Mikhail Of Chernigov

Mikhail Vsevolodovich ( – 20 September 1246), known as Michael or Mikhail of Chernigov, was Grand Prince of Kiev (1236–1239; 1241–1243); he was also Prince of Pereyaslavl (1206), Novgorod-Seversk (1219–1226), Chernigov (1223–1235; 1242–1246), Novgorod (1225–1226; 1229–1230), and Galicia (1235–1236).

Archaeological evidence reveals that Chernigov towns enjoyed an unprecedented degree of prosperity during his period which suggests that promoting trade was a priority for him. Commercial interests, in part, also motivated him to seize control of Halych and Kiev because they were channels through which goods from the Rhine valley and Hungary passed to Chernigov. He also negotiated commercial treaties and political alliances with the Poles and the Hungarians. He alleviated the tax burden of the Novgorodians and granted their boyars greater political freedom from the prince.

During the Mongol invasion of Kievan Rus' (1237–1242), Mikhail was defeated and had to flee; in 1246, he was executed by Batu Khan.

Legacy

''Vita'' of Michael of Chernigov

A hagiography ''vita'' of Michael of Chernigov was written some time after his death, describing his life in detail, and framing his execution as martyrdom. It is unclear when this account was written (at least after the Mongol census in Suzdalia and Novgorod in 1257–59), and how historically reliable it is. Mikhail's death is briefly mentioned in the Older Recension of '' Novgorod First Chronicle'' (compiled 1275), in the '' Laurentian Codex'' (compiled 1377), and in the '' Hypatian Codex'' (compiled 1425), but the full text of the ''vita'' is not found in these manuscripts. It is not until the Younger Recension of the ''Novgorod First Chronicle'' (compiled 1450) that an extensive narrative of his demise appears, stating that the bodies of Mikhail and Fedor were thrown to the dogs; but as a sign of divine favor, their bodies remained unmolested and pillars of fire hovered over them. The ''Nikon Chronicle'' (compiled 1550) added even more text to Mikhail's ''vita'', including claims that the Mongols already established a system of military governors and tax collectors in all cities of Kievan Rus' in 1237–1240, which is historically very unlikely.

Carpine account

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

Genealogy

Marriage and children

Michael married once and had several children.
* Elena Romanovna (or Maria Romanovna) (m. 1210 or 1211), a daughter of prince Roman Mstislavich of Halych and his wife, Predslava Rurikovna of Kiev
#Feodula Mikhailovna (1212 – 1250); became a nun and adopted the religious name Evfrosinia;
#Duke Rostislav Mikhailovich of Macsó (b. c. 1225 – 1262);
# Maria Mikhailovna (? – 7 or 9 December 1271), wife of Prince Vasilko Konstantinovich of Rostov;
#Prince Roman Mikhailovich of Chernigov and Bryansk (c. 1218 – after 1288/1305);
#Prince Mstislav Mikhailovich of Karachev and Zvenigorod (1220 – 1280);
#Prince Simeon Mikhailovich of Glukhov and Novosil;
#Prince Yury Mikhailovich of Torusa and Bryansk.

Ancestors

Descendants

The later Upper Oka Principalities of the 14th and 15th centuries were reigned by the "upper princes", each of which descended from Mikhail Vsevolodovich of Chernigov.

In the second half of the 19th century, many family branches stemming from Mikhail flourished: the Baryatinsky, the Gorchakovy, the Dolgorukie, the Eletskie, the Zvenigorodskie, the Koltsovy-Mosalskie, the Obolenskie, the Odoevskie, and the Shcherbatovy.

Notes

References

Bibliography

Primary sources

* Giovanni da Pian del Carpine, '' Ystoria Mongalorum'' (1240s)
** Modern edition: DiPlano Carpini, Giovanni ''(Author)'' - Hildinger, Erik ''(Translator)'': ''The Story of the Mongols whom We Call the Tartars''; Branden Publishing Company, Inc, 1996, Boston, MA; .
* '' Galician–Volhynian Chronicle'' (1290s; oldest copy '' Hypatian Codex'' 1425)
**
''Galician-Volhynian Chronicle''
(years 1245–1260). (interpreted by Leonid Makhnovets)
** (pages 52–53 relate the death of Michael of Chernigov)
* ''Suzdal'–Vladimirian Chronicle'' (1305; oldest copy '' Laurentian Codex'' 1377) (L. 165 ''sub anno'' 6754 (1246) relates the death of Michael of Chernigov)

Scholarly literature

* Dimnik, Martin, ''Mikhail, Prince of Chernigov and Grand Prince of Kiev, 1224–1246'' (1981). pp. 215. Turnhout: Brepols Publishers. ISBN 978-0888440525.
* Dimnik, Martin, ''The Dynasty of Chernigov, 1146–1246'' (2003). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. .
* (e-book).
*
* Vernadsky, George, ''Kievan Russia''; Yale University Press, 1948, New Haven and London; .

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