Michael of Russia

Mikhail I Fyodorovich Romanov (In Russian: Михаи́л Фёдорович Рома́нов) (July 12, 1596 – July 13, 1645) was tsar of Russia and founder of the house of Romanov, being the son of Feodor Nikitich Romanov.

Reign

Michael Romanov assumed power over a devastated country, just after the Time of Troubles. Many important towns, including the capital itself, had been burnt down. The country had no treasury. The war against Poland and Sweden was continuing and many territories had been seized. Social rebellion and disorder were still pandemic in Russia.

Michael was elected tsar of Russia by a national assembly in 1613. He knew that Russia was facing numerous problems and that he was much too young when he ascended the throne and needed help, so he used the help of the boyars to govern.

First he dealt with the internal disorder. His government gave concessions and amnesties to some rebel groups so that he could incorporate Cossacks and bandits into the Russian army to fight against foreign enemies.

By means of various treaties and concessions, he established peace around the country’s borders. With Sweden, he concluded the peace of Stolbovo in 1617. He regained Novgorod and other areas in the north in exchange for twenty thousand rubles. He signed the truce of Deulino with Poland in 1618; it lasted for fourteen years. By this agreement, Russia lost some territories in the west but its prisoners were allowed to return home, including Michael's father.

After the agreement with the Poles and the liberation of the prisoners, his father Feodor Romanov (also known as Metropolitan Philaret) returned to Russia and became an important figure in the state. Since then, Philaret took over the government until his death in 1633, whereas Michael, less skilled and inexperienced at governing, occupied quite a subordinate position.

Financial matters were more challenging to resolve. The Time of Troubles has resulted in a complete lack of resources. Even the creation of new taxes and loans by the tsar’s government were not enough to heal the economy. At the end of Michael’s reign, the lack of money remained dreadful, and the successors to the throne would inherit this problem.

Michael Romanov died in 1645 and was succeeded by Alexis Romanov.

References

• Riasanovsky, Nicholas V.; Steinberg, Mark D.. A History of Russia. 7th ed. OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS (2005). pp. 161-164.