The end of the 16th and beginning of the 17th centuries became a period of socio-political, economic and dynastic crisis in Russian history, which was called the Time of Troubles. The Time of Troubles began with the catastrophic famine of 1601-1603. A sharp deterioration in the situation of all segments of the population led to mass unrest under the slogan of overthrowing Tsar Boris Godunov and transferring the throne to the “legitimate” sovereign, as well as to the emergence of impostors False Dmitry I and False Dmitry II as a result of the dynastic crisis.

"Seven Boyars" - the government formed in Moscow after the overthrow of Tsar Vasily Shuisky in July 1610, concluded an agreement on the election of the Polish prince Vladislav to the Russian throne and in September 1610 allowed the Polish army into the capital.

Since 1611, patriotic sentiments began to grow in Russia. The First Militia, formed against the Poles, never managed to drive the foreigners out of Moscow. And a new impostor, False Dmitry III, appeared in Pskov. In the fall of 1611, on the initiative of Kuzma Minin, the formation of the Second Militia began in Nizhny Novgorod, led by Prince Dmitry Pozharsky. In August 1612, it approached Moscow and liberated it in the fall. The leadership of the Zemsky militia began preparing for the electoral Zemsky Sobor.

At the beginning of 1613, elected officials from “the whole earth” began to gather in Moscow. This was the first indisputably all-class Zemsky Sobor with the participation of townspeople and even rural representatives. The number of “council people” gathered in Moscow exceeded 800 people, representing at least 58 cities.

The Zemsky Sobor began its work on January 16 (January 6, old style) 1613. Representatives of “the whole earth” annulled the decision of the previous council on the election of Prince Vladislav to the Russian throne and decided: “Foreign princes and Tatar princes should not be invited to the Russian throne.”

The conciliar meetings took place in an atmosphere of fierce rivalry between various political groups that took shape in Russian society during the years of the Troubles and sought to strengthen their position by electing their contender to the royal throne. The council participants nominated more than ten candidates for the throne. Various sources name Fyodor Mstislavsky, Ivan Vorotynsky, Fyodor Sheremetev, Dmitry Trubetskoy, Dmitry Mamstrukovich and Ivan Borisovich Cherkassky, Ivan Golitsyn, Ivan Nikitich and Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov, Pyotr Pronsky and Dmitry Pozharsky among the candidates.

Data from the “Report on Patrimonies and Estates of 1613,” which records land grants made immediately after the election of the Tsar, make it possible to identify the most active members of the “Romanov” circle. The candidacy of Mikhail Fedorovich in 1613 was supported not by the influential clan of Romanov boyars, but by a circle that spontaneously formed during the work of the Zemsky Sobor, composed of minor figures from the previously defeated boyar groups.

According to a number of historians, the decisive role in the election of Mikhail Romanov to the kingdom was played by the Cossacks, who during this period became an influential social force. A movement arose among service people and Cossacks, the center of which was the Moscow courtyard of the Trinity-Sergius Monastery, and its active inspirer was the cellarer of this monastery, Abraham Palitsyn, a very influential person among both the militias and Muscovites. At meetings with the participation of cellarer Abraham, it was decided to proclaim 16-year-old Mikhail Fedorovich, the son of Rostov Metropolitan Philaret captured by the Poles, as tsar.

The main argument of Mikhail Romanov’s supporters was that, unlike elected tsars, he was elected not by people, but by God, since he comes from a noble royal root. Not kinship with Rurik, but closeness and kinship with the dynasty of Ivan IV gave the right to occupy his throne.

Many boyars joined the Romanov party, and he was also supported by the highest Orthodox clergy - the Consecrated Cathedral.

The election took place on February 17 (February 7, old style) 1613, but the official announcement was postponed until March 3 (February 21, old style), so that during this time it would become clear how the people would accept the new king.

Letters were sent to the cities and districts of the country with the news of the election of a king and the oath of allegiance to the new dynasty.

On March 23 (13, according to other sources, March 14, old style), 1613, the ambassadors of the Council arrived in Kostroma. At the Ipatiev Monastery, where Mikhail was with his mother, he was informed of his election to the throne.

Line UMK I. L. Andreeva, O. V. Volobueva. History (6-10)

Russian history

How did Mikhail Romanov end up on the Russian throne?

On July 21, 1613, in the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin, Michael’s crowning ceremony took place, marking the founding of the new ruling dynasty of the Romanovs. How did it happen that Michael ended up on the throne, and what events preceded this? Read our material.

On July 21, 1613, in the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin, Michael’s crowning ceremony took place, marking the founding of the new ruling dynasty of the Romanovs. The ceremony, which took place in the Assumption Cathedral in the Kremlin, was carried out completely out of order. The reasons for this lay in the Time of Troubles, which disrupted all plans: Patriarch Filaret (by coincidence, the father of the future king), was captured by the Poles, the second head of the Church after him, Metropolitan Isidore, was in territory occupied by the Swedes. As a result, the wedding was performed by Metropolitan Ephraim, the third hierarch of the Russian Church, while the other heads gave their blessing.

So, how did it happen that Mikhail ended up on the Russian throne?

Events in the Tushino camp

In the autumn of 1609, a political crisis was observed in Tushino. The Polish king Sigismund III, who invaded Russia in September 1609, managed to split the Poles and Russians, united under the banner of False Dmitry II. Increasing disagreements, as well as the disdainful attitude of the nobles towards the impostor, forced False Dmitry II to flee from Tushin to Kaluga.

On March 12, 1610, Russian troops solemnly entered Moscow under the leadership of the talented and young commander M. V. Skopin-Shuisky, the Tsar’s nephew. There was a chance of completely defeating the forces of the impostor, and then liberating the country from the troops of Sigismund III. However, on the eve of the Russian troops setting out on a campaign (April 1610), Skopin-Shuisky was poisoned at a feast and died two weeks later.

Alas, already on June 24, 1610, the Russians were completely defeated by Polish troops. At the beginning of July 1610, the troops of Zholkiewski approached Moscow from the west, and the troops of False Dmitry II again approached from the south. In this situation, on July 17, 1610, through the efforts of Zakhary Lyapunov (brother of the rebellious Ryazan nobleman P. P. Lyapunov) and his supporters, Shuisky was overthrown and on July 19, he was forcibly tonsured a monk (in order to prevent him from becoming king again in the future). Patriarch Hermogenes did not recognize this tonsure.

Seven Boyars

So, in July 1610, power in Moscow passed to the Boyar Duma, headed by boyar Mstislavsky. The new provisional government was called the “Seven Boyars”. It included representatives of the most noble families F. I. Mstislavsky, I. M. Vorotynsky, A. V. Trubetskoy, A. V. Golitsyn, I. N. Romanov, F. I. Sheremetev, B. M. Lykov.

The balance of forces in the capital in July - August 1610 was as follows. Patriarch Hermogenes and his supporters opposed both the impostor and any foreigner on the Russian throne. Possible candidates were Prince V.V. Golitsyn or 14-year-old Mikhail Romanov, son of Metropolitan Philaret (former Patriarch of Tushino). This is how the name M.F. was heard for the first time. Romanova. Most of the boyars, led by Mstislavsky, nobles and merchants were in favor of inviting Prince Vladislav. They, firstly, did not want to have any of the boyars as king, remembering the unsuccessful experience of the reign of Godunov and Shuisky, secondly, they hoped to receive additional benefits and benefits from Vladislav, and thirdly, they feared ruin when the impostor ascended the throne. The lower classes of the city sought to place False Dmitry II on the throne.

On August 17, 1610, the Moscow government concluded an agreement with Hetman Zholkiewski on the terms of inviting the Polish prince Vladislav to the Russian throne. Sigismund III, under the pretext of unrest in Russia, did not let his son go to Moscow. In the capital, Hetman A. Gonsevsky gave orders on his behalf. The Polish king, possessing significant military strength, did not want to fulfill the conditions of the Russian side and decided to annex the Moscow state to his crown, depriving it of political independence. The boyar government was unable to prevent these plans, and a Polish garrison was brought into the capital.

Liberation from Polish-Lithuanian invaders

But already in 1612, Kuzma Minin and Prince Dmitry Pozharsky, with part of the forces remaining near Moscow from the First Militia, defeated the Polish army near Moscow. The hopes of the boyars and Poles were not justified.

You can read more about this episode in the material: "".

After the liberation of Moscow from the Polish-Lithuanian invaders at the end of October 1612, the combined regiments of the first and second militias formed a provisional government - the “Council of the Whole Land”, led by princes D. T. Trubetskoy and D. M. Pozharsky. The main goal of the Council was to assemble a representative Zemsky Sobor and elect a new king.

In the second half of November, letters were sent to many cities with a request to send them to the capital by December 6 “ for state and zemstvo affairs"ten good people. Among them could be abbots of monasteries, archpriests, village residents and even black-growing peasants. They all had to be " reasonable and consistent", capable of " talk about state affairs freely and fearlessly, without any cunning».

In January 1613, the Zemsky Sobor began to hold its first meetings.
The most significant clergyman at the cathedral was Metropolitan Kirill of Rostov. This happened due to the fact that Patriarch Hermogenes died back in February 1613, Metropolitan Isidore of Novgorod was under the rule of the Swedes, Metropolitan Philaret was in Polish captivity, and Metropolitan Ephraim of Kazan did not want to go to the capital. Simple calculations based on the analysis of signatures under the charters show that at least 500 people were present at the Zemsky Sobor, representing various strata of Russian society from a variety of places. These included clergy, leaders and governors of the first and second militias, members of the Boyar Duma and the sovereign's court, as well as elected representatives from approximately 30 cities. They were able to express the opinion of the majority of the country's inhabitants, therefore the decision of the council was legitimate.

Who did they want to choose as king?

The final documents of the Zemsky Sobor indicate that a unanimous opinion on the candidacy of the future tsar was not developed immediately. Before the arrival of the leading boyars, the militia probably had a desire to elect Prince D.T. as the new sovereign. Trubetskoy.

It was proposed to place some foreign prince on the Moscow throne, but the majority of the council participants resolutely declared that they were categorically against the Gentiles “because of their untruth and crime on the cross.” They also objected to Marina Mnishek and the son of False Dmitry II Ivan - they called them “the thieves’ queen” and “the crow.”

Why did the Romanovs have an advantage? Kinship issues

Gradually, the majority of voters came to the idea that the new sovereign should be from Moscow families and be related to the previous sovereigns. There were several such candidates: the most notable boyar - Prince F. I. Mstislavsky, boyar Prince I. M. Vorotynsky, princes Golitsyn, Cherkassky, boyars Romanovs.

Voters expressed their decision as follows:

« We came to the general idea of ​​electing a relative of the righteous and great sovereign, the Tsar and Grand Duke, blessed in memory Fyodor Ivanovich of all Rus', so that it would be eternally and permanently the same as under him, the great sovereign, the Russian kingdom shone before all states like the sun and expanded on all sides, and many surrounding sovereigns became subject to him, the sovereign, in allegiance and obedience, and there was no blood or war under him, the sovereign - all of us under his royal power lived in peace and prosperity».

In this regard, the Romanovs had only advantages. They were related by double blood to the previous kings. The great-grandmother of Ivan III was their representative Maria Goltyaeva, and the mother of the last tsar from the dynasty of Moscow princes Fyodor Ivanovich was Anastasia Zakharyina from the same family. Her brother was the famous boyar Nikita Romanovich, whose sons Fyodor, Alexander, Mikhail, Vasily and Ivan were cousins ​​of Tsar Fyodor Ivanovich. True, due to the repressions of Tsar Boris Godunov, who suspected the Romanovs of an attempt on his life, Fedor was tonsured a monk and later became Metropolitan Philaret of Rostov. Alexander, Mikhail and Vasily died, only Ivan survived, having suffered from cerebral palsy since childhood; because of this illness, he was not fit to be king.

It can be assumed that most of the participants in the cathedral had never seen Michael, who was distinguished by his modesty and quiet disposition, and had not heard anything about him before. Since childhood, he had to experience many adversities. In 1601, at the age of four, he was separated from his parents and, together with his sister Tatyana, was sent to Belozersk prison. Only a year later, the emaciated and ragged prisoners were transferred to the village of Klin, Yuryevsky district, where they were allowed to live with their mother. Real liberation occurred only after the accession of False Dmitry I. In the summer of 1605, the Romanovs returned to the capital, to their boyar house on Varvarka. Filaret, by the will of the impostor, became the Metropolitan of Rostov, Ivan Nikitich received the rank of boyar, and Mikhail, due to his young age, was enlisted as a steward. The future tsar had to go through new tests during the Time of Troubles. In 1611 - 1612, towards the end of the siege of Kitai-Gorod and the Kremlin by militias, Mikhail and his mother had no food at all, so they even had to eat grass and tree bark. The elder sister Tatyana could not survive all this and died in 1611 at the age of 18. Mikhail miraculously survived, but his health was severely damaged. Due to scurvy, he gradually developed a disease in his legs.
Among the close relatives of the Romanovs were the princes Shuisky, Vorotynsky, Sitsky, Troekurov, Shestunov, Lykov, Cherkassky, Repnin, as well as the boyars Godunov, Morozov, Saltykov, Kolychev. All together they formed a powerful coalition at the sovereign’s court and were not averse to placing their protege on the throne.

Announcement of the election of Michael as Tsar: details

The official announcement of the election of the sovereign took place on February 21, 1613. Archbishop Theodoret with clergy and boyar V.P. Morozov came to the Place of Execution on Red Square. They informed Muscovites the name of the new tsar - Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov. This news was greeted with general rejoicing, and then messengers traveled to the cities with a joyful message and the text of the sign of the cross, which the residents had to sign.

The representative embassy went to the chosen one only on March 2. It was headed by Archbishop Theodoret and boyar F.I. Sheremetev. They had to inform Mikhail and his mother of the decision of the Zemsky Sobor, obtain their consent to “sit on the kingdom” and bring the chosen ones to Moscow.

On the morning of March 14, in ceremonial clothes, with images and crosses, the ambassadors moved to the Kostroma Ipatiev Monastery, where Mikhail and his mother were. Having met at the gates of the monastery with the people's chosen one and Elder Martha, they saw on their faces not joy, but tears and indignation. Michael categorically refused to accept the honor bestowed on him by the council, and his mother did not want to bless him for the kingdom. I had to beg them for a whole day. Only when the ambassadors stated that there was no other candidate for the throne and that Michael’s refusal would lead to new bloodshed and unrest in the country, Martha agreed to bless her son. In the monastery cathedral, the ceremony of naming the chosen one to the kingdom took place, and Theodoret handed him a scepter - a symbol of royal power.

Sources:

1. Morozova L.E. Election to the kingdom // Russian history. - 2013. - No. 1. - P. 40-45.
2. Danilov A.G. New phenomena in the organization of power in Russia during the Time of Troubles // Questions of history. - 2013. - No. 11. - P. 78-96.

Results of the Troubles were depressing: the country was in a terrible situation, the treasury was ruined, trade and crafts were in decline. The consequences of the Troubles for Russia were expressed in its backwardness compared to European countries. It took decades to restore the economy.

№11 The main trends in the socio-economic and political development of Russia inXVIIV.

After the Time of Troubles, Russia underwent a restoration process for almost three decades. Only from the middle of the 17th century. New, progressive trends begin to appear in the economy. As a result of the defeat of the Golden Horde, the fertile lands of the Black Earth Center and the Middle Volga region were brought into economic circulation. Due to their relatively high yield, they produce some surplus grain. This surplus is sold to less fertile regions, allowing their population to gradually move on to other occupations that are more appropriate to the local climatic conditions. Process in progresszoning- economic specialization of various regions. In the north-west, in the Novgorod, Pskov, and Smolensk lands, flax and other industrial crops are cultivated. The northeast - Yaroslavl, Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod lands - begins to specialize in cattle breeding. Peasant crafts are also developing noticeably in these regions: weaving in the northwest, leather tanning in the northeast. The increasing exchange of agricultural and commercial products, the development of commodity-money relations lead to the gradual formation of the internal market (the process is completed only by the end of the 17th century). Trade in the 17th century. was mainly of a fair nature. Some fairs were of national importance: Makaryevskaya (near Nizhny Novgorod), Irbitskaya (Southern Urals) and Svenskaya (near Bryansk). A new phenomenon in the economy has becomemanufactories- large-scale production with division of labor, still mostly manual. Number of manufactories in Russia in the 17th century. did not exceed 30; the only industry in which they arose was metallurgy.

Socially The nobility is becoming an increasingly significant force. By continuing to give land to service people for their service, the government avoids taking them away. Increasingly, estates are inherited, i.e. are becoming more and more like fiefdoms. True, in the 17th century. this process has not yet been supported by special decrees. The peasantry in 1649 was finally attached to the land by the Council Code: St. George's Day was canceled forever; the search for fugitives became indefinite. This enslavement was still of a formal nature - the state did not have the strength to actually attach the peasantry to the land. Until the beginning of the 18th century. They wandered around Rus' in search of a better life for a gang of “walking people”. The authorities are taking measures to support the “merchant class”, especially its privileged elite - the guests. In 1653 it was adoptedTrade charter, replacing many small trade duties with one, in the amount of 5% of the price of the goods sold. Competitors of Russian merchants - foreigners - had to pay 8%, and according to the New Trade Charter of 1667 - 10%.

In terms of political development of the 17th century. was the time of formation of the autocratic system. The tsarist power gradually weakened and abolished the class-representative bodies that limited it. Zemsky Sobors, to whose support after the Time of Troubles the first Romanov, Mikhail, turned almost every year, under his successor Alexei stop convening(the last council was convened in 1653). The tsarist government skillfully takes control of the Boyar Duma, introducing Duma clerks and nobles into it(up to 30% of the composition), unconditionally supporting the king. Proof of the increased strength of tsarist power and the weakening of the boyars was the abolition of localism in 1682. The administrative bureaucracy, which served as a support for the tsar, strengthened and expanded. The order system becomes cumbersome and clumsy: by the end of the 17th century. there were more than 40 orders, some of them were functional in nature - Ambassadorial, Local, Streletsky, etc., and some were territorial - Siberian, Kazan, Little Russian, etc. An attempt to control this colossus with the help of the Secret Affairs order was unsuccessful. On the ground in the 17th century. Elected governing bodies are finally becoming obsolete. All power passes into the hands ofto the governors, appointed from the center and livingfeedingat the expense of the local population. In the second half of the 17th century. In Russia, regiments of a new system appeared, in which “willing people” - volunteers - served for a salary. At the same time, the Eagle was built on the Volga - the first ship capable of withstanding sea voyages.

№12 Church reform of the second half of the 17th century, the split of the Russian Orthodox Church (causes and consequences).

SplitleftonbodyRussiadeep, non-healingscarring. INresultstruggleWithsplitdiedthousandsof people, VvolumenumberAndchildren. Carried overheavyflour, distortedfatethousandsof people.

In general, the split movement is a reactionary movement. It hindered progress and the unification of Russian lands into a single state. At the same time, the split showed the resilience, courage of large groups of the population in defending their views, faith (preservation of the ancient way of life, orders established by their ancestors).

Schism is part of our history. And we contemporaries need to know our history and take everything good and decent from the old days. And in our time, especially in recent years, our spirituality is under threat.

OccasionForemergencesplit, Howknown, servedchurchly- ritualreform, whichV 1653 yearbeganconductpatriarchNikonWithpurposefortificationschurchorganizationsVRussia, ASoorliquidateAlldisagreementsbetweenregionalOrthodoxchurches.

ChurchreformbeforeTotalstartedWithcorrectionsRussiansliturgicalbooksByGreekAndOld SlavonicsamplesAndchurchrituals.

Next heenteredonplaceancientMoscowunison (one-voice) singingnewKievpolyphonic, ASoorstartedunprecedentedcustompronounceVchurchessermonsownessays.

These orders from Nikon forced believers to conclude that they had hitherto not known how to pray or paint icons, and that the clergy did not know how to perform divine services properly.

Onefromcontemporariestells, HowNikonactedagainstnewiconography.

Although the reform affected only the external ritual side of religion, but in conditions of great importance of religion in the public life of the population, everyday life, etc. These innovationsNikonpainfulwere acceptedtops, especiallyrural, patriarchalpeasants, Andespeciallygrassrootslinkclergy. The ritual of “three fingers”, the pronunciation of “Hallelujah” three times instead of two, bows during worship, Jesus instead of Jesus were never accepted by all the elites. Definitely, although the innovations were adopted not only on Nikon’s initiative, but also approved by church councils of 1654-55.

Discontentinnovationschurches, ASoorviolentmeasurestheirimplementationappearedreasonToschism. Firstbehind « oldfaith» againstreformsAndactionspatriarchspokearchpriestHabakkukAndDaniel. They submitted a note to the king in defense of two fingers and about bowing during worship and prayers. Then they began to argue that making corrections to books based on Greek models desecrates the true faith, since the Greek Church apostatized from “ancient piety”, and its books are printed in Catholic printing houses. Ivan Neronov, without touching on the ritual side of the reform, opposed the strengthening of the power of the patriarch and for a simpler, more democratic scheme for governing the church.

№13 Sophia's reign. Reform projects by V. Golitsyn.

INgoverning bodySophiawerecarried outmilitaryAndtaxreforms, developedindustry, was encouragedtradeWithforeignstates. Golitsyn, becamerighthandprincesses, broughtVRussiaforeignmasters, famousteachersAndartists, encouragedimplementationVcountryforeignexperience.

The princess appointed Golitsyn as military leader and insisted that he go on the Crimean campaigns in 1687 and 1689.

Having grown up and having a very contradictory and stubborn character, Peter no longer wanted to listen to his domineering sister in everything. He contradicted her more and more often, reproached her for excessive independence and courage, not inherent in women, and listened more and more to his mother, who told her son the long-standing story of the accession to the throne of the cunning and insidious Sophia. In addition, the state papers stated that the regent would be deprived of the opportunity to govern the state if Peter came of age or got married. By that time, the heir already had a young wife, Evdokia, but his sister, Sofya Alekseevna Romanova, still remained on the throne.

Seventeen-year-old Peter became the most dangerous enemy for the ruler, and she, as the first time, decided to resort to the help of the archers. However, this time the princess miscalculated: the archers no longer believed either her or her favorite, giving preference to the young heir. INendSeptemberTheyswore allegianceonloyaltyPetru, AThatorderedto concludesisterVNovodevichymonastery. So the thirty-two-year-old princess was removed from power and forever separated from her lover. VasilyGolitsynadeprivedboyartitle, propertyAndranksAndexiledVlinkVdistantArkhangelskvillage, Whereprincelivedbeforeendtheirdays.

Sophia was tonsured a nun and took the name Susanna. She lived in the monastery for fifteen long years and died on July 4, 1704. Her lover, favorite and beloved friend outlived the former princess and ruler of the Russian State by ten years and died in 1714.

№14 Reforms of the early 18th century. and the birth of the Russian Empire

1. Election of Michael

Immediately after the liberation of Moscow in October 1612, letters were sent to the cities to send elected people to Moscow, 10 representatives from each city, for the “Sovereign's fleece.” By January 1613, elected representatives from 50 cities gathered in Moscow and, together with the highest clergy, surviving boyars and representatives of Moscow, formed the Zemsky Sobor.

For more than a month, various candidates were proposed and discussions continued. But on February 7, the Cossack ataman and two elected noblemen proposed to the Council the name of the son of Metropolitan Philaret, 16-year-old Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov. On February 21, 1613, Mikhail Romanov was proclaimed Tsar of the Moscow State and the Council swore an oath to him. Then ambassadors were sent from the Cathedral to Mikhail, who lived with his mother in the Ipatiev Monastery near Kostroma.

As soon as it became known that Mikhail Fedorovich was elected to the throne, one detachment of Poles headed to Kostroma to find and kill Mikhail. When the Poles approached Kostroma, they began to ask people where Mikhail was. When Ivan Susanin, who was asked this question, asked the Poles why they needed to know this, they answered that they wanted to congratulate

a new king with his election to the throne. But Susanin did not believe them and sent his grandson to warn Mikhail about the danger. He himself told the Poles this way: “There is no road here, let me lead you through the forest, along a nearby path.” The Poles were glad that now they could easily find Mikhail and followed Susanin.

The night passed, and Susanin kept leading and leading the Poles through the forest, and the forest became more and more dense. The Poles rushed to Susanin, suspecting him of deception. Then Susanin, in full confidence that the Poles would not be able to find their way out of the forest, told them: Now you can do with me what you want; but know that the king is saved and you will not reach him! The Poles killed Susanin, but they themselves died.

The family of Ivan Susanin was generously rewarded by the Tsar. In memory of this self-sacrifice, the famous composer Glinka wrote the opera “Life for the Tsar,” and a monument was erected to him in Kostroma, Susanin’s homeland.

The Council's ambassadors spent a long time begging Michael and his mother (Mikhail's father, Metropolitan Philaret, was in Polish captivity) to become king. Mikhail's mother said that the Russian people were exhausted and would destroy Mikhail, like the previous kings. The ambassadors replied that the Russian people now well understand that without a tsar the state perishes. In the end, the ambassadors declared that if Mikhail and his mother did not agree, then Rus' would perish through their fault. 4.Mikhail's reign

The young Tsar Michael had to rule during difficult times. The entire western part of the state was devastated, the border areas were captured by enemies - the Poles and Swedes. Gangs, and sometimes large detachments, of Poles, thieves, and robbers roamed and robbed the entire state.

Therefore, the young and inexperienced Tsar Mikhail did not dissolve the Zemsky Sobor for 13 years and ruled together with it. It became easier for Mikhail Fedorovich when in 1619 his father returned from captivity and became “the great sovereign, Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'.” Until his death in 1633, Patriarch Filaret, in accordance with Russian traditions, helped Tsar Michael rule.

Since unrest continued in the Moscow state for a long time, Tsar Mikhail always used the help of the Zemsky Sobor in governing the country. It should be said that the Zemsky Sobors played a purely advisory role. In other words, the tsar consulted with the Zemsky Sobor on various issues, but made the final decisions himself, agreeing or disagreeing with the opinion of the Sobor.

Russian Zemsky Councils consisted of three parts:

1. "Consecrated Council", i.e. senior clergy.

2. "Boyar Duma", i.e. know.

3. "Earth", i.e. elected from the “servants” (nobility) and “taxable” free people - townspeople and peasants.

The Zemsky Councils of these times developed a tradition: the requests and wishes of the “land” were almost always fulfilled by the tsar, even when they were unfavorable to the boyars. Zemsky Sobors forever destroyed the dream of the “princes” about the “boyar tsar”. The king's sole power increased, but he always relied on the "ground", i.e. people, and the “land” always supported the king.

2. Return to order

Tsar Michael's first task was to restore order in the state. Astrakhan, occupied by the Cossacks of Zarutsky, who was trying to found a Cossack state, was cleared of rebels. Marina Mnishek died in prison, and her son was executed along with Zarutsky.

The huge robber army of Ataman Balovnya reached Moscow and only here was it defeated and most of his people were recaptured. Prince Pozharsky hunted for a long time for the Polish robber, Lisovsky, but it was not possible to disperse his gang until Lisovsky himself died.

It was very difficult to restore obedience and honesty among the governors and officials who were accustomed to the anarchy of the Time of Troubles and tried to govern as they pleased.

Zemsky Sobor 1613. Election of Mikhail Romanov as Tsar. The cathedral embassy to him. The feat of Ivan Susanin

Immediately after the cleansing of Moscow, the provisional government of princes Pozharsky and Trubetskoy sent letters to the cities with an invitation to send elected officials, about ten people from the city, to Moscow to “rob the sovereign.” By January 1613, representatives from 50 cities gathered in Moscow and, together with Moscow people, formed an electoral [zemsky] council. First of all, they discussed the issue of foreign candidates for kings. They rejected Vladislav, whose election brought so much grief to Rus'. They also rejected the Swedish prince Philip, who was elected by the Novgorodians to the “Novgorod state” under pressure from the Swedish troops who then occupied Novgorod. Finally, they made a general resolution not to elect a “king from the Gentiles,” but to elect one of their own “from the great Moscow families.” When they began to determine which of their own could be elevated to the royal throne, the votes were divided. Everyone named a candidate they liked, and for a long time they could not agree on anyone. It turned out, however, that not only at the cathedral, but also in the city of Moscow, among the zemstvo people and among the Cossacks, of whom there were many in Moscow at that time, the young son of Metropolitan Philaret had particular success. His name was already mentioned in 1610, when there was talk of the election of Vladislav; and now written and oral statements from townspeople and Cossacks were received at the meetings of the cathedral in favor of Mikhail Fedorovich. On February 7, 1613, the cathedral for the first time decided to choose Michael. But out of caution, they decided to postpone the matter for two weeks, and at that time send to the nearest cities to find out whether Tsar Michael would be loved there, and, in addition, to summon to Moscow those of the boyars who were not at the council. By February 21, good news came from the cities and the boyars gathered from their estates - and on February 21, Mikhail Fedorovich was solemnly proclaimed tsar and both the members of the cathedral and all of Moscow took the oath to him.

Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov in his youth

The new Tsar, however, was not in Moscow. In 1612, he sat with his mother, nun Martha Ivanovna, in the Kremlin siege, and then, freed, he left through Yaroslavl to Kostroma, to his villages. There he was in danger from a wandering Polish or Cossack detachment, of which there were many in Rus' after the fall of Tushin. Mikhail Fedorovich was saved by a peasant from his village Domnina, Ivan Susanin. Having notified his boyar of the danger, he himself led the enemies into the forests and died there with them, instead of showing them the way to the boyar’s estate. Then Mikhail Fedorovich took refuge in the strong Ipatiev Monastery near Kostroma, where he lived with his mother until the minute an embassy from the Zemsky Sobor came to his monastery offering him the throne. Mikhail Fedorovich refused the kingdom for a long time; his mother also did not want to bless her son for the throne, fearing that the Russian people were “faint-hearted” and could destroy young Mikhail, like the previous kings, Fyodor Borisovich,