Meanwhile, there was a long civil war between Vasily II and his cousins in the Moscow Principality, during which both sides sought support from Jonah. In 1446 Dmitry Shemyaka seized power in Moscow, and in exchange for help he promised Jonah that he (Johah) would become Metropolitan of Kiev and All Rus' and let him take the Palace of the Metropolitan in Moscow. However, after Vasily II regained his throne in 1447, Jonah was still officially only the bishop of Ryazan and his name was only in third place. It is only in 1448 that the Council of bishops of North-Eastern Rus' proclaimed Jonas Metropolitan of Kiev and All Rus'. This decision was not unanimous – the bishops of Tver and Novgorod (both cities were semi-independent from Moscow) did not sign the Charter of his election.