Mikhail of Tver

Who was Mikhail of Tver?

Mikhail Yaroslavich, also known as Michael of Tver or Michael the Saint, was a Prince of Tver who ruled as Grand Prince of Vladimir from 1304 until 1314 and again from 1315–1318. He is counted among the saints of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Mikhail Yaroslavich was the second son of Yaroslav III, the younger brother of Aleksandr Nevsky, and succeeded him as Prince of Tver in 1285. His mother Xenia was the second spouse to Yaroslav III and is known as the saint Xenia of Tarusa. Upon the death of Andrei Aleksandrovich, Mikhail became the Grand Prince of Vladimir in 1304, as was consistent with the Rota System of collateral succession that had been practised in Rus since the time of Yaroslav the Wise. He was confirmed in office by Tokhta, Khan of the Golden Horde.