MICHAEL (1596-1645) , See also:tsar of Russia, was the first
tsar of the See also:house of See also:Romanov, being the son of
See also:Theodore Nekitich Romanov, afterwards the See
also:Patriarch Philaret (q.v.), and See also:Xenia Chestovaya,
afterwards the nun Martha . He was elected unanimously tsar of
Russia by a See also:assembly on the 21st of See also:February
1613, but not till the 24th of See also:March did the delegates
of the council discover the See also:young tsar and his See
also:mother at the Ipatievsky monastery near See also:Kostroma .
At first Martha See also:pro-tested that her son was too young
and See also:tender for so difficult an See also:office in such
troublesome times . At the last moment, however, Michael
consented to accept the See also:throne, but not till the
weeping boyars had solemnly declared that if he persisted in his
refusal they would hold him responsible to See also:God for the
utter destruction of Muscovy . In so dilapidated a See
also:condition was the capital at this