Michel III of Russia

See also: Michel III, Mikhaïl Féodorovitch Romanov

Michel III Fiodorovitch Romanov (June 21st 1596 - July 23rd 1645) Tsar of Russia (1613 - 1645), elected by the Zemski sobor (assembled representative).

He is the son of Fédor Romanov (Philarète patriarch of Moscow) and of Maria Ivanovna Saltykov (? - 1631) and great nephew of Anastasia Romanovna Zakharine (first woman of Ivan IV the Terrible one). It had a brother Nikita Romanov. He is the founder of the dynasty of the Romanov.

Youth

The childhood of Michel Romanov was hard. At five years, it is separated from his father and is taken along with his mother in a convent where this one is obliged to take the veil under the name of Marfa. It passes its youth to follow interminable religious offices. Its mental state felt some and it undergoes all its life the influence of his mother of which it was unable to separate.

At the beginning of 1613, the Zemski sobor, convened by the council of the cities, decides to elect a tsar who would not be foreign in Russia. The country has just undergone one interminable period of conflicts which one called later the Temps of the disorders. Since 1611, it has there no more tsar or rather the sobor of the time elected like sovereign Ladislas Vasa, wire of the Polish king Sigismond III Vasa, but this election was disputed by a good part of the population.

The sobor of 1613 quickly concludes that Michel Romanov is worthiest to be the next tsar. Fédor Romanov, the métropolite Philarète, is alive but prisoner of the Poles since 1610. The Romanov family is closest to the old dynasty of the Riourikides. Anastasia Romanovna Zakharine was the first wife of Ivan the Terrible and the mother of Fédor Ier which succeeded to him. His/her Nikita brother was a listened adviser of Ivan IV. He is the grandfather of Michel.

It is with the Monastère Ipatiev, with Kostroma, which one will seek Michel, where it is toujous relegated with his mother. After some hesitations, it accepts and is crowned the July 11th with the Cathédrale of the Assumption of the the Kremlin. It must however engage by an act written to restrict its capacity, which it does without ulterior motive because it is interested little in the public affairs. It can hardly read besides.

Beginnings of the reign (1613-1619)

Under its reign, the zemski sobor obtains a very important role because he is convened almost annually. He has to make much because the election of 1613 did not put an end to the disorders. The brigands furrow Russia with impunity, worrying about the authority like guigne. In the south, Ivan Zarucki, ataman of the Cossacks of the Gift which supports the claims with the throne of the son of the Second forgery Dimitri and the ex-tsarina Marina Mniszek, sows terror in the area of Astrakhan. In the west, Russia is always in war against Sweden and Poland.

In 1614, the Russian army demolishes the troops of Zarucki, which is captured. It is brought back to Moscow and is carried out. Marina Mniszek is sent to the dungeon, her son is hung.

In 1617, Russia signs the Paix of Stolbovo with Sweden. This one evacuates Novgorod but Moscow gives up the Livonie and the Karelia to him, thus losing its access to the sea.

The conflict with Poland is more complicated owing to the fact that Ladislas is always regarded as the legitimate sovereign of Russia. In 1618, with its army and of the militia cossacks, it besieges Moscow in vain. One starts negotiations and peace is signed with Déoulino. Smolensk remains between the hands of Poland, Ladislas does not give up its rights on the crown, but Fédor Romanov, father of Michel, is released. The métropolite is of return in the capital in 1619.

The dyarchie (1619-1633)

Fédor is a man more ambitious and able than his/her son. It requires of him the installation of a bicephalous government, a dyarchie which was accepted by the zemski sobor. Consequently and until in 1633, he is the true Master of Russia. Michel III, it, are interested only in the clock industry. It makes be important more than 20,000 clocks in the Kremlin in order to embellish the palates. He also convenes specialists in order to build gignatesques clocks playing of the religious canticles top of the turns of the Kremlin.

In interior policy, Fédor establishes a general land register, painting a picture of the general state of the country and supporting the collection of the tax. He undertakes to create industries, including one important factory of weapons with Toula. He reorganizes the bureaucracy and fights against corruption. He starts to open Russia on the western world and ties commercial links with England, Holland and Denmark.

The borders of the Siberia are pushed back. The Léna is reached in 1630. Iakoutsk is founded in 1632. One arrives on banks of the Amour in 1636.

Fédor also undertakes a reorgaisation of the army and, for this, it calls upon foreigners: the baron Aston, colonel Leslie, the Dutch racketeer Coète and lieutenant Fandam.

In 1632, Sigismond III Vasa dies and its made, which still did not give up its rights on Moscow, succeeds to him under the name of Ladislas IV. Fédor and Michel still do not digest the loss of Smolensk. The war is declared and an army, under the orders of Michel Cheïne, is sent to take again the city. It undergoes a bloody defeat there. Cheïne, of return to Moscow, is carried out, but Russia does not have any more the means of continuing the war.

The peace of Polionovska is signed in 1635. Moscow agrees to return for always the ground of Tchernihiv, of Novgorod-Severski, Smolensk and Iaroslavl. It gives 20,000 roubles of compensation to Poland. On its side, Ladislas IV definitively gives up girding the Muscovite crown. The losses appear severe but, in fact, one ratifies the status quo handle .

End of the reign (1633-1645)

Meanwhile, Philarète died. Some boyards tried to take its place but, in 1634, Michel III convenes a zemski sobor where all the States of Moscovie are represented just as serfs. He announces whereas he would only control. Until its death, in 1645, it was the family of its mother, Saltykov, which determined the broad outlines of its policy.

At that time, the relations with the Ottoman Empire and the khanat of the Crimea start to turn to the vinegar because of the incursions of the ground tatares Cossacks. Michel III lets them make. In 1637, they seize Azov, with the mouth of the Don. This city prevented the access of the Russians to the Black Sea and here that it is offered free to him.

The Othomans negotiate a return of Azov in their bosom. They threaten to make the war if it is not returned to them. In January 1642, the tsar chairs a sobor which must make a decision. Russia is in a position such as it cannot support another war. The population is already too much overpowered taxes and it is impossible of their tapping some more. Azov is finally returned to the Turks.

When Michel III dies, in 1645, it leaves with his son a country in a still difficult position but which is less catastrophic than when it inherited the capacity.

The family of Michel III

In 1624, does Michel III Romanov marry the princess Maria Dolgorouki (? - 1625?) who gave him a son: Alexis I {{er}}| (1629? - 1676) known as the very peaceful tsar . In 1626, Michel III Romanov marries Eudoxia Strechnieva (1608-1645) which gave him a girl: Anna Mikhaïlovna (1630-1692).

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