The founder of the Romanov dynasty, Mikhail Fyodorovich Romanov, was the tsar, elected by Zemsky Sobor (Assembly of the Land), same as Boris Godunov. The enthronement of Mikhail Fyodorovich Romanov was preceded by the so-called “Time of Troubles”, that featured the periods of rule of the PolishFalse Demetrius I, Tsar Vasily Ivanovich Shuisky, appearance of False Demetrius II, heptarchy, the volunteer army of Minin and Pozharsky, which resulted in liberation of Moscow from the Poles in 1612. The coronation of Mikhail Fyodorovich was held on 11 July 1613. The young tsar was only 17 years old. The Kazan Metropolitan Ephrem crowned Mikhail. From the early morning, the crowds of dressed up people, belonging to different ranks, started filling the streets to witness the splendid and breathtaking event – the enthronement of a new tsar.
At the same time, in the magnificent golden-domed Assumption Cathedral, the principal temple of the country, the future ceremony was prepared. When the preparations were over, the bells rang and, followed by the chimes and numerous retinue, Mikhail Fyodorovich left the Golden Chamber and the solemn procession moved slowly towards the cathedral. In the cathedral, Mikhail kissed ancient icons and tombs of saints, buried here. Then, the metropolitan took him to the “the chamber place” and began a solemn prayer, after which Mikhail addressed the metropolitan with a speech authorizing his right for the throne. In his turn, the metropolitan responded on behalf of the clergy and all people. Appealing to the tsar, the metropolitan called him to keep the Christian faith and maintain his tsardom in piety and purity.
The speeches were followed by the coronation of Mikhail Fyodorovich, which began with laying of the regalia: the life-giving cross, barmy, tsar crown – the Monomakh’s Cap, handing of the sceptre and the orb. Then, the liturgy followed, during which the gold chain, the last regalia, was laid on the tsar and afterwards he was anointed. The anointment was succeeded by the Eucharist of Mikhail Fyodorovich, after which the newly-elected tsar, being showered with golden and silver coins, passed to the Archangel Cathedral to kiss the relics and bow to the tombs of previous tsars and princes.
Already in the Assumption Cathedral, when all church rituals were over, Mikhail Fyodorovich had invited the metropolitan and other clergymen to “eat the bread” at his place. The same day, in the Faceted Chamber, there was a royal banquet. Upon the tsar’s desire, the guests could take any place they wish, despite the hierarchy established at the royal court. The feast continued on the second day, when the tsar had name-day, and even on the third day.
Portrait of Tsar Mikhail Fyodorovich
Unknown artist.Russia, 1772. Oil on canvas.
The image of Tsar Mikhail Fyodorovich in the ceremonial attire - the brocade platno (state robe) with barmy (regalia collar) and the cross, in tsar’s cap be studded with precious stones and with the sceptre and orb in hands – ascends to the portrait of the tsar in the Book of Titles that was created in the Posolsky Prikaz (Ambassadorial Office) upon the order of Tsar Alexey Mikhailovich in 1672. Similar images, which were widespread at court in the second half of the 17th century, entered the Russian culture under the name “parsuna” from the Latin word “persona”.
Confirmatory charter of Zemsky Sobor (Assembly of the Land) on the election of Tsar Mikhail Fyodorovich
Moscow, May 1613. Paper, ink, gold paint, parchment, silk cord; manuscript.
The charter is the key document of Zemsky Sobor (Assembly of the Land) that elected Tsar Mikhail Fyodorovich for the Russian throne in 1613. It was compiled in May 1613 to legalize the election. The confirmatory charter was written in two copies in the form of scrolls. At the current moment, one of them, consisting of 9 sheets, is in the Moscow Kremlin Museums and another one of 8 sheets is in the Department of Manuscripts of the Russian State Library. Both copies are certified by signatures of the Zemsky Sobor members on the back side of scrolls and seals of the clergy.
Fragment of Charter with cords to suspend the seals
Pectoral Cross of Mikhail Fyodorovich
Moscow, Kremlin workshops, 1619–1633 s. Gold, silver, sapphires, tourmalines, emerald, pearls; chasing, niello, carving.
The gold cross is decorated with a carved inscription on the back side, that says that Patriarch Filaret, “sovereign’s father”, blessed with this cross Tsar Mikhail Fyodorovich.
The inscription on the cross calls the father of Mikhail Fyodorovich the patriarch. He was elected patriarch on 22 June 1619 and two days later he was solemnly ordained for ministry in the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. From that time on, Filaret had actually become a co-regent of his son, having obtained the same title of grand sovereign. The patriarch died in 1633. Thus, the cross could have been made between 1619 and 1633.
Barmy (Regalia Collar) of Mikhail Fyodorovich
Moscow, Kremlin workshops, 1629–1645. Satin, gold and silk threads; weaving, weaving.
The wide barmy or “diadema” is an essential attribute of the tsar order. It was worn over the ceremonial upper garment during important official events. Eight large plaques host the images of saints in full-length, thus forming the deisis composition. The embroidered images of St Michael Maleinos, patron saint of Tsar Mikhail Fyodorovich, and St AlexiusofRome, patron of Alexey Mikhailovich, give grounds to attribute the production of barmy to the time after the birth of Mikhail Fyodorovich’s heir – Prince Alexey Mikhailovich in 1629.
Chain of Tsar Mikhail Fyodorovich
Moscow, Kremlin workshops, 1613–1626. Gold; chasing, carving, flat chasing, riveting.
The precious chain is featured for the first time as a regalia of Russian tsars in the Vast Edition of the Order of Coronation of Tsar Ivan IV Vasilievich the Terrible that was compiled after his enthronement in 1547. The chains with rings of such form, particularly popular in Old Rus, were called in written sources “annulate”. To preserve the form, such chains were sewn on ribbons, made of strong silk fabrics. On the face side of the rings, there is an inscription moving from one ring to the other. It is carved as an ornament and includes a prayer to the Holy Trinity, the whole title of Mikhail Fyodorovich with mentioning of towns, princedoms and lands of the Russian state of that time, as well as the admonition to live according to Lord’s commandments, to rule wisely and justly.
Book
Of the election to the highest throne of the Great Russian realm of the Great Sovereign, Tsar and Grand Prince Mikhail Fyodorovich, Autocrat of All Russia
Moscow, Posolsky Prikaz (Ambassadorial Office), 1672–1673. Paper, gold and silver paint, cardboard, silver, velvet, taffeta; ink, tempera, chasing, carving, gilding.
The book is a wonderful 17th-century manuscript with splendid illustrations. It was created upon the order of Tsar Alexey Mikhailovich, which is proved by the survived documents from the Posolsky Prikaz (Ambassadorial Office) with the description of the process and exact date of its production. Head of the office, Boyar Artemon Sergeevich Matveev, supervised the work. The text, compiled in the Posolsky Prikaz, was copied on French paper by scribe Ivan Vereshchagin from 6 July to 17 August 1672. It took Kremlin icon-painters Ivan Maksimov, Sergey Rozhkov, Anany Evdokimov and Fyodor Yuriev five months, from 8 November 1672 till 30 March 1673, to create 21 miniatures on the spreads. Then, they were decorated with gold and silver paint by Grigory Blagushin. One of the miniatures depicts the anointing of the tsar before the Royal Doors in the Assumption Cathedral. The anointment of Russian sovereigns, which made the tsar power sacred, had remained the key component of the enthronement ceremony up to the late 19th century.
Book
Of the election to the highest throne of the Great Russian realm of the Great Sovereign, Tsar and Grand Prince Mikhail Fyodorovich, Autocrat of All Russia
Moscow, Posolsky Prikaz (Ambassadorial Office), 1672–1673.Paper, gold and silver paint, cardboard, silver, velvet, taffeta; ink, tempera, chasing, carving, gilding.
Aspect. Sheet 24, il.11.
The miniature depicts the “Blessing of Mikhail Fyodorovich by Metropolitan Ephrem of Kazan and Sviyazhsk with a Holy Life-giving Cross, Laying on Him the Tsar Diadema (Barmy) and Crown in the Assumption Cathedral”.