Tsar Michael’s father Feodor Romanov, Patriarch Filaret, had since 1610 been a prisoner in the hands of the Polish king, Sigismund III Vasa, whom he had refused to acknowledge as tsar of Muscovy on being sent on an embassy to the Polish camp.

Released on the conclusion of the truce of Deulino (February 13, 1619), on June 2 of the same year he is canonically enthroned Patriarch of Moscow and all of Russia.

Henceforth, until his death, the established government of Muscovy is to be a diarchy.

There will from 1619 to 1633 be two actual sovereigns, Tsar Michael and his father, the most holy Patriarch Filaret.

Theoretically they are co-regents, but Filaret will frequently transact affairs of state without consulting the tsar.