{{Short description|Grand Prince of Kiev (r. 1236–1239; 1241–1243)}} {{infobox royalty | name = Michael Vsevolodovich | full name = Mikhail Vsevolodovich of Chernigov | image = Saints Boyar Theodore and Prince Michael of Chernigov.jpg | image_size = | caption = Fresco of Saint Michael of Chernigov from [[Ferapontov Monastery]], 1502 | succession = [[Prince of Chernigov]] | reign1 = 1223–1235; 1242–1246 | predecessor1= [[Mstislav II Svyatoslavich]]<br />[[Mstislav III Glebovich]] | successor1 = [[Mstislav III Glebovich]]<br />[[Roman Mikhailovich (Prince of Chernigov)|Roman Mikhailovich]] | succession2 = [[Grand Prince of Kiev]] | reign2 = 1238–1239; 1241–1243 | predecessor2= [[Yaroslav II of Vladimir]]<br />[[Daniel of Galicia]] | successor2 = [[Daniel of Galicia]]<br />[[Yaroslav II of Vladimir]] | house = [[Olgovichi]] | father = [[Vsevolod IV of Kiev]] | mother = [[Casimir II the Just#Marriage and issue|Anastasia of Poland]] | spouse = [[Elena Romanovna]] | issue = Feodula<br/>[[Rostislav Mikhailovich|Rostislav of Macsó]]<br/>[[Maria of Chernigov|Maria]]<br/>[[Roman Mikhailovich (Prince of Chernigov)|Roman of Chernigov and Bryansk]]<br/>Mstislav of Karachev and Zvenigorod<br/>Simeon of Glukhov and Novosil<br/>Yury of Torusa and Bryansk | birth_date = {{circa|lk=no| 1185}} | birth_place = | death_date = {{death date|1246|9|20|df=y}} (age 60-61) | death_place = [[Sarai (city)|Saray]], [[Golden Horde]] (near modern-day [[Astrakhan]], [[Russia]])<ref name=ency>{{Cite book|title=Енциклопедія українознавства. Словникова частина (ЕУ-II)|date=1994|volume=4|page=1561}}</ref> | signature_type = Seal | signature = File:Kneze-stamp.jpg }} {{Infobox saint |honorific_prefix=[[Saint]]s |name=Michael and Theodore of Chernigov |honorific_suffix=[[Wonderworker]]s<ref name=old/> |birth_date= |death_date= 20 September 1246 |feast_day= 20 September<ref name=old/> |venerated_in=[[Eastern Orthodox Church]], [[Roman Catholic Church]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Михайло і Теодор Чернігівські, свв.|url=https://catholicnews.org.ua/saintspage/mihaylo-i-teodor-chernigivski-svv/|access-date=2026-01-28}}</ref> |image=Menaion icon (17 c., TsAK) - September - 34 Michail and Theodore of Chernigov.jpg |imagesize= |caption=Holy Martyrs Blessed Prince Michael of Chernigov, and his counsellor Theodore of Chernigov, Wonderworkers |birth_place= |death_place=[[Sarai (city)|Saray]], [[Golden Horde]] |titles=Hieromartyrs |beatified_date= |beatified_place= |beatified_by= |canonized_date= before 1271<ref name=old/> |canonized_place=[[Rostov Veliky|Rostov]]<ref name=old/> |canonized_by= |attributes= |patronage= |major_shrine=[[Holy Trinity Cathedral, Chernihiv]]<ref name=old/> |suppressed_date= |issues= }}
'''Mikhail Vsevolodovich'''<ref name='Dimnik'>{{cite book | last = Dimnik | first = Martin | title = The Dynasty of Chernigov - 1146-1246}}{{pn|date=March 2024}}</ref>{{efn|{{langx|ru|Михаил Всеволодович}}; {{langx|uk|Михайло Всеволодович}}.}} ({{Circa|1185}} – 20 September 1246), known as '''Michael''' or '''Michael of Chernigov''',{{sfn|Halperin|1987|p=174}}{{sfn|Martin|2007|p=141}}{{efn|{{langx|ru|Михаи́л Черни́говский|translit=Mikhail Chernigovskij}}; {{langx|uk|Миха́йло Чернігівський|translit=Mykhailo Chernihivs'kyj}}}} was [[Grand Prince of Kiev]] (1236–1239; 1241–1243); he was also [[Prince of Pereyaslavl]] (1206), [[Prince of Novgorod-Seversk|Novgorod-Seversk]] (1219–1226), [[Prince of Chernigov|Chernigov]] (1223–1235; 1242–1246), [[Prince of Novgorod|Novgorod]] (1225–1226; 1229–1230), and [[Prince of Galicia|Galicia]] (1235–1236).<ref name='Dimnik'/> He was canonized as a [[saint]] in the [[Christian Church]].
==Biography== A son of prince [[Vsevolod IV of Kiev|Vsevolod the Red]] from the [[Olgovichi]] clan, in 1223 Michael participated in the [[Battle of Kalka]] against [[Mongol Empire|Tatars]]. After the death of [[Mstislav Rostislavich of Smolensk|Mstislav the Brave]] in 1228, he issued claims to the throne of [[Galicia-Volhynia]], which led him into conflict with [[Daniel of Galicia|Daniel]] and [[Vasylko Romanovych|Vasylko]], the sons of [[Roman the Great]], and their ally [[Vladimir IV of Kiev|Vladimir Rurikovich]].<ref name=ency/>
Archaeological evidence reveals that Chernigov towns enjoyed an unprecedented degree of prosperity during Michael's rule, which suggests that promoting [[trade]] was a priority for him.<ref name='Dimnik'/> 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 [[Kingdom of Hungary|Hungary]] passed to Chernigov.<ref name='Dimnik'/> He also negotiated commercial treaties and political alliances with the [[Polish people|Poles]] and the [[Hungarians]].<ref name='Dimnik'/> He alleviated the [[tax burden]] of the [[Novgorod Republic|Novgorodians]] and granted their [[boyar]]s greater political freedom from the prince.<ref name='Dimnik'/>
In 1239, during the [[Mongol invasion of Kievan Rus']] (1237–1242), Michaell was forced to flee, taking refuge in [[Kingdom of Hungary (1000-1526)|Hungary]]. After returning, he shortly controlled Kyiv, and later applied for a [[jarlig|yarlyk]] from the Mongol khan in order to confirm his rule over Chernigov. In 1246, he was executed by [[Batu Khan]], reportedly after refusing to submit himself to the court rituals at the khan's residence. According to another theory, the cause for Michael's execution was his pro-Western political orientation.<ref name=ency/>
According to tradition, the prince was murdered along with his loyal [[boyar]] Theodore, and both were later [[canonization|canonized]] as [[martyr]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Князь Михаїл Чернігівський: вибір між життям та вірністю Богу|url=https://patriarchia.org.ua/news/knyaz-myhayil-chernigivskyj-podvyg-viddanosti-hrystu-nezvazhayuchy-na-tortury/|website=[[Orthodox Church of Ukraine]]|access-date=2026-01-28}}</ref> Their remains were buried in Chernigov's [[Transfiguration Cathedral, Chernihiv|Transfiguration Cathedral]], but around 1580 [[tsar]] [[Ivan the Terrible]] order their removal, after which the relics were transported to [[Moscow]]'s [[Cathedral of the Archangel]], where they remain up to this day.<ref name=old>{{Cite web|title=Чернігівські святі князь Михайло та боярин Федор і їх вшанування в нашому місті|date=2023-09-23|url=https://oldchernihiv.com/chernigivski-svyati-knyaz-myhajlo-ta-boyaryn-fedor-i-yih-vshanuvannya-v-nashomu-misti/|access-date=2026-01-28}}</ref>
== Legacy == === ''Vita'' of Michael of Chernigov === A [[Hagiography|hagiography ''vita'']] of Michael of Chernigov was written some time after his death, describing his life in detail, and framing his execution as [[martyrdom]].{{sfn|Halperin|1987|p=174}} It is unclear when this account was written (at least after the Mongol census in Suzdalia and Novgorod in 1257–59{{sfn|Halperin|1987|p=51, 174}}), and how historically reliable it is.{{sfn|Halperin|1987|p=174}} Mikhail's death is briefly mentioned in the Older Recension of ''[[Novgorod First Chronicle]]'' (compiled {{circa}} 1275), in the ''[[Laurentian Codex]]'' (compiled 1377), and in the ''[[Hypatian Codex]]'' (compiled {{circa}} 1425), but the full text of the ''vita'' is not found in these manuscripts.{{sfn|Halperin|1987|p=174}} It is not until the Younger Recension of the ''Novgorod First Chronicle'' (compiled {{circa}} 1450) that an extensive narrative of his demise appears,{{sfn|Halperin|1987|p=174}} 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.<ref name='Dimnik'/> The ''[[Nikon Chronicle]]'' (compiled {{circa}} 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.{{sfn|Halperin|1987|p=51}}
In the early 18th century another hagiography of Michael was created by [[Demetrius of Rostov|Demetrius Tuptalo]], based on the scheme employed in the similar works dedicated to themartyrdom of saints [[Boris and Gleb]] and employing richly ornamented lexicon typical of the [[Baroque]] era. In Tuptalo's depiction Michael is shown not as a simple victim of persecution, but as a kind of [[missionary]] who consciously sacrificed his life for Christian faith.<ref>{{Cite magazine|author=Bilous, P.V.|magazine=Ukrainian Literature: Historical Experience and Perspectives|title=Life and Death of Knyaz Mykhailo of Chernihiv in Ancient Ukrainian Literature|date=2023|issue=2|pages=23-26}}</ref>
=== 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]]'':
{{Blockquote|(…) 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.<ref>{{cite book | last = DiPlano Carpini | first = Giovanni | title = The Story of the Mongols whom We Call the Tartars }}</ref>}}
== 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 the Great|Roman Mstislavich of Halych]] and his wife, Predslava Rurikovna of Kiev<ref name='Dimnik'/> *#Feodula Mikhailovna (1212–1250); became a nun and adopted the religious name Evfrosinia<ref name='Dimnik'/> *#Duke [[Rostislav Mikhailovich|Rostislav Mikhailovich of Macsó]] (c. 1225 – 1262)<ref name='Dimnik'/> *#[[Maria of Chernigov|Maria Mikhailovna]] (died 7 or 9 December 1271), wife of Prince [[Vasilko Konstantinovich]] of Rostov<ref name='Dimnik'/> *#Prince [[Roman Mikhailovich (Prince of Chernigov)|Roman Mikhailovich of Chernigov and Bryansk]] (c. 1218 – after 1288/1305)<ref name='Dimnik'/> *#Prince Mstislav Mikhailovich of Karachev and Zvenigorod (1220–1280)<ref name='Dimnik'/> *#Prince Simeon Mikhailovich of Glukhov and Novosil<ref name='Dimnik'/> *#Prince Yury Mikhailovich of Torusa and Bryansk<ref name='Dimnik'/>
=== Ancestors === {{ahnentafel |collapsed=yes |align=center |boxstyle_1=background-color: #fcc; |boxstyle_2=background-color: #fb9; |boxstyle_3=background-color: #ffc; |boxstyle_4=background-color: #bfc; |boxstyle_5=background-color: #9fe; |1= 1. '''Mikhail Vsevolodovich ''' |2= 2. [[Vsevolod IV of Kiev|Vsevolod IV Sviatoslavich, grand prince of Kiev]] |3= 3. Maria/Anastasia of Poland |4= 4. [[Sviatoslav III of Kiev|Sviatoslav III Vsevolodovich, grand prince of Kiev]] |5= 5. [[Maria Vasilkovna of Polotsk]] |6= 6. [[Casimir II the Just|Casimir II, prince of Cracow]] |7= 7. [[Helena of Znojmo]] |8= 8. [[Vsevolod II of Kiev|Vsevolod II Olgovich, grand prince of Kiev]] |9= 9. [[Maria Mstislavna of Kiev]] |10= 10. Vasilko Sviatoslavich, prince of Polotsk |11= |12= 12. [[Bolesław III Wrymouth|Bolesław III, duke of Poland]] |13= 13. [[Salomea of Berg]] |14= 14. [[Conrad II of Znojmo]] |15= 15. [[Maria of Serbia, Duchess of Znojmo|Maria of Serbia]] }}
=== 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.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Rusyna |first1=Olena Volodymyrivna|authorlink1= |date=2003 |script-title=uk:Енциклопедія історії України |trans-title=[[Encyclopedia of History of Ukraine]] |volume=1 |script-chapter=uk:Верховські князі |trans-chapter=Upper princes |chapter-url=http://resource.history.org.ua/cgi-bin/eiu/history.exe?&I21DBN=EIU&P21DBN=EIU&S21STN=1&S21REF=10&S21FMT=eiu_all&C21COM=S&S21CNR=20&S21P01=0&S21P02=0&S21P03=TRN=&S21COLORTERMS=0&S21STR=Verkhovski_kniazi |location=Kyiv |publisher=[[Institute of History of Ukraine]] |pages=494 |isbn=966-00-0734-5 |access-date=20 February 2024 |lang=uk}}</ref>
In the second half of the 19th century, many family branches stemming from Mikhail flourished: the Baryatinsky, the [[Gorchakov]]y, the [[Dolgorukov|Dolgorukie]], the Eletskie, the Zvenigorodskie, the Koltsovy-Mosalskie, the [[Obolensky|Obolenskie]], the Odoevskie, and the Shcherbatovy.<ref name='Dimnik'/>
==Notes== {{notelist}}
==References== {{reflist|2}}
== 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]]'' {{circa}} 1425) ** {{in lang|uk}} [http://litopys.org.ua/litop/lit24.htm ''Galician-Volhynian Chronicle''] (years 1245–1260). (interpreted by Leonid Makhnovets) ** {{cite book| first=George A. |last=Perfecky |title=The Hypatian Codex Part Two: The Galician–Volynian Chronicle. An annotated translation by George A. Perfecky |location=Munich |publisher=Wilhelm Fink Verlag |year=1973 |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}}. * {{cite book |last=Halperin|first=Charles J.|year=1987| title=Russia and the Golden Horde: The Mongol Impact on Medieval Russian History |pages=222 |publisher=Indiana University |isbn=9781850430575}} (e-book). * {{cite book |title=Medieval Russia: 980–1584. Second Edition. E-book |last=Martin |first=Janet |url=https://www.ebooks.com/en-us/book/802816/medieval-russia-980-1584/janet-martin/ |year=2007 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge |isbn=978-0-511-36800-4}} * Vernadsky, George, ''Kievan Russia''; Yale University Press, 1948, New Haven and London; {{ISBN|0-300-01647-6}}.
{{s-start}} {{s-hou| Olgovichi family||{{circa|lk=no|1185}}|20 September|1246}} {{succession box|title=[[Prince of Pereyaslavl]]|before=[[Yaroslav II of Vladimir|Yaroslav Vsevolodovich]]|years= 1206|after=[[Vladimir III of Kiev]]}} {{succession box |title=[[Principality of Novgorod-Seversk|Prince of Novgorod-Seversk]] |before= [[Mstislav II Svyatoslavich (Prince of Chernigov)|Mstislav Svyatoslavich]] |years=1219–1226|after= Oleg Svyatoslavich}} {{succession box |title=[[Principality of Chernigov|Prince of Chernigov]]|before=[[Mstislav II Svyatoslavich (Prince of Chernigov)|Mstislav II Svyatoslavich]]|years=1223–1235|after=[[Mstislav III Glebovich (Prince of Chernigov)|Mstislav III Glebovich]]}} {{succession box|title=[[Prince of Novgorod]]|before=Vsevolod Yuryevich|years= 1225–1226|after=[[Yaroslav II of Vladimir|Yaroslav Vsevolodovich]]}} {{succession box|title=[[Prince of Novgorod]]|before= Fedor Yaroslavich and [[Alexander Nevsky|Aleksandr Yaroslavich]]|years= 1229–1230|after=[[Rostislav Mikhailovich]]}} {{succession box |title=[[List of rulers of Galicia and Volhynia|Prince of Halych]]|before=[[Daniel of Galicia|Daniil Romanovich]]|years=1235–1236|after=[[Rostislav Mikhailovich]]}} {{succession box |title=[[Grand Prince of Kiev]]|before=[[Yaroslav II of Vladimir|Yaroslav Vsevolodovich]]|years=1238–1239|after=[[Daniel of Galicia|Daniil Romanovich]]}} {{succession box |title=[[Grand Prince of Kiev]]|before=''(Tatar officials appointed by [[Batu Khan]])''|years=1241–1243|after=[[Yaroslav II of Vladimir|Yaroslav Vsevolodovich]]}} {{succession box |title=[[Principality of Chernigov|Prince of Chernigov]]|before=[[Rostislav Mikhailovich]]|years=1242–1246|after=[[Roman Mikhailovich (Prince of Chernigov)|Roman Mikhailovich]]}} {{s-end}}{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Michael of Chernigov}} [[Category:1180s births]] [[Category:1246 deaths]] [[Category:13th-century murdered monarchs]] [[Category:Murdered royalty of Kievan Rus']] [[Category:Olgovichi family]] [[Category:Grand princes of Kiev]] [[Category:Princes of Chernigov]] [[Category:Princes of Galicia]] [[Category:Princes of Novgorod]] [[Category:Christian saints from Kievan Rus']] [[Category:13th-century Christian saints]] [[Category:13th-century Eastern Orthodox martyrs]] [[Category:13th-century princes from Kievan Rus']] [[Category:People executed by the Golden Horde]] [[Category:Year of birth uncertain]]