After the unrest, the people decided to elect their own ruler. Each proposed various candidates, including themselves, and could not come to a consensus. One day, some nobleman from Galich brought a written opinion to the council, which said that Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov was the closest of all in terms of kinship with the former tsars. The nobleman’s opinion was supported, which resolved the issue.

Mikhail was in Kostroma at that time, together with his mother (in the Ipatiev Monastery). Mikhail and his mother responded to the proposal with a categorical refusal. The ambassadors prayed with tears and beat their foreheads from three o'clock in the afternoon until nine in the evening. Finally they agreed, and Mikhail announced that he would soon be in Moscow. On May 2, Mikhail and his mother entered Moscow, and on June 11, he was crowned king.

Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich was young and inexperienced, and until 1619 the country was ruled by the nun Martha and her relatives (after the release of Patriarch Filaret, Mikhail’s father, from Polish captivity in 1619, power actually passed to Filaret). The historian N.I. Kostomarov says the following about this period: “Near the young tsar there were no people distinguished by intelligence and energy: they were all just ordinary mediocrity. The previous sad history of Russian society bore bitter fruits. The torment of Ivan the Terrible, the treacherous rule of Boris, and finally, the unrest and complete breakdown of all state ties produced a pitiful, petty generation, a generation of stupid and narrow people who were little capable of rising above everyday interests. Under the new sixteen-year-old king, neither Sylvester nor Adashev of previous times appeared. Mikhail himself was naturally kind, but, it seems, of a melancholy disposition; he was not gifted with brilliant abilities, but was not devoid of intelligence; but he did not receive any education and, as they say, upon ascending the throne, he barely knew how to read.”

Crowning of Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich in the Assumption Cathedral.

Stolbovsky world.

Having captured Novgorod and its environs during the Time of Troubles, the Swedes forced the people to swear allegiance to Prince Philip. The king decided to act cunningly. He gave the Novgorodians two letters - in one he called them traitors, and in the secret letter he forgave them. But the Duma Moscow clerk reported to the Swedes about this trick - the war began. The Swedes besieged the city of Tikhvin and defeated Russian troops, and in the fall of 1614. captured the city of Gdov. Only February 27, 1617 A peace treaty was signed in Stolbov.

According to the text of the agreement, the Novgorod lands were divided between two states: Veliky Novgorod and its environs, captured during the Time of Troubles, were returned to the Russian kingdom, including Staraya Russa, Ladoga, Porkhov, Gdov with counties, as well as the area of ​​​​Lake Samro, and everything captured by the Swedes in this area territory of state and church property. The Russian cities of Ivangorod, Yam, Koporye, Korela, the entire Neva and Oreshek with the district went to the Swedish kingdom, Russia lost access to the Baltic Sea. In addition, Moscow undertook to pay the Swedish crown 20,000 silver rubles - a huge amount at that time.

Deulino truce (Polyanovsky peace).

The Russian-Polish War began back in 1609. During the campaigns of 1609-1612, Polish-Lithuanian troops managed to occupy a significant territory of the Russian Empire, including the largest fortress of Smolensk.

In 1616, the Polish-Lithuanian army led by Vladislav Vaza and the great Lithuanian hetman Jan Chodkiewicz again invaded Russia with the aim of overthrowing Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov. The Polish-Lithuanian troops managed to advance to Mozhaisk, where they were stopped. After the failure near Moscow, the main forces of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth army settled in the area of ​​the Trinity-Sergius Monastery, and the Cossacks - in the Kaluga area. The presence of enemy armies on Russian territory, exhaustion from many years of Troubles and wars, as well as internal instability forced the Russian government to agree to peace negotiations (the truce period was set at 14 years and 6 months) on unfavorable terms.

Russia conceded the following cities to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth: Smolensk, Roslavl, Dorogobuzh, Belaya, Serpeisk, Trubchevsk, Novgorod-Seversky, Chernigov. And also Vladislav Vasa retained the right to be called the Russian Tsar in the official papers of the Polish-Lithuanian state. The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth returned the cities to Russia: Kozelsk, Vyazma, Meshchovsk, Mosalsk.

And later, after Shein’s siege of Smolensk, an “eternal peace” was concluded with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (Polyanovsky Peace of 1634). Poland and Lithuania retained Smolensk and the Seversk land, but the Polish king and Grand Duke of Lithuania Vladislav IV renounced his claims to the Russian throne.

Development of Siberia.

First, the city of Yeniseisk was built in Siberia. In 1621, having conquered nearby peoples, they founded Krasnoyarsk. And in 1631 Cossack Porfiryev and his Cossacks built the Bratsk Ostrog (on the Angara River) and tried to conquer the Buryats. Then the explorers went down the Lena River and in 1632. Yakutsk was founded. Ustyansk was also founded by Elisey Yuryev. Researchers studied peoples (forcing them to submit to Russia), rivers (where they start, where they flow) and lands. In 1643 Kurbat Ivanov and the Cossacks went down the Lena and discovered Lake Baikal.

Death of Mikhail Fedorovich.

Tsar Michael was not in good health from birth. Already in 1627, at the age of 30, Mikhail Fedorovich “mourned his legs” so much that sometimes, in his own words, he was “carried to and from the cart in chairs.” He died on July 13 (23), 1645 from abdominal dropsy of unknown origin at the age of 49 years. According to the doctors who treated the Moscow sovereign, his illness came from “sitting too much,” from cold drinking and melancholy. Mikhail Fedorovich 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, old style) 1596 in Moscow.

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

In 1601, together with his parents, Boris Godunov fell into disgrace. Lived in exile. In 1605 he returned to Moscow, where he was captured by the Poles who captured the Kremlin. In 1612, liberated 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 ambassadors of the Council arrived in Kostroma. At the Ipatiev Monastery, where Mikhail was with his mother, he was informed of his election to the throne.

Poles arrive in Moscow. A small detachment set out to kill Mikhail, but got lost along the way, because the peasant Ivan Susanin, having agreed 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), real power was with his mother, as well as with her relatives from the Saltykov boyars. From 1619 to 1633, the country was ruled by the tsar’s father, Patriarch Filaret, who had returned from Polish captivity. Under the dual power that existed at that time, state charters were written on behalf of the Sovereign Tsar and His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'.

During the reign of Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov, the wars with Sweden (Peace of Stolbovo, 1617) and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (Truce of Deulin, 1618, later - Peace of Polyanovsky, 1634) were ended.

Overcoming the consequences of the Time of Troubles required the centralization of power. The system of voivodeship administration grew locally, the order system was restored and developed. Since the 1620s, the activities of Zemsky Sobors have been limited to advisory functions. They gathered 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 began (Reitar, Dragoon, Soldier regiments), the rank and file of which were “willing free people” and homeless boyar children, the officers were foreign military specialists. At the end of Michael's reign, 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 period for capturing fugitive peasants was increased from five to nine years. In 1641 another year was added to it. Peasants exported by other owners were allowed to be searched for up to 15 years. This indicated the growth of serfdom tendencies in the legislation on land and peasants.

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

The Filaretovskaya belfry was erected in the Kremlin in 1624. 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, and new trading shops were built in Kitay-Gorod.

In 1632, an enterprise for teaching velvet and damask work appeared in Moscow - Velvet Dvor (in the middle of the 17th century its premises served as a weapons warehouse). The center of textile production became Kadashevskaya Sloboda with the sovereign's 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, and all the Kremlin cathedrals were re-painted, including the Assumption (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. He was buried in the Archangel Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin.

The first wife is Maria Vladimirovna Dolgorukova. The marriage turned out to be childless.

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

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

The material was prepared based on information from RIA Novosti and open sources

Born in 1596 into the family of Moscow Romanov boyars: Fyodor Nikitich (later Patriarch Filaret) and his wife Ksenia Ivanovna. Mikhail Fedorovich was the great-nephew of Ivan the Terrible and the cousin of the last Russian Tsar from the Moscow branch of the Rurikovich 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 entire family fell into disgrace. In 1600, Fyodor Nikitich and his wife forcibly took monastic vows and left worldly life under the names Filaret and Martha. This deprived them of the 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 Romanovs to be returned from exile. By coincidence, the released Filaret took the main church post under False Dmitry. When the impostor was overthrown by Vasily Shuisky, from 1608 Filaret took on the role of “nominated patriarch” of the new impostor False Dmitry II, who located his camp in Tushino. However, before the enemies of the “Tushino thief”, Filaret called himself his prisoner.

• Unknown artist. Portrait of the nun Martha (Ksenia 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. He found himself in Moscow at the height 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 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-class Zemsky Sobor was convened, in which both the townspeople and rural inhabitants took part. A new ruler had 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 militias for the liberation of Moscow in 1612. It was the Zemsky Council of the Whole 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 ranks of the Russian state. What was important was the initial general agreement with the candidacy of Mikhail Romanov as a relative of the last legitimate tsar before the Time of Troubles, Fyodor Ivanovich,” said Vyacheslav Kozlyakov, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor at Ryazan State University named after Sergei Yesenin, in an interview with RT.

• Ivanov S.V. "Zemsky Sobor" (1908)

More than ten candidates were nominated 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 militias liberated Moscow, Tsar Fyodor Ivanovich was perceived as the last legitimate tsar, after which chosen 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,” said Evgeniy Pchelov, head of the department of auxiliary and special historical disciplines at the Institute of History and Archives of the Russian State University for the Humanities, in an interview with RT.

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

Heavy "legacy"

“After the election of the tsar, the restoration of power immediately began, which was reduced to the “as before” order. 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 this time priorities were correctly set: restoration of the state, pacification of the rebellious Cossacks, return of lost territories,” says Kozlyakov.

After concluding a truce with Poland, the Poles freed Filaret from captivity in 1619. It is widely believed that until the death of the patriarch in 1633, all power was actually 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 during several years of the first period of his reign. The Zemsky Sobor provided great support to Mikhail Fedorovich,” says Pchelov.

Experts say that the first years of the reign of Mikhail Fedorovich, when the new sovereign found himself surrounded by a family circle of the Romanov boyars, the princes of Cherkassy, ​​Sheremetev and Saltykov (relatives of the tsar’s mother), seem to provide grounds for asserting that the tsar was a weak and weak-willed ruler.

“At the same time, the main problems of the kingdom related to war or the collection of emergency taxes were still resolved with the help of Zemsky Sobors. Given the predominance of the Tsar's relatives in the Duma, representatives of other families of the princely aristocracy also remained there. And no one in the “Romanov” party could strengthen itself 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
• globallookpress.com

According to the expert, historians can talk for a long time about the peculiar “dual power of the great sovereigns” - the tsar 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 stopped convening. Tsar Mikhail Romanov made compromises to take into account his father’s opinion, but this was not based on lack of will and fear, but on the warm relationship between father and son, as evidenced by the surviving correspondence between the tsar and the patriarch.

After the death of Filaret, Mikhail 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, to govern the cities, he introduced the institution of voivodes, but after petitions from 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 became the share of land and special enterprises (bakeries, mills, craft shops). For reliable accounting, scribe books were drawn up, which restrained the arbitrariness of tax collectors.

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

“If Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich had been such a weak ruler, the transformation would not have happened in the second part of his reign (after the passing of his parents) in the 1630s-1640s. I wouldn’t be able to establish myself,” emphasizes Kozlyakov.

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

“The heyday of the Muscovite kingdom during the time of Alexei Mikhailovich, his son, was founded under Mikhail Fedorovich. The war with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was over, and 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 Troubles and began to confidently move forward,” concluded Pchelov.

Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov

After the expulsion of the Poles from Moscow, the leadership of the Second Militia settled in the capital, and the main orders were also located there. It was necessary to assemble a Zemsky Sobor, designed to resolve the main issue: to elect a new head of state. And letters about convening, electing and sending delegates to Moscow “ten of the best, reasonable and consistent people, with whom it was possible to talk about God’s and the Zemstvo’s big business for a treaty,” were sent already at the end of November 1612. In addition, the elected delegates had to speak about this state matter “freely and fearlessly, so that they would be straightforward without any cunning.” At the end of December 1612 - beginning of January 1613, representatives of all classes and social groups of Russia gathered in Moscow for the Council of the entire Russian Land.

Expulsion of Poles from the Moscow Kremlin in 1612

The Polish prince Vladislav and the Swedish Duke Carl Philip continued to be contenders for the Moscow throne. The leaders of the First and Second People's Militia took part in the election fight: princes Dmitry Pozharsky, Dmitry Trubetskoy, Dmitry Cherkassky and others. Vasily Golitsyn was in Polish captivity, Mstislavsky and Vorotynsky recused themselves. But the main figure turned out to be a 16-year-old youth, Mikhail Romanov, the son of the Tushino Metropolitan Philaret (in the world Fyodor Romanov) and the nun Martha (in the world Ksenia Romanova) who was in captivity.

Romanov Fedor Nikitich

Elder nun Martha

A real struggle unfolded around the candidacy of the future tsar. Each of the boyar groups tried to promote its representative to the throne. The Polish and Swedish princes, applicants of “other German faiths and from non-Orthodox states” and Marinka’s son were unanimously rejected. It was decided to place a “natural Russian sovereign” on the Russian throne

Statements that Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov was elected unanimously at the Zemsky Sobor are nothing more than a myth. The fact is that in Moscow on the eve and during the election Council there was a complete predominance of Cossacks (about ten thousand; nobles with slaves about one and a half, and archers and less than a thousand people) and they practically dictated their terms to the leadership of the Second Militia. It was the dominance of the Cossacks that played a decisive role. Moreover, direct, brutal intervention with the use of force, and twice, made the candidacy of Mikhail Romanov not only acceptable to the main part of the deputies of this council, but the only one possible. First, on February 7, during the pre-election, the Cossacks burst into the meeting chamber and forced Mikhail Romanov to proclaim himself. But before publicly announcing the name of the new tsar, they carried out, so to speak, a study of the target audience, sending envoys from the Zemsky Sobor to the cities to see if this candidate would be welcome there.

Cossacks at the Zemsky Cathedral,Mikhail GORELIK

Feofilakt Mezhakov

If you believe Klyuchevsky, at the most tense moment, the ataman of the Don Cossacks, Feofilakt Mezhakov, during a meeting of the Council, put a note with the name of Mikhail Romanov on the table and covered it with a naked saber... Then on February 21, under pressure from the same Cossacks, the final choice of the tsar took place much faster. On the same day, Mikhail Fedorovich was confirmed in this rank by representatives of all Russian lands.

February 21, 1613 Abraham Palitsyn reads to the consecrated cathedral in the Patriarchal Chambers of the Moscow Kremlin,
petition to the boyars and governors for the calling of boyar Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov to the royal throne

and the porch of the Annunciation Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin, cellarer of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra Avraamy Palitsyn
reads out the decision of the Zemsky Sobor on the election of Mikhail Fedorovich to the kingdom

The ambassadors of the Zemsky Sobor inform the people and troops about the decision to elect
Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov.
The assembled people swear allegiance to the newly elected Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich

Sagittarius at the election of Mikhail Fedorovich

From the Book of the Romanovs. Three hundred years of service to Russia. Ed. White City

A large delegation from the Zemsky Sobor went to the Ipatiev Monastery near Kostroma, where Mikhail and his mother were at that time. On March 13, 1613, ambassadors led by Archbishop Theodoret of Ryazan, cellarer of the Trinity-Sergius Monastery Abraham Palitsyn and boyar Fyodor Ivanovich Sheremetev arrived in Kostroma; On March 14, they were received at the Ipatiev Monastery by Mikhail Romanov and nun Martha and reported on the decision of the Zemsky Sobor to elect Mikhail Fedorovich to the Moscow throne

March 14, 1613. The Embassy of the Zemsky Sobor informs Mikhail Romanov of His election to the kingdom.
19th century miniature

The people and boyars beg Mikhail Romanov and his mother to accept the kingdom in front of the Ipatiev Monastery
Fragment

Nun Martha, fearing for the fate of her son, begged him not to accept such a heavy burden. Mikhail also hesitated. However, after much persuasion, the mother gave her consent to enthroning her son. Then the elected tsar, together with his family, the delegation of the Zemsky Sobor, accompanied by a large guard, moved from Kostroma to Yaroslavl, and then along the Yaroslavl road to Moscow.

The calling of Mikhail Fedorovich to the kingdom. N. Shustov

Calling to the Romanov kingdom - Mikhail Fedorovich
Alexey KIVSHENKO

Mikhail Nesterov. The calling of Mikhail Fedorovich to the kingdom.

Russian royal house of Romanov

The calling of Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov to the kingdom
Grigory UGRUMOV

Calling to the kingdom of Mikhail Romanov
Ivan KUZNETSOV

The calling of Mikhail Fedorovich to the kingdom

Ivan Susanin

Ivan Susanin’s vision of the image of Mikhail Fedorovich, Mikhail Nesterov

Ivan Susanin
Elena DOVEDOVA

Just at this time, either in the winter or in the spring of 1613, one of the Polish detachments scouring the country decided to capture Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich in order to free the throne for his prince Vladislav. Making their way to Kostroma, the Poles took as their guide the peasant Ivan Susanin, who, saving the life of the newly elected tsar, led his enemies into a swampy forest, where he was tortured by them for refusing to show the right path.

Ivan Susanin
Maxim FAYUSTOV

Kill! torture me!—my grave is here! But know and strive: I saved Mikhail!

You thought you found a traitor in me: They do not exist and will not exist on Russian soil!

In it, everyone loves their homeland from infancy and will not destroy their soul by betrayal.

Kondraty Ryleev

Death of Ivan Susanin
Boris ZVORYKIN

Ivan Susanin
Mikhail SCOTTIE

Death of Ivan Susanin

Monument to Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich and Ivan Susanin in Kostroma

Bas-relief on the pedestal of the monument. Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich and peasant Ivan Susanin in Kostroma

The Rooks Have Arrived,Alexey SAVRASOV

Church of the Resurrection in the village of Susanino, Kostroma region, where the Museum of the Feat of Ivan Susanin is now located

Chromolithography by A.V. MOROZOVA

Entry of Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich into Moscow. 1613

May 1613 The consecrated cathedral, Moscow townspeople and arriving people of all classes solemnly greet the newly elected Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich and the Empress Grand Elder Marfa Ivanovna at the Sretensky Gate.
From the Book of the Romanovs. Three hundred years of service to Russia. Publishing house White City

May 3, 1613. Procession of the highest clergy, Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich, boyars, nobles and townspeople through the territory of the Moscow Kremlin to the Assumption Cathedral to perform a solemn prayer service there

July 11, 1613 Procession of Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich to his coronation. Engraving

Procession along Cathedral Square of the Moscow Kremlin.
Miniature from the Book about the election and crowning of the Tsar and Grand Duke Mikhail Fedorovich.

July 11, 1613. Royal wedding.
Metropolitan Ephraim anoints the newly crowned Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich in the royal doors of the Assumption Cathedral

Crowning of Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov in the Assumption Cathedral

The crowning of Mikhail Fedorovich
Boris CHORIKOV

July 11, 12, 13, 1613.
Feast in the Faceted Chamber of the Moscow Kremlin on the occasion of the coronation of Mikhail Fedorovich

Large (first) outfit of Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich - hat-crown, orb, scepter

Seal of Mikhail Fedorovich Adam Olearius Description of the trip

Portrait of Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich in the Ipatevsky Monastery (Kostroma).

Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich in the Miracle Monastery of the Moscow Kremlin prays at the relics of St. Alexia
Miniature from the 17th century. Engraving, watercolor

Mikhail Fedorovich’s problem was not only that he was not only young, but also that he was not married. In general, this is an unprecedented case for Russia: as a rule, a person whose parent has already passed away ends up on the throne. And Russian family traditions in this case provided for guardianship by the father, etc. pressure on the sovereign and the decisions he makes. But the father, Fyodor Romanov, was in captivity at that moment, and then it suddenly became clear that a woman close to power was also capable of much. Nun Marfa, in the world Ksenia Ivanovna, the mother of Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov, who was constantly with her son, showed herself to be a fairly strong political figure.

She correctly judged that she should nominate loyal people in order to strengthen her son’s position. Thanks to her, the Saltykovs, Mikhail’s cousins, and Marfina’s nephews, Boris and Mikhail, began to play the main role at court. The monarch himself was not a stupid person by nature, but due to his fanatical piety, melancholicity, apoliticality and lack of education (when he ascended the throne, he could barely read), he was not able to rule the country and in everything he submitted to the will of his mother and temporary workers, did nothing without their consent . Even when in 1616 Mikhail decided to marry Maria Khlopova, the daughter of a poor nobleman, his mother and the Saltykovs opposed this (seeing the bride’s uncle as a competitor to their influence at court), the tsar did not dare to disobey his mother’s will

The choice of the bride, I.E. Repin

But we need to complete the story of another heroine of the Time of Troubles. Marina Mnishek. We left her in the company of Ataman Ivan Zarutsky in the vicinity of Kolomna in 1612

Marina and Zarutsky fled from Kolomna with loyal Cossacks, a large detachment, to the upper reaches of the Don and stopped in the fortified stronghold of Epifan, founded by Ivan the Terrible. Here they spent several months and here they received news of the Zemsky Sobor held in Moscow and the election of Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov to the kingdom. Marina wanted to go to Lithuania, i.e. leave the political scene altogether. Zarutsky demanded that the fight continue. And they set off in an exotic direction: they spent the winter in Astrakhan in 1614, and then moved towards Iran. It was there, on the way to Iran, that Marina Mnishek, Ivan Zarutsky and a small detachment were overtaken by the troops sent from Moscow to capture them. Marina, Zarutsky and Tsarevich Ivan, Voronok, were captured

Marina's flight with her son

Marina Mnishek before becoming a nun
Claudius STEPANOV

Marinkina Tower of the Kolomna Kremlin
Evgeniy LADIGIN

The further fate of these characters was very sad. Zarutsky was interrogated by the tsar himself, after torture the ataman was impaled. And Marina’s three-year-old son, Tsarevich Ivan, was hanged on the gallows outside the Serpukhov Gate. Moreover, the execution of a small child was arranged publicly, publicly, apparently in the hope that in this way it would be possible to protect oneself from the resurrected Impostors - the princes Ivanov... Zarutsky and Vorenok became perhaps the only judicial victims of the Time of Troubles.

As for Marina Mnishek, she was tonsured a nun, imprisoned in Kolomna in that same tower that was replaced (or maybe some other one), where she died. Poles interested in Marina’s fate were told that in Moscow “Ivashka and Marinka’s son were executed for his evil deeds, and Marinka died of illness and melancholy of her own free will”...

To strengthen his power, Mikhail Fedorovich, especially in the first years of his reign, relied on the authority of the Zemsky Sobor and the Boyar Duma. After all, the new Romanov dynasty ascended the throne thanks to the will of the council and therefore they regularly consulted “with the whole earth”

Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich at a meeting of the Boyar Duma
Andrey RYABUSHKIN

Tsar and Grand Duke Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov
Sergey YAGUZHINSKY

A few words about the largest uprising that occurred at the beginning of the reign of Mikhail Fedorovich in 1615-16. This was the Balovnya uprising, named after the nickname of the highly honored Cossack chieftain Mikhail Balovneva. The main reasons lay on the surface: complete lack of food, lack of cash salaries and the impossibility of actually conducting military operations in order to at least try to feed oneself through military robbery. In the spring of 1615, a single army led by Balovny moved towards Moscow. Up to 5 thousand Cossacks found themselves under the walls of the White City, when there was practically no military garrison in Moscow, the main forces fought with Lisovsky’s army. Nevertheless, after the approach of government troops, the rebellion was suppressed by force and cunning. Balovnya and 36 other atamans were hanged. Hundreds of Cossacks were imprisoned in Moscow or sent to other cities.

Portrait of Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich
Johann Heinrich WEDEKIND

After lengthy negotiations between Sweden and Russia through the mediation of England, the Stolbovo Peace Treaty was signed on February 27, 1617, according to which the Swedes returned the towns to Russia. Novgorod, Staraya Russa, Ladoga and the Sumer region, and Russia lost to Sweden Ivangorod, Kaporye, Yam, Oreshek, Korelu. That. Russia has lost access to the sea.

In 1616, the grown-up Polish prince Vladislav became more active; he issued a letter to all residents of the Moscow state, in which he declared his readiness to take the Russian throne. To his claims, the Zemsky Sobor responded that the country would stand for the Orthodox faith and Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich

Vladislav Vaza

But the Polish royal court, having set itself the goal of placing Prince Vladislav on the Moscow throne, undertook a campaign against Moscow, which was led by the troops of Hetman Khodkevich, Koshe Ataman of the Zaporozhye Sich Peter Sagaidachny with the direct assistance of Chancellor Lev Sapieha

Jan Karol Chodkiewicz Lev Sapieha Piotr Sagaidachny

At the beginning of October 1618, Polish-Lithuanian troops occupied the village of Tushino and began preparations for the assault on Moscow, which took place on the night of October 11, but attempts to break through the Tver and Arbat gates were unsuccessful. In the face of the approaching winter and lack of funding, Prince Vladislav agreed to negotiations

The Polish envoy discusses in the Ambassadorial Prikaz the terms of a preliminary truce before negotiations in Deulino
Mikhail GORELIK

On December 1, 1618, after long and difficult negotiations between the parties, the Deulin Truce was signed between Russia and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth for 14.5 years, according to which Vladislav did not renounce his encroachments on the Russian throne and the royal title, but Russia was able to defend its independence, although it lost Smolensk, which became part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, as well as the Chernigov and Seversk lands, which became part of the Polish crown

In 1618, the trial of Dionysius, the well-known archimandrite of the Trinity-Sergius Monastery during the Time of Troubles, took place. On the instructions of Tsar Michael, he corrected errors made during the printing of liturgical books, eliminated absurdities and contradictions, using Greek books as models. Dionysius was accused by other monks of deviating from the canon. By the Holy Council, not without the active participation of the mother of King Martha, Dionysius was condemned as a heretic to imprisonment; however, by a new council convened by Filaret, who had returned from Polish captivity, he was acquitted. One of the interrogations of Dionysius took place directly in the cell of the nun Martha in the Ascension Monastery.

The trial of Archimandrite Dionysius. 1618
Engraving by M. GASENKAMPF

According to the Deulin truce in the summer of 1619, Russian prisoners captured in the Time of Troubles returned from the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, including Mikhail Fedorovich’s father, Metropolitan Filaret, who, unlike his son, had still reached the point of his mind.

Honorable first meeting near Mozhaisk of Metropolitan Philaret, released from 8 years of Polish captivity, by Archbishop Joseph, princes Dm. Pozharsky and G. Volkonsky.

Return of Patriarch Filaret from Polish captivity
Elena DOVEDOVA

Metropolitan Filaret, in the world Fyodor Nikitich Romanov, exiled and tonsured a monk under Boris Godunov, under False Dmitry I, as a “relative” returned to Moscow, was in opposition to Tsar Vasily Shuisky and appeared in the Tushino camp under False Dmitry II, as a patriarch under impostor; participated in negotiations with King Sigismund III, after which he was captured by the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. When Filaret returned from captivity 6 years after his son was elected to the throne, his wife Marfa Romanova handed over the reins of government to him (not without a fight, it must be said), the Saltykovs were removed from the throne.

Portrait of Patriarch Filaret Nikitich

Seal of Patriarch Filaret

Patriarch Filaret

Even after his father’s return, when it was proven that Mikhail Fedorovich’s first bride Maria Khlopova had been slandered by the Saltykovs, Mikhail Fedorovich did not disobey his mother and did not marry his beloved, although he received consent to the marriage from his father. Only in 1624 did he marry Maria Dolgorukova, but the queen fell ill immediately after the wedding and died three months later. In January 1626, Mikhail Fedorovich married a second time. His chosen one was Evdokia Lukyanovna Streshneva, the daughter of a poor nobleman

She was chosen by the king at a review of girls “full of stature, beauty and intelligence,” who were brought from all over the country. Moreover, the first day was not crowned with success; the king could not choose any of the dressed and rouged girls who were in the large hall. Then they decided to examine them at night, when they would not be embarrassed by the presence of the king. He walked around all the contenders and he liked the servant of the daughter of boyar Volkonsky, Evdokia Streshneva. Despite the protests of his father and mother, Mikhail gave her a scarf and a ring as a sign of his election as his wife.

Mikhail Fedorovich asks his father, His Holiness Patriarch Philaret for advice on marriage

His Holiness Patriarch Filaret blesses his son, Tsar Michael, for marriage

The wedding train of Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich

Majesty in the Faceted Chamber of Evdokia Lukyanovna Streshneva before the wedding

Wedding of Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich and Evdokia Lukyanovna by Archpriest Maxim of the Annunciation Cathedral

Wedding of Mikhail Fedorovich
Boris CHORIKOV

Exit of Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich and Tsarina Evdokia Lukyanovna after the wedding

The ceremonial entrance to the Chamber of Facets after the wedding.

Congratulations in the Chamber of Facets

Proclamation of toast to Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich and Tsarina Evdokia Lukyanovna

The ceremony of the marriage of the sovereign Tsar Mikhail Feodorovich with the maiden Evdokia Lukianovna, daughter of the boyar Lukian Stepanovich Streshnev

wedding feast

All of the above wedding watercolors are taken from the book Description in the faces of the celebration that took place in 1626 on February 5 at the marriage of the Sovereign Tsar and Grand Duke Mikhail Fedorovich with the Empress Evdokia Lukyanovna from the Streshnev family. M. Ed. P. Beketova, 1810

As we can see, the wedding was celebrated very solemnly, with all the rituals inherent in it. From the very first days, the queen fell under the influence of her powerful mother-in-law and led a secluded, secluded life in the circle of close noblewomen and servants. At first, she gave birth only to daughters (Irina, Pelageya), which greatly saddened the spouses and forced them to pray intensely... In total, ten children were born in the marriage, six of whom died in infancy

Royal bedchamber, N. Anokhin

Tower in the 17th century, Mikhail KLODT

From the Romanov dynasty. At the end of February 1613, he would be elected ruler of the Russian kingdom at the Zemsky Sobor. He became king not by family heritage, not by seizing power, and not by his own will.

Mikhail Fedorovich was chosen by God and people, and at that time he was only 16 years old. His reign came at a very difficult time. By the will of fate, Mikhail Fedorovich had to solve serious economic and political problems: to lead the country out of the chaos in which it was after the Time of Troubles, to raise and strengthen the national economy, to preserve the territories of the Fatherland, which was being torn apart. And the main thing is to organize and consolidate the House of Romanov on the Russian throne.

Romanov dynasty. Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov

In the Romanov family, boyar Fyodor Nikitich, who later became Ksenia Ivanovna (Shestova), had a son on July 12, 1596. They named him Mikhail. The Romanov family was related to and was very famous and rich. This boyar family owned vast estates not only in northern and central Russia, but also on the Don and in Ukraine. At first, Mikhail and his parents lived in Moscow, but in 1601 his family fell out of favor and fell into disgrace. Boris Godunov, the ruler at that time, was informed that the Romanovs were preparing a conspiracy and wanted to kill him with the help of a magic potion. The reprisal followed immediately - many representatives of the Romanov family were arrested. In June 1601, at the meeting, a verdict was passed: Fyodor Nikitich and his siblings: Alexander, Mikhail, Vasily and Ivan should be deprived of their property, forcibly tonsured as monks, exiled and imprisoned in various places remote from the capital.

Fyodor Nikitich was sent to the Anthony-Siysky Monastery, which was located in a deserted, deserted place 165 versts from Arkhangelsk, up the Dvina River. It was there that Father Mikhail Fedorovich was tonsured a monk and named Philaret. The mother of the future autocrat, Ksenia Ivanovna, was accused of complicity in a crime against the tsarist government and was sent into exile in the Novgorod district, in the Tol-Egorievsky churchyard, which belonged to the Vazhitsky monastery. Here she was cut into a nun, named Martha and imprisoned in a small building surrounded by a high palisade.

Exile of Mikhail Fedorovich on Beloozero

Little Mikhail, who was six years old at that time, was exiled along with his eight-year-old sister Tatyana Fedorovna and his aunts, Marfa Nikitichna Cherkasskaya, Ulyana Semyonova and Anastasia Nikitichna, to Beloozero. There the boy grew up in extremely harsh conditions, was malnourished, suffered deprivation and poverty. In 1603, Boris Godunov somewhat commuted the sentence and allowed Mikhail’s mother, Marfa Ivanovna, to come to Beloozero to visit her children.

And some time later, the autocrat allowed the exiles to move to the Yuryev-Polsky district, to the village of Klin - the native patrimony of the Romanov family. In 1605, False Dmitry I, who seized power, wanting to confirm his relationship with the Romanov family, returned its surviving representatives from exile to Moscow, including Mikhail’s family and himself. Fyodor Nikitich was granted the Rostov Metropolitanate.

Troubles. The state of siege of the future tsar in Moscow

During difficult times, from 1606 to 1610, Vasily Shuisky ruled. During this period, many dramatic events happened in Russia. This included the emergence and growth of the “thieves” movement, a peasant uprising led by I. Bolotnikov. Some time later, he teamed up with a new impostor, the “Tushino thief” False Dmitry II. The Polish intervention began. Troops of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth captured Smolensk. The boyars overthrew Shuisky from the throne because he thoughtlessly concluded the Vyborg Treaty with Sweden. Under this agreement, the Swedes agreed to help Russia fight against False Dmitry, and in return they received the territories of the Kola Peninsula. Unfortunately, the conclusion of the Vyborg Treaty did not save Russia - the Poles defeated the Russian-Swedish troops in the Battle of Klushin and opened their approaches to Moscow.

At this time, the boyars ruling the country swore allegiance to the son of the king of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth Sigismund, Wladyslaw. The country split into two camps. In the period from 1610 to 1613, an anti-Polish popular uprising arose. In 1611 it was formed under the leadership of Lyapunov, but it was defeated on the outskirts of Moscow. In 1612, a second militia was created. It was headed by D. Pozharsky and K. Minin. At the end, a terrible battle took place, in which the Russian troops won. Hetman Khodkevich retreated to the Sparrow Hills. By the end of October, the Russian militia cleared Moscow of the Poles who had settled there, awaiting help from Sigismund. Russian boyars, including Mikhail Fedorovich and his mother Martha, captured, exhausted by hunger and deprivation, were finally freed.

Attempted murder of Mikhail Fedorovich

After the most difficult siege of Moscow, Mikhail Fedorovich left for the Kostroma estate. Here the future tsar almost died at the hands of a gang of Poles who were staying in and looking for a way to Domnino. Mikhail Fedorovich was saved by the peasant Ivan Susanin, who volunteered to show the robbers the way to the future tsar and took them in the opposite direction, to the swamps.

And the future tsar took refuge in the Yusupov monastery. Ivan Susanin was tortured, but he never revealed Romanov’s location. This is how difficult the childhood and adolescence of the future king were, who at the age of 5 was forcibly separated from his parents and, while his mother and father were still alive, became an orphan, experienced the hardships of isolation from the outside world, the horrors of a state of siege and hunger.

Zemsky Sobor 1613 Election of Mikhail Fedorovich to the kingdom

After the expulsion of the interventionists by the boyars and the people's militia led by Prince Pozharsky, it was decided that it was necessary to choose a new king. On February 7, 1613, during the preliminary election, a nobleman from Galich proposed to enthronement Filaret’s son, Mikhail Fedorovich. Of all the applicants, he was closest in kinship to the Rurik family. Messengers were sent to many cities to find out the opinion of the people. On February 21, 1613, the final elections were held. The people decided: “Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov should be sovereign.” Having made this decision, they equipped the embassy to notify Mikhail Fedorovich of his election as tsar. On March 14, 1613, the ambassadors, accompanied by a religious procession, came to the Ipatiev Monastery and nun Marfa. Long persuasion was finally crowned with success, and Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov agreed to become king. Only on May 2, 1613, the sovereign’s magnificent ceremonial entry into Moscow took place - when, in his opinion, the capital and the Kremlin were already ready to receive him. On July 11, a new autocrat, Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov, was crowned king. The ceremony took place in the Assumption Cathedral.

Beginning of the reign of the sovereign

Mikhail Fedorovich took the reins of government of a torn, destroyed and impoverished country. In difficult times, the people needed just such an autocrat - generous, charming, gentle, kind and at the same time generous in spiritual qualities. It’s not for nothing that people called him “meek.” The personality of the tsar contributed to the strengthening of the power of the Romanovs. The domestic policy of Mikhail Fedorovich at the beginning of his reign was aimed at restoring order in the country. An important task was to eliminate the gangs of robbers rampaging everywhere. A real war was waged with the Cossack ataman Ivan Zarutsky, which ultimately ended in capture and subsequent execution. The issue of peasants was acute. In 1613, state lands were distributed to those in need.

Important strategic decisions - armistice with Sweden

Mikhail Fedorovich's foreign policy was focused on concluding a truce with Sweden and ending the war with Poland. In 1617, the Stolbovo Treaty was signed. This document officially ended the war with the Swedes, which lasted for three years. Now the Novgorod lands were divided between the Russian kingdom (the captured cities were returned to it: Veliky Novgorod, Ladoga, Gdov, Porkhov, Staraya Russa, as well as the Sumer region) and the Kingdom of Sweden (it received Ivangorod, Koporye, Yam, Korela, Oreshek, Neva). In addition, Moscow had to pay Sweden a serious amount - 20 thousand silver rubles. The Stolbov Treaty cut off the country from the Baltic Sea, but for Moscow the conclusion of this truce allowed it to continue its war with Poland.

The end of the Russian-Polish war. Return of Patriarch Filaret

The Russo-Polish War lasted with varying degrees of success starting in 1609. In 1616, an enemy army led by Władysław Vaza and Hetman Jan Chodkiewicz invaded Russian borders, wanting to overthrow Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich from the throne. It was only able to reach Mozhaisk, where it was stopped. Since 1618, the army of Ukrainian Cossacks, led by Hetman P. Sagaidachny, joined the army. Together they launched an assault on Moscow, but it was unsuccessful. Detachments of Poles retreated and settled next to the Trinity-Sergius Monastery. As a result, the parties agreed to negotiations, and a truce was signed in the village of Deulino on December 11, 1618, which put an end to the Russian-Polish war. The terms of the treaty were unfavorable, but the Russian government agreed to accept them in order to stop internal instability and restore the country. According to the agreement, Russia ceded the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth to Roslavl, Dorogobuzh, Smolensk, Novgoro-Seversky, Chernigov, Serpeisk and other cities. Also during the negotiations, it was decided to exchange prisoners. On July 1, 1619, an exchange of prisoners was carried out on the Polyanovka River, and Filaret, the king’s father, finally returned to his homeland. Some time later he was ordained patriarch.

Dual power. Wise decisions of two rulers of the Russian land

The so-called dual power was established in the Russian kingdom. Together with his father-patriarch, Mikhail Fedorovich began to govern the state. He, like the Tsar himself, was given the title of “Great Sovereign.”

At the age of 28, Mikhail Fedorovich married Maria Vladimirovna Dolgorukaya. However, a year later she died. For the second time, Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich married Evdokia Lukyanovna Streshneva. Over the years of their marriage, she bore him ten children. In general, the policy of Mikhail Fedorovich and Filaret was aimed at centralizing power, restoring the economy and filling the treasury. In June 1619, it was decided that taxes would be taken from the devastated lands according to sentinels or scribe books. It was decided to conduct a population census again to establish the exact amounts of tax revenues. Scribes and patrolmen were sent to the area. During the reign of Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov, to improve the tax system, the compilation of scribe books was carried out twice. Since 1620, governors and elders began to be appointed locally to keep order.

Rebuilding Moscow

During the reign of Mikhail Fedorovich, the capital and other cities destroyed during the Time of Troubles were gradually restored. In 1624, a Stone Tent and a striking clock were built over the Spasskaya Tower, and the Filaret Belfry was also built. In 1635-1636, stone mansions were erected for the king and his offspring in place of the old wooden ones. 15 churches were built on the territory from Nikolsky to Spassky Gates. In addition to restoring destroyed cities, the policy of Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov was aimed at further enslaving the peasants. In 1627, a law was created that allowed nobles to transfer their lands by inheritance (for this it was necessary to serve the king). In addition, a five-year search for fugitive peasants was established, which was extended to 9 years in 1637, and to 10 years in 1641.

Creation of new army regiments

An important area of ​​Mikhail Fedorovich’s activity was the creation of a regular national army. In the 30s In the 17th century, “regiments of the new order” appeared. They included free people, and foreigners were accepted as officers. In 1642, training of military people in foreign systems began. In addition, Reitar, soldier and cavalry regiments began to form. Two Moscow elective regiments were also created, which were later named Lefortovo and Butyrsky (from the settlements in which they were located).

Industrial development

In addition to creating an army, Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov sought to develop various industries in the country. The government began to call upon foreign industrialists (miners, foundries, gunsmiths) on preferential terms. The German Settlement was founded in Moscow, where engineers and foreign military personnel lived and worked. In 1632, a plant was built for casting cannonballs and cannons near Tula. Textile production also developed: the Velvet Court opened in Moscow. Velvet making training took place here. Textile production was launched in Kadashevskaya Sloboda.

Instead of a conclusion

Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov died at the age of 49. This happened on July 12, 1645. The result of his government activities was the calming of the state, agitated by the Troubles, the establishment of centralized power, raising welfare, and restoring the economy, industry and trade. During the reign of the first Romanov, wars with Sweden and Poland were stopped, and, in addition, diplomatic ties were established with European states.