail did not see his father. The future tsar and his mother were detained in the Moscow Kremlin and released from captivity only in November 1612, when they retired to Kostroma, living either in their own house or in the Ipatiev Monastery.

Zemsky Sobor. Election to the kingdom

On February 21, 1613, the Zemsky Sobor elected Mikhail Fedorovich as tsar. On March 13, ambassadors from the Council arrived in Kostroma and the next day they were received at the Ipatiev Monastery. Nun Martha and her son resolutely refused to accept the proposal of the Council, mainly because, as the mother said, “her son has no idea of ​​being a sovereign in such great glorious states; he is not in perfect years, but the people of the Moscow state of all ranks, because of their sins, were exhausted, giving their souls to the former sovereigns, they did not directly serve.

After negotiations that lasted six hours, mother and son, when they were threatened that God would punish them for the final ruin of the state, agreed to accept the election of Mikhail Fedorovich to the royal throne.

1613, July 11 - in the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin, the wedding to the kingdom of Mikhail Fedorovich took place. The Romanov dynasty began.

The beginning of the reign of the Romanovs

Xenia Ivanovna Shestova. The king's mother

The young and weak-willed king was unable to do without the firm support of his relatives. This was provided to him, and even excessively, by his mother, and upon his return from Polish captivity, by his father. Vladyka Filaret was a man of a tough and tough temper, but nun Martha was distinguished by an even tougher and more domineering character. “It was enough to look at her portrait,” wrote the historian S.F. Platonov, “at low eyebrows, stern eyes, a large, hooked nose, and most of all at mocking and at the same time imperious lips, in order to get an idea of ​​​​her mind, strong character and will, but these signs say little about gentleness and kindness.

Having come to power, Mikhail Fedorovich was forced to start streamlining internal affairs and fighting external enemies - Sweden and Poland. In addition, many gangs of robbers calmly moved from one edge of the Russian land to another, robbed and committed excesses, completely ruining the Muscovite state.

The first task of the new government was to collect the treasury. The sovereign and the Zemsky Sobor sent letters everywhere with orders to collect taxes and state revenues, with requests for a loan for the treasury of money and everything that could be given. Particular attention was paid to the gangs of Cossacks and all other rabble. The struggle with Zarutsky was long, with the gang of which they were able to deal only in June 1614. And by the autumn of 1614 they dealt with the ataman Balovny and his gang on the upper reaches of the Volga. In the end, by 1616 they were able to weaken and disperse the most dangerous gang - Lisovsky.

The Zemsky Sobor of 1616 decided to levy the fifth money on all merchants and indicated to rich people what sums they needed to give to the treasury in order to wage war against external enemies. The Swedes owned Novgorod and the Vodskaya Pyatina and wanted to annex this region to Sweden. In addition, they demanded that Russia recognize Prince Philip as the Tsar of Moscow, to whom the Novgorodians had already sworn allegiance. But most of all, the Swedes were interested in preventing the Russians from reaching the Baltic Sea. Therefore, they willingly agreed to the mediation of England and Holland in the peace negotiations.

Negotiations were often interrupted, in the end, they ended in eternal peace on February 27, 1617 in Stolbov. The Swedes conceded Novgorod, Porkhov, Staraya Russa, Ladoga and Gdov to the Russians, and the Russians conceded to the Swedes the Primorye Territory: Ivangorod, Yam, Koporye, Oreshek and Korela, while pledging to pay Sweden 20 thousand rubles. At the same time, the British, Dutch and Swedes secured important trading privileges for themselves.

It should be noted that because of these territories many years later it will participate in the Northern War. The domestic policy of the first tsar of the Romanov dynasty was still aimed at stabilizing life and centralizing power. He was able to bring harmony to the secular and spiritual society, restore agriculture and trade, which were destroyed in the Time of Troubles, establish the first factories in the state, and transform the tax system depending on the size of the land.

It should also be said about such innovations by Mikhail Romanov as the first census of the population and their property conducted in the state, which made it possible to stabilize the tax system, as well as encouraging the development of creative talents by the state. The tsar ordered to hire the artist John Deters and instructed him to teach painting to capable Russian students.

The call to the kingdom of Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov

Personal life

1616 - to Tsar Mikhail Romanov, the Queen-nun Martha, in agreement with the boyars, arranged the bride's bride, it was fitting for the tsar to marry and show the rightful heir to the power, so that there would be no troubles and unrest. It is curious that these brides were originally a fiction - the mother had already chosen a future wife for the sovereign from the noble Saltykov family. However, Mikhail Fedorovich confused her plans - he chose his bride himself. She was the hawthorn Maria Khlopova, but she was not destined to become a queen. In anger, the Saltykovs began to secretly poison the girl's food, and because of the symptoms of the disease, she was recognized as an unsuitable candidate. However, the sovereign uncovered the boyar intrigues and exiled the Saltykov family.

But the character of the king was too soft to insist on a wedding with Maria Khlopova. He married foreign brides. Although they agreed to marriage, but only on the condition of maintaining the Catholic faith, which turned out to be unacceptable for Rus'. As a result, the well-born Princess Maria Dolgorukaya became the sovereign's wife. But just a few days after the wedding, she fell ill and died soon after. The people called this death a punishment for insulting Maria Khlopova, and historians do not exclude a new poisoning.

1626 - the tsar was in his thirtieth year and he was a childless widower. Again bride-to-be was organized, again behind the scenes the future queen was chosen in advance, and again Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov showed self-will. They chose the daughter of the Meshchovsky nobleman Evdokia Streshneva, who was not even a candidate and did not take part in the bride, but arrived as a servant of one of the girls. The wedding was played very modestly, the bride was protected from assassination by all possible means, and when she showed that she was not interested in the politics of Mikhail Romanov, all the intriguers fell behind the tsar's wife.

In family life, Mikhail Fedorovich and Evdokia Lukyanovna were relatively happy. The family couple became the founders of the Romanov dynasty and produced 10 children, although 6 of them died in infancy. The future Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich was the third child and the first son of the ruling parents. In addition to him, three daughters of Mikhail Romanov survived - Irina, Tatyana and Anna. Evdokia Streshneva herself, in addition to the main duty of the queen - the birth of heirs, was engaged in charity work, helping churches and poor people, building churches and leading a pious life.

Mikhail Fedorovich and Evdokia Streshneva

Death

Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov was often ill in the last months of his life. Walking and riding had a tiring effect on him, his body weakened from a sedentary lifestyle. Apparently, the failure in arranging the fate of his eldest daughter also had an effect on him: the refusal of the Danish prince dealt him a heavy blow.

1645, July 12 - on the day of his name day, Mikhail Romanov, having overcome his malaise, got out of bed and went to church. But there he had an attack of suffocation. The king was transferred to the chambers. But by evening he got worse. He groaned and complained of severe pain in his heart. He ordered to call the queen and son, 16-year-old Alexei. He blessed him for the kingdom, confessed to the patriarch, and at the third hour of the night he died quietly.

Foreign doctors who treated the Moscow tsar explained that his illness came from “many sitting”, from cold drinking and melancholy ...

Queen Evdokia was able to outlive her royal husband by only a few months. The successor of the Romanov family was the only son of Tsar Mikhail, 16-year-old Alexei: a year before his death, the autocrat declared him publicly the heir to the royal throne.

Thus, the reign of the first tsar of the Romanov family ended. Tsar Mikhail Romanov, the founder of the dynasty, who shared power for 14 years with his father, an involuntary monk and patriarch, came to power in a completely democratic way and laid the foundation for a long journey. During his reign, the Muscovite state was able to heal the severe wounds caused by the Time of Troubles, so much so that the reign of Alexei Mikhailovich could become quite successful for Russia both in internal and external affairs.

From the significant cases of the reign of Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov

1619 - the foundation of the Yenisei prison on the Yenisei River - the center of the Russian development of Eastern Siberia.

1620 - the foundation of the Pharmaceutical Order - the first state medical institution.

Construction in 1624–1625 Spasskaya (Frolovskaya) Tower of the Moscow Kremlin by Russian architect B. Ogurtsov.

1627 - expansion of the powers of elected zemstvo authorities and courts by limiting the power of governors.

1628 - the foundation of the Krasnoyarsk prison on the Yenisei River.

1630 - the construction of the first ironworks in the Trans-Urals near Irbit.

1631 - Bratsky prison was founded in Siberia.

1632, February 19 - a charter of the tsar to the Dutch merchant A Vinius for the construction of factories near Tula for casting cannons, boilers, forging "boards and rods", with exemption from duties and dues for 10 years. 1636, March 14 - the first iron was obtained at the Vinius plant.

1632 - Lena Ostrog (later Yakutsk) was founded on the Lena River.

1633 - the establishment of the Greek-Latin patriarchal school by Patriarch Philaret in the Miracle Monastery in the Kremlin.

1633 - discovery of copper deposits in the upper reaches of the Kama River and the construction of the first Pyskorsky copper smelter.

1634 - publication in Moscow of the “Primer of the Slovene language, that is, the beginning of teaching for children” by V.F. Burtsov-Protopopov - the first printed textbook published in Russia.

1635–1636 - construction in Moscow by architects A. Konstantinov, B. Ogurtsov, L. Ushakov and T. Sharutin of the Kremlin Terem Palace.

1636 - the foundation of Simbirsk and Tambov.

1636 - the beginning of the construction of defensive structures of the Belgorod "notch line".

1639 - the oath of allegiance to the Russian tsar of the Kakhetian king Teimuraz I.

1640 - construction of the Oblique Ostrog (future Okhotsk) on the coast of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk.

The first tsar of the Romanov dynasty died on July 12, 1645 and was buried in the Archangel Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin.

The first Russian tsar from the Romanov dynasty, Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov, was born on July 22 (July 12, according to the old style), 1596 in Moscow.

His father is Fedor Nikitich Romanov, Metropolitan (later Patriarch Filaret), his mother is Xenia Ivanovna Shestova (later nun Martha). Mikhail was the cousin-nephew of the last Russian tsar from the Moscow branch of the Rurik dynasty, Fyodor Ivanovich.

In 1601, together with his parents, he was disgraced by Boris Godunov. Lived in exile. Since 1605 he returned to Moscow, where he was captured by the Poles, who captured the Kremlin. In 1612, freed by the militia of Dmitry Pozharsky and Kuzma Minin, he left for Kostroma.

On March 3 (February 21, old style), 1613, the Zemsky Sobor elected Mikhail Romanovich to reign.

On March 23 (March 13, old style), 1613, the Council's ambassadors arrived in Kostroma. In the Ipatiev Monastery, where Mikhail was with his mother, he was informed of his election to the throne.

The Poles arrive in Moscow. A small detachment went to kill Mikhail, but got lost along the way, because the peasant Ivan Susanin, agreeing to show the way, led him into a dense forest.

June 21 (June 11, old style) 1613 Mikhail Fedorovich in Moscow in the Assumption Cathedral of the Kremlin.

In the first years of Mikhail's reign (1613-1619), the real power was with his mother, as well as her relatives from the Saltykov boyars. From 1619 to 1633, the father of the tsar, Patriarch Filaret, who returned from Polish captivity, ruled the country. With the dual power that existed at that time, state letters were written on behalf of the Sovereign Tsar and His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'.

During the reign of Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov, the wars with Sweden (Stolbovsky peace, 1617) and the Commonwealth (Deulinsky truce, 1618, later - Polyanovsky peace, 1634) were stopped.

Overcoming the consequences of the Time of Troubles required the centralization of power. On the ground, the system of voivodeship administration grew, the order system was restored and developed. Since the 1620s, the activities of Zemsky Sobors have been limited to advisory functions. They met at the initiative of the government to resolve issues that required the approval of the estates: about war and peace, about the introduction of extraordinary taxes.

In the 1630s, the creation of regular military units (reiter, dragoon, soldier regiments) began, the rank and file of which were "eager free people" and dispossessed boyar children, the officers were foreign military specialists. At the end of the reign of Michael, cavalry dragoon regiments arose to guard the borders.

The government also began to restore and build defensive lines - serif lines.

Under Mikhail Fedorovich, diplomatic relations were established with Holland, Austria, Denmark, Turkey, and Persia.

In 1637, the term for capturing fugitive peasants was increased from five to nine years. In 1641, another year was added to it. Peasants taken out by other owners were allowed to search for up to 15 years. This testified to the growth of feudal tendencies in the legislation on land and peasants.

Moscow under Mikhail Fedorovich was restored from the consequences of the intervention.

In the Kremlin in 1624, the Filaret belfry was erected. In 1624-1525, a stone tent was built over the Frolovskaya (now Spasskaya) tower and a new striking clock was installed (1621).

In 1626 (after a devastating fire in Moscow), Mikhail Fedorovich issued a series of decrees appointing persons responsible for restoring buildings in the city. All the royal palaces were restored in the Kremlin, new trading shops were built in Kitay-gorod.

In 1632, an enterprise for training in velvet and damask craft appeared in Moscow - the Velvet Yard (in the middle of the 17th century, its premises served as a warehouse for weapons). The center of textile production was Kadashevskaya Sloboda with the sovereign Khamovny yard.

In 1633, machines were installed in the Sviblova tower of the Kremlin to supply water from the Moscow River to the Kremlin (hence its modern name - Vodovzvodnaya).

In 1635-1937, on the site of the ceremonial chambers of the 16th century, the Terem Palace was built for Mikhail Fedorovich, all the Kremlin cathedrals were repainted, including the Assumption Cathedral (1642), the Church of the Deposition of the Robe (1644).

In 1642 construction began on the Cathedral of the Twelve Apostles in the Kremlin.

On July 23 (July 13, old style), 1645, Mikhail Fedorovich died of water sickness. Buried in the Archangel Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin.

First wife - Maria Vladimirovna Dolgorukova. The marriage was childless.

The second wife is Evdokia Lukyanovna Streshneva. Marriage brought Mikhail Fedorovich seven daughters (Irina, Pelageya, Anna, Martha, Sophia, Tatiana, Evdokia) and three sons (Alexei, Ivan, Vasily). Not all children survived even to adolescence. Parents experienced the death of their sons Ivan and Vasily in one year especially hard.

Alexei Mikhailovich Romanov (1629-1676, reigned 1645-1676) became the heir to the throne.

The material was prepared on the basis of information from RIA Novosti and open sources

Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov.
Years of life: 1596–1645
Reign: 1613-1645

First Russian Tsar Romanov dynasty(1613–1917). He was chosen to reign by the Zemsky Sobor on February 7, 1613.

Born July 12, 1596 in Moscow. The son of the boyar Fyodor Nikitich Romanov, Metropolitan (later Patriarch Filaret) and Xenia Ivanovna Shestova (later Nun Martha), nee Shestova. Michael was the cousin-nephew of the last Russian tsar from the Moscow branch of the Rurik dynasty, Fedor I Ioannovich.

Tsar Mikhail Romanov

The first years, Mikhail lived in Moscow, and in 1601, together with his parents, he was disgraced by Boris Godunov. The Romanovs received a denunciation that they kept magical roots and wanted to kill the royal family with witchcraft. Many Romanovs were arrested, and the sons of Nikita Romanovich, Fedor, Alexander, Mikhail, Ivan and Vasily, were tonsured monks and exiled to Siberia.

In 1605, False Dmitry I, wishing to prove kinship with the Romanov family, returned the surviving members of the Romanov family from exile. Among them were Michael's parents and himself. First, they settled in the village of Domnino, the Kostroma patrimony of the Romanovs, and then hid from the persecution of the Polish-Lithuanian detachments in the monastery of St. Hypatius near Kostroma.

On February 21, 1613, after the expulsion of the interventionists by the militia of D. Pozharsky and K. Minin, the Great Zemsky and Local Council was held in Moscow, which was going to elect a new tsar. Among the contenders were the Swedish prince Karl-Philip, the Polish prince Vladislav and others. in the country a monarchy on the Polish model. The moral image of Mikhail as the son of a metropolitan also met the interests of the church, corresponded to popular ideas about the king-pastor, intercessor before God.

Upon learning of this, the Poles made an attempt to prevent the new tsar from coming to Moscow. A small Polish detachment went to the Ipatiev Monastery to kill Mikhail Fedorovich, but on the way the soldiers got lost, because the peasant Ivan Susanin, agreeing to show the right way, led them into a dense forest.

On February 21, 1613, 16-year-old Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov was chosen by the Zemsky Sobor to reign and became the ancestor Romanov dynasty. In the Assumption Cathedral of the Kremlin on July 11, 1613, he was crowned king.

Mikhail Romanov, the first tsar of the Romanov dynasty

In the early childhood of Tsar Mikhail (1613-1619), the country was ruled by his mother Martha and her relatives from the Saltykov boyars, and from 1619 to 1633. - returned from Polish captivity father - Patriarch Filaret, who bore the title of "Great Sovereign". In 1625, Mikhail Fedorovich adopted the title of "Autocrat of All Russia". With the dual power that existed at that time, state letters were written on behalf of the Sovereign Tsar and His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'.

During the reign of Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov, the wars with Sweden (Stolbovsky peace of 1617) and Poland (Deulinsky truce, 1634) were stopped. But the Nogai Horde left the subordination of Russia, and although the government of Mikhail Fedorovich annually sent expensive gifts to Bakhchisaray, the raids continued.

In 1631-1634. the organization of regular military units (Reiter, Dragoon, soldier regiments) was carried out, the rank and file of which consisted of "eager free people" and dispossessed boyar children, the officers were foreign military specialists. At the end of the reign of Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov, cavalry dragoon regiments arose to protect the country's borders.

In 1632, the foundation of the 1st ironworks near Tula took place.

In 1637, the term for capturing fugitive peasants was extended to nine years, and in 1641, for another year. Exported peasants by other owners were allowed to search for up to 15 years.

By order of Mikhail in Russia, the construction of the Great Barrier Line, the fortresses of the Simbirsk and Belgorod Lines began. Under him, Moscow was restored from the consequences of the intervention (the Terem Palace and the Filaret Belfry were built, a striking clock appeared in the Kremlin, and the Znamensky Monastery was founded).

In the 1620s–1640s, diplomatic relations were established with Holland, Turkey, Austria, Denmark, and Persia.

Since 1633, machines for supplying water from the Moskva River (received the name Vodovzvodnaya) were installed in the Kremlin's Sviblova Tower. In Moscow, enterprises for training in velvet and damask crafts were created - the Velvet Yard.

Under him, garden roses were brought to Russia for the first time.

He remained in history as a calm, peaceful monarch, easily influenced by his surroundings, for which he received the nickname - Meek. He was a religious man, like his father.

Mikhail Fedorovich at the end of his life he could not walk, he was taken in a wagon. From "a lot of sitting" the body of Tsar Michael weakened, and contemporaries noted melancholy in his character.

Mikhail Romanov died on July 13, 1645 at the age of 49 from water sickness. He was buried in the Archangel Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin.

Was married twice:

• Wife 1st: Maria Dolgorukova. There were no children.
• Wife 2nd: Evdokia Streshneva. In this marriage, children: Alexei, John, Vasily, Irina, Anna, Tatyana, Pelageya, Maria, Sophia.

Born in 1596 in the family of the Moscow Romanov boyars: Fyodor Nikitich (later - Patriarch Filaret) and his wife Xenia Ivanovna. Mikhail Fedorovich was the great-nephew of Ivan the Terrible and cousin-nephew of the last Russian tsar from the Moscow branch of the Rurik dynasty, Fyodor Ivanovich.

During the Time of Troubles, Boris Godunov considered the Romanovs as his main rivals who wanted to take the Moscow throne. Therefore, very soon the whole family fell into disgrace. In 1600, Fyodor Nikitich, together with his wife, forcibly took the tonsure and left worldly life under the names Filaret and Martha. This deprived them of their right to the crown.

In 1605, False Dmitry I came to power. In an effort to confirm his belonging to the royal family, the impostor ordered the return of the Romanovs from exile. By coincidence, the released Filaret took the main church post under False Dmitry. When the impostor was overthrown by Vasily Shuisky, Filaret, from 1608, assumed the role of the “named patriarch” of the new impostor False Dmitry II, who set up his camp in Tushino. However, before the enemies of the "Tushino thief" Filaret called himself his prisoner.

• Unknown artist. Portrait of nun Martha (Xenia Ivanovna Shestova)

After some time, Filaret flatly refused to sign the agreement drawn up by the Poles on the transfer of the Russian throne to the Polish prince, the Catholic Vladislav. For disobedience, the Poles arrested Filaret and released him only in 1619, when a truce was concluded with Poland.

Meanwhile, Mikhail Romanov spent several years in the Vladimir region on his uncle's estate. In Moscow, he found himself in the midst of the Polish-Lithuanian occupation, after Vasily Shuisky was overthrown and the Seven Boyars were established. In the winter of 1612, nun Martha and her son took refuge in their estate near Kostroma, and then fled from the Polish-Lithuanian persecution in the Ipatiev Monastery.

Only with the liberation of the capital in 1613 did the revival of Russian statehood become possible. Therefore, at the beginning of the same year, the first all-estate Zemsky Sobor was convened, in which both the townspeople and the rural inhabitants took part. A new ruler was to be elected by voting.

"Consolidating Figure"

“The accession of Mikhail Fedorovich to the throne became possible after the very difficult trials of the Time of Troubles, the self-organization of the zemstvo worlds, which formed the first and second militia for the liberation of Moscow in 1612. It was the Zemsky Council of All the Land that convened a council to elect a tsar, and after the election of Mikhail Romanov on March 3, 1613, he received power from all the ranks of the Russian state. Important was the initial general agreement with the candidacy of Mikhail Romanov as a relative of the last legitimate tsar before the Troubles, Fyodor Ivanovich, ”said Vyacheslav Kozlyakov, doctor of historical sciences, professor at Sergei Yesenin Ryazan State University, in an interview with RT.

• Ivanov S.V. "Zemsky Sobor" (1908)

More than ten candidates were put forward at the Zemsky Sobor, including princes Dmitry Trubetskoy and Dmitry Pozharsky. "Foreign princes" were no longer considered as contenders for the Russian throne.

“Mikhail Fedorovich turned out to be a consolidating figure for many. After the Time of Troubles, when the militias liberated Moscow, Tsar Fyodor Ivanovich was perceived as the last legitimate tsar, after which the elected tsars appeared, who had no direct relation to this tradition, impostors. Mikhail was the closest relative of the last legitimate Moscow tsar from the Rurik dynasty, ”Yevgeny Pchelov, head of the department of auxiliary and special historical disciplines of the Historical and Archival Institute of the Russian State University for the Humanities, said in an interview with RT.

The expert also emphasized that Mikhail Fedorovich was all the time outside the political struggle that unfolded during the Time of Troubles, he personally did not declare claims to the throne, did not take part in the meetings of the Council. But it was his figure that symbolized the continuity of power.

A heavy legacy

“After the election of the tsar, the restoration of power immediately began, which was reduced to the order “as usual”. No one took revenge on anyone, the boyars, who were sitting in Moscow during its siege by the Zemstvo militias, remained in power and again entered the Boyar Duma. Nevertheless, the first years of the reign of Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich turned out to be very difficult, but at that time the priorities were correctly set: the restoration of the state, the pacification of the rebellious Cossacks, the return of the lost territories, ”says Kozlyakov.

After the conclusion of a truce with Poland, the Poles in 1619 released Filaret from captivity. It is widely believed that until the death of the patriarch in 1633, all power was in fact in his hands.

“Despite the great role of Filaret, Mikhail Fedorovich was a completely independent sovereign, but he inevitably had to rely on someone's support and help for several years of the first period of his reign. The Zemsky Sobor provided great support to Mikhail Fedorovich, ”Pchelov believes.

Experts say that the first years of the reign of Mikhail Fedorovich, when the new sovereign was surrounded by a kindred circle of the Romanov boyars, the princes Cherkassky, Sheremetev and Saltykov (relatives of the tsar's mother), seem to give reason to assert that the tsar was a weak and weak-willed ruler.

“At the same time, the main problems of the kingdom, connected with the war or the collection of emergency taxes, were still resolved with the help of Zemsky Sobors. With the predominance of the tsar's relatives in the Duma, representatives of other clans of the princely aristocracy also remained there. And no one in the "Romanov" party could have become strong enough to replace the tsar. Even with the return of the tsar’s father, the future Moscow Patriarch Filaret, in 1619, the concept of the primacy of tsarist power did not change, ”Kozlyakov explained.

• Patriarch Filaret
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According to the expert, historians can talk for a long time about a kind of "dual power of great sovereigns" - the king and the patriarch. But the role of Mikhail Fedorovich and the Boyar Duma in all matters remained decisive. Patriarch Filaret also supported him in this, after whose return Zemsky Sobors ceased to convene. Tsar Mikhail Romanov made compromises in order to take into account the opinion of his father, but this was not based on lack of will and fear, but on warm relations between father and son, as evidenced by the preserved correspondence between the tsar and the patriarch.

After the death of Filaret, Michael ruled independently for 12 years. And the people remembered him as a righteous and honest sovereign. Mikhail Fedorovich was not a supporter of strict rules. For example, for the management of cities, he introduced the institution of governors, but after the petitions of the townspeople, it was not difficult for him to replace them with elected representatives of the zemstvo nobility. The young ruler regulated the collection of taxes. The unit of taxation was the share of land and special enterprises (bakery, mills, craft shops). For reliable accounting, scribe books were issued, which restrained the arbitrariness of tax collectors.

Under Mikhail Fedorovich, work began on the search for natural resources, iron-smelting, weapons, brick and many other factories were built. It was he who founded the German Quarter in Moscow - a place of settlement for foreign engineers and military men, who in the era of Peter I will play a big role.

“If Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich had been such a weak ruler, there would have been no transformation in the second part of his reign (after the death of his parents) in the 1630-1640s. I could not have established myself," emphasizes Kozlyakov.

But the most important thing that Mikhail Fedorovich managed to do was to bring the country out of the deepest crisis into which the Time of Troubles plunged it.

“The heyday of the Moscow kingdom of the times of Alexei Mikhailovich, his son, was laid down under Mikhail Fedorovich. The war with the Commonwealth was ended, a peace treaty was concluded with Sweden. Of course, the Smolensk War of the 1630s was not very successful. Nevertheless, the country recovered after the Time of Troubles and began to confidently move forward, ”concluded Pchelov.