Mikhail II of Tver facts for kids
Mikhail Alexandrovich (born 1333 – died August 26, 1399) was an important ruler in medieval Russia. He was the Grand Prince of Tver for a long time. For a short period, he also held the powerful title of Grand Prince of Vladimir. This was a big deal because, at that time, most princes who held the Vladimir title were from Moscow. Mikhail was one of only two princes from Tver to achieve this after 1317.
Who Was Mikhail Alexandrovich?
Mikhail Alexandrovich was a key figure in the history of Tver and Russia during the 14th century. He was known for his efforts to make Tver a stronger power. He also tried to challenge the growing influence of Moscow. His life was full of political struggles and alliances with other powerful rulers.
Early Life and Education
Mikhail Alexandrovich was the third son of Aleksandr Mikhailovich of Tver. He was born in 1333. Mikhail spent his early years in Pskov. His father had moved there after a big event called the Tver Uprising of 1327.
In 1333, Mikhail was christened, which means he was baptized into the Christian faith. This ceremony was performed by Vasily Kalika, who was the Archbishop of Novgorod. Five years later, Mikhail and his mother returned to Tver when his father came back. In 1341, Mikhail went to Novgorod again. There, Archbishop Vasily taught him how to read and write. This education likely focused on religious texts. Mikhail became the Prince of Tver in 1368.
A Prince's Challenge
Mikhail Alexandrovich was one of the last princes to seriously challenge the Grand Duchy of Moscow. He wanted to gain control of the important title of Grand Prince of Vladimir. He hoped to do this with help from his brother-in-law, Algirdas. Algirdas was the powerful Grand Duke of Lithuania.
In 1371, Mikhail had a big success. He managed to get a special document called a yarlik from the Khan of the Golden Horde. This yarlik was an official permission to be the Grand Prince of Vladimir. He was also accepted as the Prince of Novgorod. Novgorod was a very important city for trade and money.
However, Mikhail's power didn't last long. In 1372, Algirdas made a peace agreement with Dmitri Donskoi of Moscow. This agreement was called the Treaty of Lyubutsk. It's not completely clear who held the Grand Prince title between 1372 and 1375. But by 1375, Dmitri Donskoi of Moscow had defeated Mikhail.
