Mikhail Feodorovich

1596-1645
CZAR 1613-1645

Founder of the royal dynasty of Romanovs, Mikhail Feodorovich was born on July 18, 1596, to the boyar Feodor Nikitich Romanov (subsequently known by the ecclesiastical name Filaret) and Ksenia lvanovna Shestovaya (ecclesiastical name Grand Old Martha). He was elected Sovereign of All Russia in Moscow's Red Square by the Assembly of the Land (Zemskii Sobor) on February 21, 1613, at the age of 16, and consecrated Czar on July 11, 1613, in the Dormition Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin.

Before his accession to the throne, he lived with his mother in the village of Domnina, the family estate of the Romanovs.

During his reign, he established a unified Russian state, ended internal conflicts and resumed relations with foreign states. He also made various early reforms, particularly in the Russian army. He was married twice: to Maria Vladimirovna Dolgorukaya (died January 7, 1626) and to Evdokia Lukianovna Streshneva (circa 1608-August 18, 1645). There were 10 children from the second marriage.

He died on July 13, 1645, from dropsy and was buried in the Archangel Cathedral of the Kremlin.

Biography and image from The Florida International Museum WWW exhibit
"The Treasures of the Czars"