Michael (I) was born into the Csetneki family, which originated from the gens (clan) Ákos and held possessions mainly in Gömör County.
[2] Following the death of Louis in 1382, the Csetnekis supported his daughter Mary, Queen of Hungary and her mother Elizabeth of Bosnia during the internal conflict against Charles III of Naples.
George and Michael took part in Sigismund's campaign into Croatia and they were present in the siege of Novigrad Castle, where the royal troops liberated Mary in June 1387.
[6] In the document, Sigismund instructed Emeric Perényi to pay Michael 100 florins, for participating in the royal campaigns at his own expense.
[10][11][12] Following Michael's death, his relatives were unable to pay the dowry of his widow Clara, thus they were forced to pledge their portions in Tapolca (Kunova Teplica), Szalóc (Slavec) and Ardó (Ardovo) in November 1401.