Mikhail Romanov was born on July 22, 1596, in Moscow. His parents, Fyodor Nikitich Romanov and Ksenia Ivanovna Romanova, belonged to a noble boyar family. His father was related to the last of the Rurik dynasty, Fyodor Ioannovich. Fyodor Nikitich was tonsured as a monk, which deprived him of his right to the throne.

Later, Fyodor Nikitich, who became Archimandrite Filaret, took the position of Metropolitan of Rostov. His wife Ksenia took the monastic name Marfa. They, along with their son Mikhail, settled in the Ipatiev Monastery in Kostroma, which was part of the Rostov diocese.

When the Poles captured Moscow, Marfa and Mikhail found themselves in captivity. They endured many trials, but after their release, they settled again in the Ipatiev Monastery.

On February 21, 1613, the Great Zemsky Sobor began in Moscow, aimed at electing a new tsar. The discussions were accompanied by intrigues and disagreements. Among the candidates were representatives of noble Russian families, such as Dmitry Pozharsky, as well as foreigners, including the Polish prince Wladyslaw and the Swedish prince Karl Philip. Ultimately, the choice fell on Mikhail Fyodorovich Romanov, who was connected to the previous dynasty. His meek character and youth worked in his favor. Mikhail was crowned on July 1, 1613.

The young tsar's first task was to pacify the country. Despite the end of the Time of Troubles, runaway peasants, Cossacks, and remnants of Polish and Lithuanian troops continued to wreak havoc in Russia. Mikhail made efforts to eliminate them.

It was also necessary to deal with foreign invaders. The Swedes held Novgorod, while Poland sought the Moscow throne.

A new chapter in Mikhail's life began with the return of his father, Metropolitan Filaret, from Polish captivity in 1619. Mikhail made him Patriarch of Moscow and Grand Sovereign. Filaret had significant influence over his son, and no important decision was made without his involvement. The dual power ended in October 1633 after Filaret's death.

Mikhail's foreign policy was passive. Russia did not participate in major military campaigns. The Second Polish War was lost, and Poland retained the captured territories. The Cossack campaign against the Turkish fortress of Azov also ended unsuccessfully, as Mikhail did not want to conflict with Turkey.

The tsar focused on domestic affairs, striving to organize finances and strengthen the economy. He convened Zemsky Sobors twelve times, which contributed to the effective functioning of the government. Mikhail paid attention to the military service class and the development of a new cadastre. Under him, Russia opened up to foreigners, work began on correcting church books, and the first government school was opened in Moscow.

Mikhail's first wife was Princess Maria Dolgorukaya, but she soon passed away. In 1626, he married Evdokia Streshneva, who bore him ten children, of whom four survived, including the future tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. Evdokia was involved in charity, supported the church and the needy, and built churches. She died a month after Mikhail.

Mikhail suffered from physical and psychological ailments since childhood. By the age of thirty, he could barely move. Despite this, he lived to be 49 years old and died on July 23, 1645. The official cause of death is considered to be dropsy, caused by a sedentary lifestyle and the consumption of cold water. Mikhail was buried in the Archangel Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin.