Origin of Knyaz Mikhail Andreevich chronicle article of 1305

Among many controversial issues of Russian genealogy, a special place belongs to the problem of Knyaz Mikhail Andreevich origin, the chronicle article of 1305. It is known that he was married in the Horde and came to Nizhny Novgorod, where he executed the insurgent residents. The problem of his origin is related to the early history of Suzdal-Nizhny Novgorod knyazes dynasty and the inheritance of power in Rus in those years. In general, the history of the Russian lands in the XIII-XIV centuries is poorly covered by sources, and each new fact complements our understanding of this period. The name of the father of the knyaz is not mentioned in the sources. There are two opposing opinions in the scientific literature that cannot be combined. Some historians consider this knyaz to be the son of Andrei Alexandrovich of Gorodets, others - Andrei Yaroslavich of Suzdal. In the paper the author, on the basis of a critical analysis of the sources and arguments of historians, comes to the conclusion that Mikhail Andreyevich is the son of Andrei of Gorodets, who came to the city of his father. This is indicated by the presence of his name in the synodics, his mention in those years, connection with the inheritance of the knyaz of Gorodets, the marriage policy, etc. On the contrary, Mikhail of Suzdal is mentioned long before 1305 and has nothing to do with Nizhny Novgorod, which was not yet a part of the Suzdal Principality at the beginning of the 14th century. According to the author, the knyaz died early and was not the ancestor of the Suzdal knyazes.