Tverdislav Mikhalkovich

a Novgorod posadnik (highest official) of the early 13th century. During Novgorod’s attack on Kiev during a campaign against Vsevolod Chermnyi (1214), Tverdislav Mikhalkovich reconciled Prince Mstislav Mstislavich Udaloi with the people of Novgorod. Following the policies of the Rostislaviches of Smolensk, he was a firm adversary of Iurii Vsevolodovich, grand prince of Vladimir, and of his brother, Prince Iaroslav of Perelaslavl’, and fought against them in 1215 and 1216. Sviatoslav Mstislavich, a prince of Novgorod, was dissatisfied with Tverdislav and tried to remove him in 1218. The people of Novgorod, however, supported Tverdislav for articulating the principle of the sovereignty of the people in the words: “And you, brothers, are free to elect either posadnik or prince.” In 1220, after a dispute with the Novgorod prince Vsevolod Mstislavich, Tverdislav renounced his position as posadnik and entered a monastery.