Michael of Chernigov

Mikhail Vsevolodovich (c. 1185 – 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).

Michael of Chernigov
Icon of Saint Michael of Chernigov, 17th century
Prince of Chernigov
Reign	1223–1235; 1242–1246
Predecessor	Mstislav II Svyatoslavich Mstislav III Glebovich
Successor	Mstislav III Glebovich Roman Mikhailovich
Grand Prince of Kiev
Reign	1236–1239; 1241–1243
Predecessor	Yaroslav II of Vladimir Daniel of Galicia
Successor	Daniel of Galicia Yaroslav II of Vladimir
Born	c. 1185
Died	(1246-09-20)20 September 1246 (age 60-61)
Spouse	Elena Romanovna
Issue	Feodula Rostislav of Macsó Maria Roman of Chernigov and Bryansk Mstislav of Karachev and Zvenigorod Simeon of Glukhov and Novosil Yury of Torusa and Bryansk
Names Mikhail Vsevolodovich of Chernigov
House	Olgovichi
Father	Vsevolod IV of Kiev
Mother	Anastasia of Poland

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 c. 1275), in the Laurentian Codex (compiled 1377), and in the Hypatian Codex (compiled c. 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 c. 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 c. 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:

(…) when Michael, one of the princes of Russia, came to submit to Bati, the Tartars first tried to make him pass between two fires. After this they said that he should bow south to Chingis Khan, but he replied that he would gladly bow to Bati and his servants but not to the image of a dead man because this is improper for a Christian. When he was repeatedly told through his son Yaroslav that he must bow, and yet he refused, Bati ordered Prince Michael killed if he would not bow. Prince Michael of Chernigov was passed between fires in accordance with ancient Turco-Mongol tradition. Batu Khan sent to stab him to death for his refusal to do obeisance to Chingis Khaan's shrine in the pagan ritual imposed by the conqueror. The prince replied that he "preferred to die rather than do what was wrong". Bati sent Michael to one of his followers who trampled on his chest with his boots until the prince died. Meanwhile the prince comforted one of his soldiers who stood near by him by saying: 'Be strong because your punishment will not last long and then at once eternal joy will follow.' After this his head was cut off quickly with a knife. The soldier, to tell the truth, also had his head cut off with a knife.

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

1. Feodula Mikhailovna (1212 – 1250); became a nun and adopted the religious name Evfrosinia;
2. Duke Rostislav Mikhailovich of Macsó (b. c. 1225 – 1262);
3. Maria Mikhailovna (? – 7 or 9 December 1271), wife of Prince Vasilko Konstantinovich of Rostov;
4. Prince Roman Mikhailovich of Chernigov and Bryansk (c. 1218 – after 1288/1305);
5. Prince Mstislav Mikhailovich of Karachev and Zvenigorod (1220 – 1280);
6. Prince Simeon Mikhailovich of Glukhov and Novosil;
7. Prince Yury Mikhailovich of Torusa and Bryansk.

Ancestors

Ancestors of Michael of Chernigov

8. Vsevolod II Olgovich, grand prince of Kiev 4. Sviatoslav III Vsevolodovich, grand prince of Kiev 9. Maria Mstislavna of Kiev 2. Vsevolod IV Sviatoslavich, grand prince of Kiev 10. Vasilko Sviatoslavich, prince of Polotsk 5. Maria Vasilkovna of Polotsk 1. Mikhail Vsevolodovich 12. Bolesław III, duke of Poland 6. Casimir II, prince of Cracow 13. Salomea of Berg 3. Maria/Anastasia of Poland 14. Conrad II of Znojmo 7. Helena of Znojmo 15. Marija of Rascia

Descendants

See also: Upper Oka Principalities

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.

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; ISBN 0-8283-2017-9.
• Galician–Volhynian Chronicle (1290s; oldest copy Hypatian Codex c. 1425)
  • (in Ukrainian) Galician-Volhynian Chronicle (years 1245–1260). (interpreted by Leonid Makhnovets)
  • Perfecky, George A. (1973). The Hypatian Codex Part Two: The Galician–Volynian Chronicle. An annotated translation by George A. Perfecky. Munich: Wilhelm Fink Verlag. OCLC 902306. (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. ISBN 978-0-521-03981-9.
• Halperin, Charles J. (1987). Russia and the Golden Horde: The Mongol Impact on Medieval Russian History. Indiana University. p. 222. ISBN 9781850430575. (e-book).
• Martin, Janet (2007). Medieval Russia: 980–1584. Second Edition. E-book. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-511-36800-4.
• Vernadsky, George, Kievan Russia; Yale University Press, 1948, New Haven and London; ISBN 0-300-01647-6.