Mikhail, Prince of Tver. Holy Blessed Prince Mikhail of Tver

1271 (1272) year - 1318 year

Mikhail Yaroslavich - Tver and Great Prince of Vladimir. He fought for the great reign of Vladimir with the Moscow house of Rurikovich. In 1318, after the khan's trial, he was killed in the Horde. Canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church.

The beginning of the way

Second half of the 13th - beginning of the 14th centuries Russian history- This is a period of acute princely strife. They had a natural historical basis. By the middle of the 13th century, the fragmentation of the territory of the once large and united Vladimir-Suzdal principality had reached its maximum limit. At the turn of the 14th century, the tendency of the centralization process again emerged, the first shoots of which appeared a century earlier, in the pre-Mongol period, and were associated with the name of the great-grandfather Mikhail Yaroslavovich Tverskoy, the Grand Duke.

During the century separating these princes from each other, many dramatic events took place: the Tatars came, the yoke was established, the Horde exit was imposed and an order was introduced according to which the Russian princes were forced to receive the right to power from the hands of the khan in the form of a letter-label and thereby lost their former sovereignty. Consequence Mongol invasion became the actual collapse of the country, when the southwestern lands began to gravitate toward the new public education- Lithuania, ruin, depopulation and economic decline. Only in the second half of the 13th century, when the great Vladimir throne was occupied by a pragmatic and fairly independent politician, did North-Eastern Rus' begin to gradually emerge from the tailspin into which it had fallen as a result of the Horde invasion. After mysterious death of this prince in 1263 the great throne of Vladimir passed to his brother Yaroslav Yaroslavovich - Mikhail's father and the first independent prince of Tver. He would hold the Grand Duke's label until his death in 1272, which, according to previously established custom, gave his son the right to claim the Grand Duke's throne.

It is believed that Mikhail was born after the death of his father, who died during his return from the Horde. At the same time, the date of birth of the new Tver prince has not been precisely established and is usually defined as 1271 or 1272. He was the third son of Yaroslav Yaroslavovich, the Tver throne after whose death passed to Svyatoslav Yaroslavovich. Mikhail was raised by his mother, Princess Ksenia, and Bishop Simeon of Tver. Mikhail was first mentioned as a Tver prince in 1285 in connection with the foundation of the first stone church after the Horde invasion - the Holy Transfiguration Cathedral.

We do not know any details about the prince’s childhood and period of growing up due to the lack of reliable information in the sources. This is no coincidence. In the Middle Ages, man could not exist outside of his social group, and therefore was completely subordinate to its tasks and functions. Individuality was dissolved in the collective, and the personal existence of a person, a prince in particular, was reduced to fulfilling a certain social role. The individual “I” was outside the zone of public interest and was practically not reflected in the sources. Therefore, the literature of that time focuses on the external outline of the prince’s biography, based on the idea that the public always dominates the private.

At the head of the Tver principality

Mikhail Yaroslavovich Tverskoy found himself drawn into political struggle in adolescence. The inter-princely feuds at that time were closely related to the situation in the Horde, which experienced a gradual decline after the death of Batu.

IN political activity Mikhail Yaroslavovich Tverskoy as one of the leading statesmen At the turn of the 13th-14th centuries, two periods can be clearly seen:

• the first is associated with the participation in the struggle of the older generation of descendants of Alexander Nevsky for the great reign of Vladimir, in which Mikhail Tverskoy, together with the Moscow princes, acted on the side of Dmitry Pereyaslavsky;
• the second period is the time of Tver’s struggle for dominance over North-Eastern Russia and, when former allies - Mikhail Yaroslavovich and sons - turned into irreconcilable enemies, and the outcome of their confrontation determined the choice of the path for the future development of the entire country.

In the 1280s, a dual power actually formed in the Horde. When the khan, or as they said in Rus' “the king”, Mengu-Timur, the grandson of Batu, died around 1281, two centers of power were formed - on the Volga and in the Crimea. The descendants of Batu still lived in Sarai, and in Crimea the beklyarbek Nogai ruled, who ceased to reckon with the ancient capital of the Golden Horde and actually separated from it.

This circumstance also split the Russian princes. Each of the rivals sought to take the most advantageous position in order to receive a label for the great reign of Vladimir. One of the main contenders for the label was Prince Andrei Alexandrovich of Gorodets, who bet on the khans of the Volga region. He was opposed by a triple alliance, consisting of Dmitry Alexandrovich Pereyaslavsky and his son Ivan Dmitrievich, Daniil Alexandrovich Moskovsky and Mikhail Yaroslavovich Tverskoy, a minor at that time. They considered themselves servants of Nogai. The Simeonovskaya Chronicle records: “Prince Dmitry with his retinue left for the horde to the Tatar Tsar Noga”. In 1276, Dmitry Alexandrovich became the Grand Duke of Vladimir. In 1281, another strife began between Andrei and Dmitry - siblings - with the involvement of Horde troops. In the opinion of A.N. Nasonov, the triumvirate of allies led by Dmitry acted quite successfully against Andrei Gorodetsky, but the Pereyaslavl prince still failed to retain the great reign and in 1281 he lost it to his brother. This strained Dmitry Alexandrovich’s relationship with Mikhail Yaroslavovich. In 1288, the Tver prince made an attempt to “not submit” to his overlord, who made peace with his main rival Andrei Gorodetsky and moved on a joint campaign to Tver, ruining the towns and villages of this principality. Mikhail and his army advanced to meet them. As the chronicle testifies, it did not come to a battle and the princes “took the world.”

In 1293, Dudenev’s army poured into North-Eastern Rus'. This was a campaign of Horde troops under the command of Tudan, nicknamed Dudeney in Rus', the reason for which remains not fully established. Either this military expedition was a consequence of the princely struggle for power between Andrei and Dmitry Alexandrovich, or a manifestation of the desire of Khan Tokhta, who ruled in the Volga region, to strengthen his position in relation to Nogai, or both. Dudenev's army ravaged 14 cities, the population of which fled to the outskirts of Tver. Mikhail Yaroslavovich was not in the city; he was in the Horde near Nogai. This was another center of Tatar power opposing Tokhta. Dudenya did not dare to go to Tver, but moved to, as reported in the sources. “Tatarov and Prince Andrei, hearing the arrival of Prince Mikhailov, did not go with the army to Tferi, but entered Volok.” Prince Dmitry Alexandrovich sought protection from Mikhail, who fled from to, and from there went to Tver and entered into negotiations with Andrei. Thus, the people of Tver did not want the power of the Volga Horde, but were ready to obey Nogai. This position of Prince Mikhail Yaroslavovich could not remain without consequences on the part of Tokhta. Already in the winter of the same year Toktomer came to Tver and “I caused great hardship to the people”.

The relationship between Mikhail Yaroslavovich and Dmitry Alexandrovich was finally determined in the mid-1290s. Information about this was preserved in the contractual document between Michael and Novgorod, which dates back to 1294-1296: “I am alone with my brother, with my elder, with Danil, and with Ivan; and your children, the mayor and the thousand, and all of Novgorod kissed the cross for me. Even if there will be a burden for me from Andrei or from the Tatar, or from someone else, you will pull with me, and you will not give up on me at any time.”. It was an alliance with Daniil Alexandrovich of Moscow and with Dmitry’s son, Ivan, against Andrei and the Tatars, which meant the Volga Horde.

At the very end of the 13th century, dual power was eliminated in the Horde. In 1299, Nogai was killed and his army was defeated. In this situation, Mikhail Tverskoy came to an agreement with the Volga Horde and began to pay tribute to Tokhta, receiving the right to independently collect it on the subject territory.

At the beginning of the 14th century, a discord arose between the former allies - the Moscow and Tver princes. The reason was the rights to the escheated Principality of Pereyaslavl. When the childless Prince Ivan Dmitrievich Pereyaslavsky died in 1303, this principality was occupied by Andrei Gorodetsky, who at that time owned the label for the great reign of Vladimir. But soon this principality was annexed by Daniil of Moscow to his possessions, and this sharply aggravated his relations with Mikhail Tversky. He was succeeded by his eldest son, who received the Principality of Moscow along with Pereslavl, and a year later, in 1304, Mikhail Yaroslavovich Tverskoy received the Grand Duke's label after the death of Andrei Alexandrovich. Thus, two sworn enemies appeared on the forefront of history, whose rivalry will determine the course of history for the next 14 years.

Rivalry between Tver and Moscow: Mikhail Yaroslavovich versus Yuri Danilovich

An acute conflict between the princes arose already in 1304, when, after the death of Andrei, Mikhail went to the Horde, hoping to receive a label for the great reign and rights to Pereslavl. Yuri followed him. Mikhail Tverskoy received the label, but the situation with Pereslavl remained unclear. The Horde probably did not want, in its opinion, the excessive strengthening of the Grand Duke and left itself the opportunity for political maneuver. Therefore, the Tver prince was not given direct authority over Pereyaslavl possession, and then he decided to receive it on his own.

The chronicle evidence of these events is extremely scanty. They report that upon returning from the Horde in 1305, Mikhail Yaroslavovich and his army went to Moscow. The next year, Tair’s army invaded the same lands. And a year later, Mikhail again went to Moscow. Historians suggest that all this testifies to the flexible policy of the Horde, which, on the one hand, supported Mikhail, giving him the label for the great reign of Vladimir, and on the other, opposed Yuri Danilovich of Moscow to him. This is also evidenced by the fact that Pereslavl ultimately did not go to either Moscow or Tver, but was included in the territory of the great reign of Vladimir.

The situation changed radically after Tokhta's death. In 1313, Uzbek sat on the khan's throne. Mikhail Yaroslavovich immediately went to the Horde. During his absence, the Novgorodians rebelled against him, planning to seek protection from Yuri Danilovich, who, in turn, did not fail to take advantage of the favorable situation for himself and went to Novgorod with his son Afanasy. But Yuri was suddenly urgently summoned to the Horde, and Mikhail returned to Rus' with the Tatar army. “The same autumn, the great prince Mikhail came and with him the ambassador Tiyatimer, and did a lot of evil in the Russian lands.”. As follows from the sources, Mikhail, with the help of the Tatars, defeated the Novgorodians under. However, his victory turned out to be fragile. The very next year he was forced to attack the Novgorodians twice, and the second time was unsuccessful.

At the same time, the capabilities of Yuri Danilovich sharply increased, who was summoned to the khan not to punish for self-will in relation to Novgorod, but for a more pleasant reason. Khan Uzbek married his sister to him, who in Orthodoxy was given the name Agafya. Subsequently, this woman, whose fate was very unhappy, will become one of the reasons for the death of both rivals - Mikhail and Yuri.

Having become the khan's son-in-law and first ally, Yuri Danilovich Moskovsky received a label for the great reign of Vladimir. This was another serious defeat for Mikhail, who had previously failed to acquire Pereslavl, had actually lost power over Novgorod, and now had turned into a vassal of the Moscow prince - his nephew. The Tver prince could not come to terms with this. Therefore, when in 1317 Yuri Danilovich left the Horde, accompanied by the Tatar army of Kavgadai, Mikhail met them. He intended to negotiate with his more successful rival. It is clear that the main addressee of Mikhail’s claims was not Yuri, but Kavgadai, who was given broad powers in the Horde. As a result of negotiations, the Tver prince nevertheless ceded the great reign to the Moscow ruler. “... and having sat down with Kavgadiy, Prince Mikhail ceded the great reign to Prince Yuri”- reports the Nikon Chronicle.

Further events developed according to a catastrophic scenario. Despite the fact that Mikhail Yaroslavovich voluntarily gave up his label and went “to his homeland” Tver, Kavgadai and Yuri set out on a military campaign against him. Perhaps the initiator and developer of the plan for this military company was Kavgadai. He expected to take Tver in pincers: the Novgorodians were to move towards it from the north-west, and Yuri with his allies and vassals, the Suzdal princes, from the south. However, in reality, everything did not go according to plan. Grand Duke came to Tver land ahead of schedule And “The Tfer volost fought more and more, the villages of Zhgosha and Zhito were burned, and people were taken into captivity”. To divert Mikhail's attention, Kavgaddai simultaneously entered into negotiations with him. At this time, the Novgorodians approached the border of the Tver possessions; they did not find Yuri, since he was busy with another matter, but they came across Mikhail’s troops, concluded a separate peace with him and returned to their home in Novgorod. Then Kavgadai and Yuri moved to the Volga, probably in the hope of catching up and returning the Novgorodians to continue the military campaign. But instead they met Michael’s troops and on December 22, 1317 the Battle of Bortenevsky took place. Yuri and Kavgadai were defeated. The Moscow prince shamefully fled to Novgorod. Mikhail took the big one is full, in which Princess Agafya-Konchak, the wife of Yuri Danilovich, also ended up.

Realizing that there was no point in quarreling with the Khan’s temnik, Mikhail invited Kavgadai to his place the day after the battle. Reported: “and take him to Tfer with his retinue, honor him and let him go”. What the Tatar and Russian were negotiating about remained unknown. Presumably, Kavgadai promised the Tver prince a great reign. Indeed, Mikhail soon occupied the corresponding territory and moved to, i.e. in fact, he already felt like a Grand Duke, although he had not yet received a label for it. When Yuri returned with the Novgorodians, Mikhail peacefully came out to meet him. They entered into an agreement in which both princes were named great. At the same time, it was agreed that Yuri and Mikhail would go to the Horde, since the dispute over the label could only be finally resolved by Uzbek Khan. Mikhail, who considered himself right, sent his son Konstantin ahead of him to the Horde, and sent an ambassador, the boyar Oleksa Markovich, to Moscow as a sign of peace. Yuri was not going to put up with Mikhail, as eloquently evidenced by the fact that Oleksa was killed in Moscow by princely order.

The first of the princes to go to the Horde was Yuri Danilovich. Mikhail Yaroslavovich was delayed and this is what may have cost him his life. The Horde hurried the Tver prince, the Khan’s ambassador Akhmyl arrived in Vladimir, where Mikhail now settled, and said: “The king is calling you, go on board and be in a month”, and if the prince does not hurry, then "wake up the army". The reason for such active motives of the Horde was the serious accusations that the Kavgadai temnik brought against Mikhail Tverskoy.

Trial, death, canonization

Mikhail arrived in the Horde and after about half a month, Khan Uzbek ordered him to be tried. The prince was accused of three crimes. Firstly, “You did not give the king’s tribute”, i.e. in concealing part of the Horde exit. Secondly, “You fought against the ambassador”, i.e. did not submit to Kavgadai, who, together with Yuri, went to war against him. Third, “You killed the princess of Grand Duke Yury”, i.e. involved in the death of unfortunate Agafya-Konchaka, who became a hostage political games. The court in the case of Mikhail Yaroslavovich consisted of Horde princes, the judge was Kavgadai, who was interested in blaming his military failure on Mikhail. He was subjected to torture and terrible torture. The judges met twice. Of course, there were no lawyers; Mikhail defended himself.

On the first charge he alleged "the truth of the verb", What “how much of your treasure you gave away to the princes and the prince, everything was written down in your name”. It is now impossible to restore the truth - whether Mikhail withheld part of the tribute. Historians suggest that, most likely, the Tver prince was unable to fulfill the assigned “lesson” and collect the Horde exit in full. On the second charge, Mikhail said that “I again delivered the ambassador from the battle and sent him away with much honor”. The last charge was explained “about the princess you called upon God to obey, saying that I would not even think of doing this”, i.e. claiming that Agafya-Konchaka died a natural death, and he did not even think about the possibility of killing her. Thus, he rejected all the charges brought against him and, nevertheless, the court pronounced a sentence “Mikhail is worthy of death”. Naturally, the sentence could not be subject to any appeal, but it was not carried out immediately.

Khan Uzbek, after the trial of Mikhail, at the head of the army, moved aside, intending to invade the Iranian Ilkhan Abu Seyid. The Tver prince, chained in a block, was taken with them. Sources have preserved a description of the humiliating scene that occurred in the Horde. The life of Mikhail Yaroslavovich Tverskoy describes this event as follows: “Last 24th day, the saint in indescribable patience, the wicked Kovgadiy, having the poison of the asp under his lips, again annoying the souls of the long-suffering Prince Michael, ordered him to be brought to the market in such a reproach, calling all the lenders and ordered the saint to kneel before him; The lawless one exalts himself in power over the righteous and many words are spoken to annoy the righteous. Therefore, he said: “Knowing, Mikhail, this is the king’s custom: even if he does not like anyone, even from his own tribe, then such a tree will be laid on him. When the king’s wrath passes, he will again bring him in with the first honor. In the morning, on the previous day, this burden will leave you, then you will be in greater honor.” Having matured, the watchman said: “Why don’t you lighten this tree?” They said: “Tomorrow or the next day we will do this according to your word.” And the accursed one said: “Support him from that tree, so that the splash does not aggravate him.” So one from those coming behind him, lifting, holding, that tree". Most likely, this public humiliation of the former ally and Grand Duke was indicative.

Mikhail was killed near Derbent. “And behold, at that hour one of his youths jumped up into the vezha with an ice-cold face and a silent voice: “Mr. Prince, behold, Kovgady and Prince Yurey with a multitude of people are already traveling from the Horde directly to your vezha.”. The execution was not public; he was stabbed to death with a dagger. His body, according to sources, was thrown “carelessly.” The boyars and close people accompanying the prince were also beaten.

The body of Mikhail Tverskoy was brought to his hometown only a year after his death and in 1320 he was buried in the Transfiguration Cathedral, in the foundation of which this prince participated as a child.

Around 1319-1320, the Life of Mikhail Yaroslavich Tverskoy was compiled. Its author is considered to be Abbot Alexander, the former princely confessor who accompanied him during his trip to the Horde. The main idea behind this literary monument, traditionally preceding canonization, consists of a cross-cutting thought "lay down your life for your friends". Fight against the Tatars for Orthodox faith and Rus' is the main work of Prince Mikhail’s life, according to the author of the Life. Modern historians for the most part do not fully share this conclusion, believing that neither Mikhail Tverskoy nor Yuri Moskovsky were conscious fighters against the yoke. The role of the latter in the tragedy remains a matter of dispute. Sources do not allow us to clearly answer the question of whether he was the initiator of the death of his worst enemy or an instrument in the hands of Kavgadai.

The wife of Mikhail Yaroslavovich Tverskoy, Anna Kashinskaya, was also recognized as the blessed princess. She lived a long and hard life filled with tragic events. The horde executed not only her husband, but also two sons Dmitry Mikhailovich Groznye Ochi and Alexander Mikhailovich and grandson Fyodor Alexandrovich. She outlived them all and eventually came to monasticism.

Tragic story Prince Mikhail Yaroslavovich Tverskoy and his family is one of those biographies when the heroic end of earthly existence allows you to forget about the mistakes made during life. This historical character remained in the people's memory as a martyr for faith and a just cause, who opened the way for a whole series of real heroes who openly opposed the Horde yoke, for the independence and revival of Rus'.

M. P. Dudkina, Ph.D. ist. sciences
specifically for the portal

Literature:

• Life of Mikhail Yaroslavovich Tverskoy // Library of Literature Ancient Rus'. Collection of texts in 42 volumes. T.6. - Electronic publications Institute of Russian Literature (Pushkin House) RAS.
• Gorsky A. A. Moscow and the Horde. - M., 2000.
• Nasonov A. N. Mongols and Rus': History of Tatar politics in Rus'. - M.; L., 1940.
• Volodikhin D. M. Rurikovich. - M., 2013.

Mikhail Yaroslavich Tverskoy

MIKHAIL YAROSLAVICH - Prince of Tver (no later than 1285-1318), Grand Duke of Vladimir (1305-1317).

From the di-nation of the Tver Ryu-ri-ko-vi-chi, the son of the prince of Tver and the Grand Duke of the ruler of the world Yaro-slav Yaro-sla-vi-cha from his second marriage with Kse-ni-ey, to Yuri Mi-hai-lo-vi-cha’s new-city-rod-battle. He was born after the death of his father. Mikhail Yaroslavich's mother came back for him. First of all, they had a very small destiny in the Tver Principality - most likely, Zub-tsov.

Mikhail Yaroslavich took over the Tver table no later than 1285, after the death of his elder brothers, as evidenced by the summer written -news about the foundation that year in Tve-ri ka-men-no-go Spa-so-Pre-ob-ra-women-so-bo-ra “blessed” -faithful prince Mi-khai-lom Yaro-slav-vi-chem.”

In the first years of his reign, Mikhail Yaroslavich led a defensive struggle against the principality of Pere-Yas-Lav-skogo, the Grand Duke of the ruler of the world. skogo Dmitry Aleksand-ro-vi-cha, provided armed co-operation with him as he walked with his co-union on Ka- tires in 1288/1289. After the conclusion of the peace, Mikhail Yaroslavich began to act in line with Dmitry. At the beginning of 1293, he went to Or-du, in-vi-di-mo-mu, to No-gai, in order to prevent the move of Prince An-d-ray Alek-san- d-ro-vi-cha and ta-tar of the sa-paradise Or-dy against Dmitry. Supported Moscow and Perey-Slavl, when in the same year this march took place (the so-called Du-de-ne-va army).

In 1294, he married An-ne, before the Russian Prince Dmitry Bo-ri-so-vi-cha (her sister was for- husband of Per-yas-lavsky Prince Ivan Dmit-rie-vi-ch, son of Dmitry Alek-san-d-ro-vi-cha). Together with Prince Ivan Dmit-rie-vi-ch and Moscow Prince Da-ni-l Alek-san-d-ro-vi-ch, Mikhail Yaroslavich in 1296-1297 -shall the Grand Duke of Vla-di-mir-sky An-d-ray Alek-san-d-ro-vi-chu uk-re-drink his power in Nov-go-ro-de and one-by-night -ke to beat the per-re-yas-lav-tsev and mo-sk-vi-whose.

After the death of No-gay in 1300, Mikhail Yaroslavich abruptly changed the direction of his position and moved to a hundred ro-nu An-d-reya Alek-san-d-ro-vi-cha. He told Mikhail Yarolsavich the Great Prince of Vladimir. When Mikhail Yaroslavich was confirmed as the Grand Duke in Or-de, you maintained a sharp co-operation with the Moscow Prince Yuri Da-ni-lo-vi -than, resolving the dispute in one’s favor for the benefit of many more gifts and promises of more.

At the end of 1305 he returned to Rus'. Or-ga-ni-zo-val two went to Moscow, which Mikhail Yaroslavich failed to take. One day, after the first move, he managed to seize the Pere-Yas-lava principality from the possession of the Moscow princes, connect him to Vla-di-mir-sky, and after the second - force the Moscow princes from niya on Novgorod.

Mikhail Yaroslavich accepted the title “Great Prince of All Russia,” emphasizing his first-standing position among the tom-kov All-in-lo-da Yury-e-vi-cha Big Nest. As a great prince, Mikhail Yaroslavich tried to install his can-di-da as the head of the Russian Right-to-Glorious Church, but met til the co-op-position of Metropolitan Peter and the Russian princes who supported him, especially those from Moscow. The discord with Metropolitan Peter has become the same, that the os-lab-la-lo-political influence of the Grand Duke of Vla-di-mir-sko th.

Mikhail Yaroslavich expanded the power of his own family, Ros-Tov clans and his boyars on the territory of Novgorod. native re-pub-li-ki, that you did not invite the new townspeople. In 1312, Mikhail Yaroslavich seized New Torg (Tor-zhok) and Be-zhi-tsy and transferred the supply of bread to New Town. Nov-gorod-tsy you-well-would-have-been humbled, but in 1314, having taken advantage of the reign of Mikhail Yaroslavich in Or-de, received the presence of the Moscow prince, expelled Mikhail Yaroslavich from the towns and recognized the power of Moscow -You.

In 1315, Mikhail Yaroslavich with a horde of troops returned to Rus' and marched against Novgorod. On February 10, 1316, a battle took place near New Torg, in which the New Towns, the New Traders and their Moscow allies I didn't tolerate complete re-satisfaction. Nov-gorod had to pay a huge indemnity, the power of Mikhail Yaroslavich was restored there.

In 1317, the Moscow prince Yuri Da-ni-lovich returned to Rus' with the Horde army, to whom Uz-bek gave the yar-lyk to Vla -di-worldly great prince. Mikhail Yaroslavich you-well-did-have-to-drink the Vla-di-mir table to Yuri, who, up to the military position of Mikhail Yaroslavich , with his half-s and a Ta-tar detachment led by Kav-ga-dy, he emptied the Tver principality for several months. As a result, Mikhail Yaroslavich brought Yuri's death in the Battle of Bor-te-Nevskaya in 1317, as a result, Yuri fled to New city, and his wife is Agha-fya (before the za-mu-st-va Kon-ch ́a-ka), se-st-ra ha-na Uz-be-ka, po-pa-la captured by the Tver prince. After some time, Yuri Da-ni-lovich again gathered an army and marched against Mikhail Yaroslavich, but before the new battle The matter did not come to fruition, the princes decided to transfer their disputes to Or-du.

In September 1318, Mikhail Yaroslavich arrived at the headquarters of the Khan of Uzbek, where a dispute took place between Mikhail Yarolavich and Yuri. The Tver prince was convicted and taken into custody, with a heavy cap placed on his neck. He remained in this state for almost a month, when the khan decided that he was not worthy of mi-lo-va-niya.

On November 22, 1318, Mikhail Yaroslavich, with great consternation, was for-a-lot. His body was brought to Moscow and only in 1319 did you come to the family.

Mikhail Yaroslavich was buried in the Spa-so-pre-ob-ra-zhen-sky council of Tve-ri. The local recognition of Mikhail Yaroslavich as a saint lasted until 1549, when he was kano-ni-zi-ro-van as a public Russian saint.

Days of memory - 22 November Art. Art. and in the So-bo-re of the Tver saints (1st Sunday after June 29, Art.).

Returning Mikhail defeated the Novgorodians near Torzhok, took a payback of 5,000 hryvnias in silver from them, as well as from the residents of Torzhok, and executed the main culprits of the indignation, while continuing at the same time not to allow grain convoys into Novgorod. In the year he again rose up against the Novgorodians with all the Nizovsky land, but it did not come to battle. IN next year Yuri Danilovich, who received the label for the great reign and married Uzbek’s sister, Konchak, rose up against him, taking advantage of the assistance of the Novgorodians. Yuri's army included Tatar detachments sent by Uzbek led by Kavgady. However, the Tverites, led by the holy Prince Michael, completely defeated Yuri at the village of Bortenev on December 22, after which peace was concluded. Mikhail Yaroslavich, fearing the Tatars, agreed to concessions. Many prisoners were captured, including Kavgady, whom Saint Michael released, and the wife of the Moscow prince Konchak, who unexpectedly died in Tver.

Prince Yuri slandered Saint Prince Michael before the khan, accusing him of poisoning Konchaka. The Khan became angry, threatening to ruin Mikhail’s princely estate, and demanded that he come to him for an answer. Not wanting to shed the blood of Russian soldiers in an unequal struggle with the khan, Saint Michael humbly went to the Horde, realizing that this threatened him with death. He said goodbye to his family and Tver residents, and took the blessing for martyrdom from his spiritual father, Abbot John. " Father, - said the saint, - I cared a lot about the peace of Christians, but, due to my sins, I could not stop civil strife. Now bless me if I have to shed my blood for them, if only they could rest a little, and the Lord would forgive me my sins".

Relics and veneration

The naked body of the holy martyr was thrown into desecration, then it was covered with clothes and placed on a large board tied to a cart. At night, two watchmen were assigned to guard the body, but they were overcome by fear and ran away. The next morning his body was not found on the board. That same night, many, not only Orthodox, but also non-Orthodox, saw how two bright clouds illuminated the place where the body of the martyr lay and, although many predatory animals prowled the steppe, not one of them touched him. In the morning everyone said: " Prince Mikhail - a saint, innocently killed"From the Horde the body of the holy prince was transported to Moscow, where he was buried in

Mikhail Yaroslavich Saint
Years of life: 1271 – 1318
Reign: 1305-1317

Statesman and military leader, Holy Grand Duke of Tver (from 1285), in 1305-1317 Grand Duke of Vladimir.
The first "Grand Duke of All Rus'".

The youngest son of the Grand Duke of Vladimir from his second wife Ksenia. Grandson . Nephew .

Born in 1271, his father Yaroslav Yaroslavich, brother of Alexander Nevsky, died 6 weeks before the birth of his son, returning from the Horde (according to some sources, he was poisoned). Mikhail was raised by his mother, Princess Ksenia, and Bishop Simeon of Tver.

Prince of Tver Mikhail Yaroslavich

He was first mentioned in the chronicles as the Prince of Tver at the age of fourteen in 1285 during the foundation of the first stone church of the Transfiguration Cathedral in Tver in Rus' after the invasion of the Horde troops.

At this time, chronicle writing resumed in Tver for the first time after a long break. Church-civil legal norms are established, the goal is to present Tver as a bearer of law and order, as evidenced by the collection “The Righteous Standard,” which examined the issue of “cesar's dignity” and the truth of power.

Mikhail Yaroslavich was the first to approve the independence of the Tver reign.

After the death of Nevsky's sons, being his nephew, he was supposed to receive the reign by right of seniority. But the final decision in this matter was made by the Horde. At this time, Moskovsky announced his claims to the throne. But he received a label for the Great Throne prince Mikhail Yaroslavich Tverskoy. This event became the reason for the struggle of two increasingly stronger principalities - Tver and Moscow - for the great reign.

Mikhail wanted to subjugate Yuri Danilovich Moskovsky by force. In 1305 and 1308 he made campaigns against Moscow. Bloody battles did not solve the problem. This litigation dragged on for long years, aggravated by the love of power of George (Yuri), intransigence and his family relations with the Tatars.

The princes attempted to resolve the controversial issue with the help of the Horde. In 1313, the Tatars helped Yaroslavich return the city of Novgorod, whose townspeople, in his absence, invited Yuri Danilovich to reign.

In 1317, the united Russian army led by the Prince of Moscow and the Tatar army led by Khan Kavgady approached Tver. The battle near Tver was lost by Yuri Moskovsky. Kavgady himself and Konchaka, who was the wife of Yuri Danilovich, were captured by Mikhail Yaroslavich Tverskoy. but out of his mercy he granted them freedom. Unfortunately, Konchaka, who was the sister of Khan Uzbek, died suddenly, and Yuri and the Tatar commander Kavgady slandered Yaroslavich before Khan Uzbek. They spread a rumor that Konchaka had been poisoned.

Yuri Danilovich went to the Horde with a complaint against the Grand Duke. He was summoned to the Horde.

On the banks of the Nerl River he said goodbye to his mother and confessed his sins to his confessor, and he himself headed to the Horde, heading to certain death. He understood that in this way he laid down his soul for his loved ones and for the entire Russian people.

Murder in the horde of Prince Mikhail Yaroslavich

At first, the khan received him in the horde kindly, but after some time he ordered a trial, bringing charges based on the evidence of slanderers about the poisoning of Konchak and the concealment of part of the tribute collected for the khan. Not listening to the prince’s excuses, he was taken into custody, bound in chains, and a heavy block was placed on his neck.

He endured the humiliation and torment inflicted with amazing firmness and great patience. Seeing the approach of inevitable death, he spent his nights in prayer and reading psalms. The Princely Youth held the book in front of him and turned over the pages, because his hands were tied.

Faithful servants offered to escape secretly, but he responded by telling them: “Saving myself, I will not save the fatherland. May God's will be done!”

Just before the arrival of the murderers, he opened the Psalter at random and read: “My heart is troubled within me, and the fear of death attacks me.” The words turned out to be prophetic. When he closed the book, one of the youths came to him and reported that Yuri, Kavgady and a roaring crowd of people were approaching the tent. They dispersed all the people from Yaroslavich’s entourage, and he stood alone and prayed. The villains threw him to the ground, tortured and beat him.

This is how the chronicler describes that terrible day of November 22, 1318: “Finally, after twenty-six days of languor beyond the Terek River, on the other side of the mountains, on November 22, Wednesday, Kavgady and Yuri Danilovich with their people drove up to the vezha (wagon) , where the unfortunate Mikhail was; The killers entered the tent, knocked the prince to the ground, and one Russian, named Romanets, plunged a knife into the heart of the sufferer. When Yuri and Kavgady entered the tent and saw Mikhail’s naked body, Kavgady with a stern look said to Yuri: “After all, he was your oldest brother, like a father; Why is his body lying abandoned and naked! After this, Yuri ordered to cover Mikhail’s corpse with an epancho.

According to the chronicler, it is clear that the khan hesitated to carry out the court sentence, but Yuri Moskovsky insisted and vigorously sought the death of the Tver ruler. An outstanding monument of ancient Tver literature “The Tale of Mikhail Yaroslavich Tverskoy” is dedicated to this event.

The crowd looted his property. Yuri sent the body of the Grand Duke to Majary. There, many people wanted to bring the body into the church, but the boyars did not allow this, placing it in a stable, and later avoided stopping at churches.

Saint Michael Yaroslavich

The wife of the Tver ruler, Anna, the daughter of the Rostov prince, the great-granddaughter of Mikhail of Chernigov, tearfully begged Yuri to allow the remains to be transported to Tver. The citizens of Tver met the coffin of their beloved ruler on the banks of the Volga River. After removing the lid from the coffin, the people saw with unspeakable joy that the relics were intact and not damaged by the long journey. The burial took place on September 6, 1320 in the Transfiguration Cathedral. And the holy relics of the blessed prince Mikhail Yaroslavich were found incorrupt in 1655.

The chronicler called him the same lover of the fatherland, what Saint Demetrius of Thessalonica was like. In addition to his state virtues, Yaroslavich was also distinguished by family virtues; he was raised in the rules of piety by his virtuous mother Ksenia, who ended her days as a nun.

During his time, the stone Spassky Cathedral was built in Tver, in the basement of which he was buried; in 1317 the Tver Kremlin was expanded and re-fortified.

Married to Anna Kashinskaya, there were children: Feodora, Dmitry Mikhailovich Tverskoy, Alexander Mikhailovich Tverskoy, Vasily Mikhailovich Kashinsky, Konstantin Mikhailovich Kashinsky. After the death of Yaroslavich, his eldest son Dmitry Mikhailovich became the Grand Duke of Tver.

Russian Orthodox Church canonized Prince Mikhail Yaroslavich, canonizing him as a Saint in 1549 at the Second Moscow Council.

The confessor of the Tver ruler, the abbot of the Tver monastery, a witness to the execution in the Horde, Father Alexander left a biography of the Tver prince: “The Life of Mikhail Tverskoy,” which is a monument of history and literature. And on the monument to the “Millennium of Rus'” in Novgorod, Prince Tverskoy is depicted next to Alexander Nevsky.

In 1996, for the first time in history, a international Conference: “Mikhail Yaroslavich Tverskoy - personality, era, heritage.” The administration of the Tver region established the “Mikhail Tverskoy Cross” as the highest regional award.

In October 2002, a church was built in Tver on Memory Island in honor and memory of the holy Grand Duke of Tver and Vladimir (1271-1318). It was consecrated by Archbishop of Tver and Kashinsky Victor. Temple (for the first time in 100 recent years) appeared on the initiative of the Head of the city A.P. Belousov (1947-2003) and with the help of private donations from people. The temple buildings are made in the Vladimir-Suzdal style and the temple itself is a very beautiful addition to the architectural monuments of centuries-old Tver.