Mikhailo Olelkovich

Mikhailo was allegedly involved both in bringing the Judaizers to Novgorod and the failed defection of the city's nobles to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in 1471.

[1] According to the 1456 Treaty of Yazhelbitsy, the Novgorod Republic became dependent on the Grand Principality of Moscow and was not allowed to conduct an independent foreign policy.

[2] In a bid to regain independence, Novgorod began negotiations for an anti-Muscovite alliance with Casimir IV Jagiellon, the grand duke of Lithuania.

[6] The affair ended when Mikhailo withdrew from the city and Ivan III defeated the Novgorodians at the Battle of Shelon in July 1471.

Robert O. Crummey says that Mikhailo was of "impeccably Russian and Orthodox background", but quickly became disillusioned with the new office and plundered the southern territories of the republic as he left.

[7] Mikhailo and 12 other Ruthenian nobles signed a letter to Pope Sixtus IV in 1476, authored by Miseal (Misail Pstruch), the metropolitan of Kiev.