Saint Mychailo of Chernigiv

Mikhail Vsevolodovich (c. 1185 – 20 September 1246), known as Michael or Michael of Chernigov, was Grand Prince of Kiev (1236–1239; 1241–1243); he was also Prince of Pereyaslavl (1206), Novgorod-Seversk (1219–1226), Chernigov (1223–1235; 1242–1246), Novgorod (1225–1226; 1229–1230), and Galicia (1235–1236). He was canonized as a saint in the Christian Church. A son of prince Vsevolod the Red from the Olgovichi clan, in 1223 Michael participated in the Battle of Kalka against Tatars. After the death of Mstislav the Brave in 1228, he issued claims to the throne of Galicia-Volhynia, which led him into conflict with Daniel and Vasylko, the sons of Roman the Great, and their ally Vladimir Rurikovich. Archaeological evidence reveals that Chernigov towns enjoyed an unprecedented degree of prosperity during Michael's rule, which suggests that promoting trade was a priority for him. Commercial interests, in part, also motivated him to seize control of Halych and Kiev because they were channels through which goods from the Rhine valley and Hungary passed to Chernigov. He also negotiated commercial treaties and political alliances with the Poles and the Hungarians. He alleviated the tax burden of the Novgorodians and granted their boyars greater political freedom from the prince. In 1239, during the Mongol invasion of Kievan Rus' (1237–1242), Michaell was forced to flee, taking refuge in Hungary. After returning, he shortly controlled Kyiv, and later applied for a yarlyk from the Mongol khan in order to confirm his rule over Chernigov. In 1246, he was executed by Batu Khan, reportedly after refusing to submit himself to the court rituals at the khan's residence. According to another theory, the cause for Michael's execution was his pro-Western political orientation. According to tradition, the prince was murdered along with his loyal boyar Theodore, and both were later canonized as martyrs.