Michael of Chernigov

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.^[2] It is unclear when this account was written (at least after the Mongol census in Suzdalia and Novgorod in 1257–59^[6]), and how historically reliable it is.^[2] 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.^[2] It is not until the Younger Recension of the Novgorod First Chronicle (compiled c. 1450) that an extensive narrative of his demise appears,^[2] 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.^[1] 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.^[7]

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.^[8]

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]

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

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.^[9]

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.^[1]