Sophia paleologist-Byzantine princess. How a Byzantine princess helped cope with the Khan's Horde

Ivan III Vasilyevich was the Grand Duke of Moscow from 1462 to 1505. During the reign of Ivan Vasilyevich, a significant part of the Russian lands around Moscow was united and transformed into the center of the all-Russian state. The final liberation of the country from the power of the Horde khans was achieved. Ivan Vasilyevich created a state that became the basis of Russia until modern times.

The first wife of Grand Duke Ivan was Maria Borisovna, the daughter of the Tver prince. On February 15, 1458, a son, Ivan, was born into the family of the Grand Duke. The Grand Duchess, who had a meek character, died on April 22, 1467, before reaching the age of thirty. The Grand Duchess was buried in the Kremlin, in Voznesensky convent. Ivan, who was in Kolomna at that time, did not come to his wife’s funeral.

Two years after her death Grand Duke decided to marry again. After a conference with his mother, as well as with the boyars and the metropolitan, he decided to agree to the proposal recently received from the Pope to marry the Byzantine princess Sophia (in Byzantium she was called Zoe). She was the daughter of the Morean despot Thomas Palaiologos and was the niece of the emperors Constantine XI and John VIII.

The decisive factor in Zoya’s fate was the fall of the Byzantine Empire. Emperor Constantine XI died in 1453 during the capture of Constantinople. 7 years later, in 1460, Morea was captured by the Turkish Sultan Mehmed II, Thomas fled with his family to the island of Corfu, then to Rome, where he soon died. To gain support, Thomas converted to Catholicism in the last year of his life. Zoya and her brothers - 7-year-old Andrei and 5-year-old Manuel - moved to Rome 5 years after their father. There she received the name Sophia. The Palaiologos came under the patronage of Cardinal Vissarion, who retained his sympathies for the Greeks.

Zoya has grown over the years into an attractive girl with dark, sparkling eyes and soft white skin. She was distinguished by a subtle mind and prudence in behavior. According to the unanimous assessment of her contemporaries, Zoya was charming, and her intelligence, education and manners were impeccable. Bolognese chroniclers wrote enthusiastically about Zoe in 1472: “She is truly charming and beautiful... She was short, she seemed about 24 years old; the eastern flame sparkled in her eyes, the whiteness of her skin spoke of the nobility of her family.”

In those years, the Vatican was looking for allies to organize a new crusade against the Turks, intending to involve all European sovereigns in it. Then, on the advice of Cardinal Vissarion, the pope decided to marry Zoya to the Moscow sovereign Ivan III, knowing about his desire to become the heir of the Byzantine basileus. The Patriarch of Constantinople and Cardinal Vissarion tried to renew the union with Russia through marriage. It was then that the Grand Duke was informed about the stay in Rome of a noble bride devoted to Orthodoxy, Sophia Palaeologus. Dad promised Ivan his support if he wanted to woo her. Ivan III's motives for marrying Sophia, of course, were related to status; the brilliance of her name and the glory of her ancestors played a role. Ivan III, who claimed the royal title, considered himself the successor of the Roman and Byzantine emperors.

On January 16, 1472, Moscow ambassadors set off on a long journey. In Rome, Muscovites were honorably received by the new Pope Sixtus IV. As a gift from Ivan III, the ambassadors presented the pontiff with sixty selected sable skins. The matter quickly came to an end. Pope Sixtus IV treated the bride with paternal concern: he gave Zoe, in addition to gifts, about 6,000 ducats as a dowry. Sixtus IV in St. Peter's Cathedral performed a solemn ceremony of Sophia's betrothal in absentia to the Moscow sovereign, who was represented by the Russian ambassador Ivan Fryazin.

On June 24, 1472, having said goodbye to the pope in the Vatican gardens, Zoe headed to the far north. The future Grand Duchess of Moscow, as soon as she found herself on Russian soil, while still on her way down the aisle to Moscow, insidiously betrayed all the hopes of the pope, immediately forgetting her entire Catholic upbringing. Sophia, apparently dating as a child Athonite elders, opponents of subordination Orthodox to Catholics, deep down she was deeply Orthodox. She immediately openly, brightly and demonstratively showed her devotion to Orthodoxy, to the delight of the Russians, venerating all the icons in all the churches, behaving impeccably at the Orthodox service, crossing herself as an Orthodox woman. The Vatican's plans to make the princess a conductor of Catholicism in Rus' failed, as Sophia immediately demonstrated a return to the faith of her ancestors. The papal legate was deprived of the opportunity to enter Moscow, carrying the Latin cross in front of him.

Early in the morning of November 21, 1472, Sophia Paleologus arrived in Moscow. On the same day, in the Kremlin, in a temporary wooden church, erected near the Assumption Cathedral under construction, so as not to stop the services, the sovereign married her. The Byzantine princess saw her husband for the first time. The Grand Duke was young - only 32 years old, handsome, tall and stately. His eyes were especially remarkable, “formidable eyes.” And before, Ivan Vasilyevich was distinguished by his tough character, but now, having become related to the Byzantine monarchs, he turned into a formidable and powerful sovereign. This was largely due to his young wife.

Sophia became the full-fledged Grand Duchess of Moscow. The very fact that she agreed to go from Rome to distant Moscow to seek her fortune suggests that she was a brave, energetic woman.

She brought a generous dowry to Rus'. After the wedding, Ivan III adopted the coat of arms of the Byzantine double-headed eagle - a symbol of royal power, placing it on his seal. The two heads of the eagle face the West and the East, Europe and Asia, symbolizing their unity, as well as the unity (“symphony”) of spiritual and temporal power. Sophia's dowry was the legendary “Liberia” - a library (better known as the “library of Ivan the Terrible”). It included Greek parchments, Latin chronographs, ancient Eastern manuscripts, among which were unknown to us poems by Homer, works by Aristotle and Plato, and even surviving books from the famous Library of Alexandria.

According to legend, she brought with her a “bone throne” as a gift to her husband: its wooden frame was entirely covered with plates of ivory and walrus ivory with scenes on biblical themes carved on them. Sophia also brought with her several Orthodox icons.

With the arrival in the capital of Russia of the Greek princess, the heir to the former greatness of the Palaiologans, in 1472, a fairly large group of immigrants from Greece and Italy formed at the Russian court. Over time, many of them occupied significant government positions and more than once carried out important diplomatic assignments for Ivan III. They all returned to Moscow with in large groups specialists, among whom were architects, doctors, jewelers, coiners and gunsmiths.

The great Greek woman brought with her her ideas about the court and the power of government. Sophia Paleolog not only brought about changes at court - some Moscow monuments owe their appearance to her. Much of what is now preserved in the Kremlin was built precisely under Grand Duchess Sophia.

In 1474, the Assumption Cathedral, built by Pskov craftsmen, collapsed. The Italians were involved in its restoration under the leadership of the architect Aristotle Fioravanti. With her, they built the Church of the Deposition of the Robe, the Faceted Chamber, so named on the occasion of its decoration in Italian style– edges. The Kremlin itself - the fortress that guarded the ancient center of the capital of Rus' - grew and was created before her eyes. Twenty years later, foreign travelers began to call the Moscow Kremlin a “castle” in European style, due to the abundance of stone buildings in it.

Thus, through the efforts of Ivan III and Sophia, the Paleologus Renaissance flourished on Russian soil.

However, Sophia's arrival in Moscow did not please some of Ivan's courtiers. By nature, Sophia was a reformer, participation in government affairs was the meaning of the life of the Moscow princess, she was decisive and smart person, and the nobility of that time did not like this very much. In Moscow, she was accompanied not only by the honors given to the Grand Duchess, but also by the hostility of the local clergy and the heir to the throne. At every step she had to defend her rights.

The best way to establish oneself was, of course, childbearing. The Grand Duke wanted to have sons. Sophia herself wanted this. However, to the delight of her ill-wishers, she gave birth to three daughters in a row - Elena (1474), Elena (1475) and Theodosia (1475). Unfortunately, the girls died soon after birth. Then another girl was born, Elena (1476). Sophia prayed to God and all the saints for the gift of a son. There is a legend associated with the birth of Sophia's son Vasily, the future heir to the throne: as if during one of the pilgrimage campaigns to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, in Klementievo, Grand Duchess Sophia Paleologue had a vision St. Sergius Radonezhsky, who was “thrown into the depths of her youth as a young man.” On the night of March 25-26, 1479, a boy was born, named Vasily in honor of his grandfather. For his mother, he always remained Gabriel - in honor of the Archangel Gabriel. Following Vasily, she gave birth to two more sons (Yuri and Dmitry), then two daughters (Elena and Feodosia), then three more sons (Semyon, Andrei and Boris) and the last, in 1492, daughter Evdokia.

Ivan III loved his wife and took care of his family. Before the invasion of Khan Akhmat in 1480, for the sake of safety, Sophia was sent first to Dmitrov and then to Beloozero with her children, court, noblewomen and princely treasury. Bishop Vissarion warned the Grand Duke against constant thoughts and excessive attachment to his wife and children. One of the chronicles notes that Ivan panicked: “The horror came to him, and he wanted to run away from the shore, but his Grand Duchess The Roman woman and the ambassador’s treasury to Beloozero with it.”

The main significance of this marriage was that the marriage to Sophia Paleologus contributed to the establishment of Russia as the successor to Byzantium and the proclamation of Moscow as the Third Rome, the stronghold of Orthodox Christianity. After his marriage to Sophia, Ivan III for the first time dared to show the European political world the new title of Sovereign of All Rus' and forced him to be recognized. Ivan was called “the sovereign of all Rus'.”

The question inevitably arose about the future fate of the offspring of Ivan III and Sophia. The heir to the throne remained the son of Ivan III and Maria Borisovna, Ivan the Young, whose son Dmitry was born on October 10, 1483 in his marriage to Elena Voloshanka. In the event of his father’s death, he would not hesitate to get rid of Sophia and her family in one way or another. The best they could hope for was exile or exile. At the thought of this, the Greek woman was overcome with rage and impotent despair.

Throughout the 1480s, Ivan Ivanovich's position as the legal heir was quite strong. However, by 1490, the heir to the throne, Ivan Ivanovich, fell ill with “kamchyuga in the legs” (gout). Sophia ordered a doctor from Venice - “Mistro Leon”, who arrogantly promised Ivan III to cure the heir to the throne. Nevertheless, all the doctor’s efforts were fruitless, and on March 7, 1490, Ivan the Young died. The doctor was executed, and rumors spread throughout Moscow about the poisoning of the heir. Modern historians regard the hypothesis of the poisoning of Ivan the Young as unverifiable due to a lack of sources.

On February 4, 1498, the coronation of Prince Dmitry Ivanovich took place in the Assumption Cathedral in an atmosphere of great pomp. Sophia and her son Vasily were not invited.

Ivan III continued to painfully search for a way out of the dynastic impasse. How much pain, tears and misunderstanding his wife had to experience, this strong, wise woman who was so eager to help her husband build new Russia, Third Rome. But time passes, and the wall of bitterness that his son and daughter-in-law built with such zeal around the Grand Duke collapsed. Ivan Vasilyevich wiped away his wife’s tears and cried with her. Like never before, he felt that the white light was not nice to him without this woman. Now the plan to give the throne to Dmitry did not seem successful to him. Ivan Vasilyevich knew how all-consumingly Sophia loved her son Vasily. Sometimes he was even jealous of this maternal love, realizing that the son reigned entirely in the mother’s heart. The Grand Duke felt sorry for his young sons Vasily, Yuri, Dmitry Zhilka, Semyon, Andrei... And he lived together with Princess Sophia for a quarter of a century. Ivan III understood that sooner or later Sophia’s sons would rebel. There were only two ways to prevent the performance: either destroy the second family, or bequeath the throne to Vasily and destroy the family of Ivan the Young.

On April 11, 1502, the dynastic battle came to its logical conclusion. According to the chronicle, Ivan III “put disgrace on his grandson, Grand Duke Dmitry, and on his mother, Grand Duchess Elena.” Three days later, Ivan III “blessed his son Vasily, blessed him and made him autocrat of the Grand Duchy of Volodymyr and Moscow and All Rus'.”

On the advice of his wife, Ivan Vasilyevich released Elena from captivity and sent her to her father in Wallachia (good relations with Moldavia were needed), but in 1509 Dmitry died “in need, in prison.”

A year after these events, on April 7, 1503, Sophia Paleologus died. The body of the Grand Duchess was buried in the cathedral of the Kremlin Ascension Monastery. Following her death, Ivan Vasilyevich lost heart and became seriously ill. Apparently, the great Greek Sophia gave him the necessary energy to build a new power, her intelligence helped in state affairs, her sensitivity warned of dangers, her all-conquering love gave him strength and courage. Leaving all his affairs, he went on a trip to the monasteries, but failed to atone for his sins. He was overcome by paralysis: “... took away his arm and leg and eye.” On October 27, 1505, he died, “having been in the great reign for 43 and 7 months, and all the years of his life were 65 and 9 months.”

The course of Russian politics sometimes depended on little predictable turns in political elite Moscow society, from complex relationships in the grand ducal family. The latter was caused by special circumstances. In 1467, during the days when the Grand Duke was not in the capital, his first wife, daughter of the Tver Grand Duke Maria Borisovna, died. Her death may not have been natural. A second marriage in such conditions was inevitable: the Grand Duke was not even 28 years old at that moment. There is debate in the literature on whose initiative the idea of ​​marrying the Moscow sovereign to a representative of the imperial Byzantine family of Paleologs arose. Zoya (in Russia her name was Sophia) was the niece of the last two emperors and their daughter sibling, the Morean despot Thomas Palaiologos. She never lived in Constantinople, but since 1465 she has been in Rome. The exchange of embassies took place for several years, the final decision was made only in 1472. In November of the same year, she, along with the ambassador of Ivan III and the Pope, arrived in Moscow. On November 12, in the temporary wooden building of the Assumption Cathedral (it was being rebuilt at that time), the marriage of the Moscow sovereign with the Byzantine despina took place. The fact of the second marriage and the fact that the chosen one was a representative of the imperial family gave rise to many consequences, but even more myths.
Most of them talk about Sophia’s exceptional influence on her husband in resolving political issues. Back at the beginning of the 16th century. In the court environment there was a legend that it was the Grand Duchess who suggested to Ivan III how to remove the Horde ambassador from the Kremlin, which contributed to the elimination of dependence. The story has no basis in real sources. What we certainly know about Sophia (perhaps minus the last few years) shows the normal course of life of the grand ducal family, where the functions of the wife were limited to the birth and raising of children (boys only up to a certain age), and some economic issues. The text of Contarini, the Venetian ambassador to Ak-Koyunlu, who by special circumstances ended up in Moscow in the fall of 1476, is indicative. He gets to see her only on the initiative and with the permission of the Grand Duke. In conversations with Ivan III, any influence of Sophia on her husband is not visible. And the reception itself with the Grand Duchess was purely protocol; the Venetian tells in more detail and with more interest about his conversations with the Grand Duke (Sophia was not present at them). If the position and style of behavior of the Moscow Grand Duchess stood out in any way, it is unlikely that an observant diplomat would have missed such a detail. After all, he knows about Prince Ivan Ivanovich’s dislike for Sophia and the fact that because of this the prince is out of favor with his father.
The Assumption Chronicle tells how in 1480 Sophia “ran” with her children to Beloozero, what violence her retinue committed against the local population. Here she looks very unsightly, although it is clear that the decision to travel was not made by her. The chronicles speak in detail about the Grand Duke's disgrace with her in 1483. When Ivan III wanted to give his daughter-in-law, the wife of his eldest son, the jewelry of his first wife, it turned out that Sophia gave away a significant part of them to her niece (she married Prince Vasily Vereisky and fled with him to Lithuania) and brother. New disgrace awaited Sophia at the end of the 15th century, when hostilities and contradictions in the grand-ducal family grew into a major political conflict.
His background is as follows. Sophia performed correctly main function- She gave birth to Ivan III five sons and several daughters. Her firstborn was born on March 25, 1479. This fact, as well as the final subjugation of Novgorod and the completion of the construction of the Assumption Cathedral, marked the most important final events of the grand ducal chronicle as amended in 1479. But his father’s co-ruler, still formal, was Ivan Ivanovich: from the moment of his civil maturity (and for grand dukes it came early) in 1471, when he was 13 years old, he already bore the title of grand duke. The sad experience of the past princely turmoil was taken into account.
After 1480, Ivan Ivanovich, who showed himself admirably in repelling the hordes of Akhmad on the Ugra, began to actually perform the functions of the Grand Duke-Co-ruler under his father. After the annexation, Tver for a long time retained a special, semi-autonomous status; it had its own Boyar Duma, its own sovereign court, its own palace department, and a special organization military service. Some of these features of the Tver land survived until the middle of the 16th century. His own Grand Duke is recorded only twice. D for the first time immediately after 1485, when Ivan Ivanovich combined the functions of the Grand Duke-Co-ruler under his father and the Grand Duke of Tver. It was in this status that Prince Ivan Ivanovich died in March 1490.
On October 10, 1483, his son Dmitry was born. Sooner or later, Ivan III had to face the question of who would become the heir to the throne. In the 90s the situation remained tense. Dmitry was still small, but Vasily, who was four years older, was “allowed” to public administration(in the same Tver), but was referred to only with the princely title.
Everything was resolved over the course of several years at the turn of the 16th century. Sophia and Vasily were the first to fall into disgrace. Prince Dmitry the grandson in February 1498 was solemnly crowned in the Assumption Cathedral of the Kremlin from the hands of Ivan III (“with himself and after himself”) by the Grand Duke of Vladimir and Moscow. This was an act of outstanding significance, which was emphasized by the special rite of the metropolitan’s rite (thus, in particular, Ivan III was called the Orthodox Tsar and Autocrat). The fundamental novelty was that the legitimacy of the power of the Russian monarch was now self-sufficient: its inheritance through a direct descending male line and divine sanction ensured its complete sovereignty. It is not without reason that back in 1488, Ivan III, in response to the proposal of the imperial ambassador N. von Poppel about the possible granting of a royal title to him by the emperor, replied: “We, by the grace of God, are sovereigns on our land from the beginning from God.” In the preface to the new Paschal, Metropolitan Zosima called Ivan III an autocrat in 1492 and compared him with the new Constantine, and called Moscow the new city of Constantine. However, back in the fall of 1480, the Rostov Archbishop Vassian, strengthening the spirit of Ivan III’s courageous opposition to the Khan, addressed him like this: “the great Christian king of the Russian countries.”
Diplomatic documentation corresponds to this tradition of church texts, which emphasized not so much the political sovereignty of the Moscow ruler (but him too), but rather his role as the defender of Orthodox Christianity. It was in it that the Moscow prince's claims to international recognition of his state-political status should have been reflected first of all. Agreements with Livonian Order, the Bishopric of Dorpat, the Hanseatic League, documentation on relations with the Empire and Hungary give a completely clear picture. Firstly, the Moscow sovereign acquires the title of Tsar (Kaiser in German), which is recognized, as a rule, by the authorized representatives of the named countries. This formulation also contains the all-Russian character of the title of the Moscow sovereign. It is difficult to say to what extent the rulers and authorities Western states understood that thereby, to a certain extent, international legal grounds were being formed for Moscow’s claims to ancient Russian lands and cities as part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Later, the Lithuanian grand dukes sometimes protested against this practice of conciliation. Naturally, Lithuanian politicians did not recognize such a title for the Moscow Grand Duke. In diplomatic correspondence, they proved the illegality of the titles of the Moscow monarch mainly by the fact that until recently he had been the khan’s slave.

Grand Duchess Sophia (1455-1503) from the Greek Palaiologan dynasty was the wife of Ivan III. She came from a line of Byzantine emperors. By marrying a Greek princess, Ivan Vasilyevich emphasized the connection between his own power and that of Constantinople. Once upon a time, Byzantium gave Christianity to Rus'. The marriage of Ivan and Sofia closed this historical circle. Their son Basil III and his heirs considered themselves successors to the Greek emperors. To transfer power to her own son, Sophia had to wage many years of dynastic struggle.

Origin

The exact date of birth of Sofia Paleolog is unknown. She was born around 1455 in greek city Mistre. The girl's father was Thomas Palaiologos, the brother of the last Byzantine emperor Constantine XI. He ruled the Despotate of Morea, located on the Peloponnese peninsula. Sophia's mother, Catherine of Achaia, was the daughter of the Frankish prince Achaea Centurion II (Italian by birth). The Catholic ruler conflicted with Thomas and lost a decisive war to him, as a result of which he lost his own possessions. As a sign of victory, as well as the annexation of Achaea, the Greek despot married Catherine.

The fate of Sofia Paleolog was determined by dramatic events that happened shortly before her birth. In 1453, the Turks captured Constantinople. This event marked the end of the thousand-year history of the Byzantine Empire. Constantinople was at the crossroads between Europe and Asia. Having occupied the city, the Turks opened their way to the Balkans and the Old World as a whole.

If the Ottomans defeated the emperor, then the other princes did not pose a threat to them at all. The Despotate of Morea was captured already in 1460. Thomas managed to take his family and flee from the Peloponnese. First, the Palaiologos came to Corfu, then moved to Rome. The choice was logical. Italy became the new home for many thousands of Greeks who did not want to remain under Muslim citizenship.

The girl's parents died almost simultaneously in 1465. After their death, the story of Sofia Paleolog turned out to be closely connected with the story of her brothers Andrei and Manuel. The young Palaiologos were sheltered by Pope Sixtus IV. In order to enlist his support and ensure a calm future for the children, Thomas, shortly before his death, converted to Catholicism, abandoning the Greek Orthodox faith.

Life in Rome

The Greek scientist and humanist Vissarion of Nicea began training Sophia. Most of all, he was famous for being the author of the project for the union of the Catholic and Orthodox churches, concluded in 1439. For the successful reunification (Byzantium made this deal, being on the verge of destruction and hoping in vain for help from the Europeans), Vissarion received the rank of cardinal. Now he became the teacher of Sophia Paleologus and her brothers.

Biography of the future Moscow Grand Duchess early years bore the stamp of Greco-Roman duality, of which Vissarion of Nicea was an adherent. In Italy she always had a translator with her. Two professors taught her Greek and Latin languages. Sophia Palaiologos and her brothers were supported by the Holy See. Dad gave them more than 3 thousand ecus a year. Money was spent on servants, clothes, a doctor, etc.

The fate of Sofia's brothers turned out to be exactly the opposite of each other. As the eldest son of Thomas, Andrei was considered the legal heir of the entire Palaiologan dynasty. He tried to sell his status to several European kings, hoping that they would help him regain the throne. As expected, the crusade did not happen. Andrei died in poverty. Manuel returned to his historical homeland. In Constantinople, he began to serve the Turkish Sultan Bayazid II, and according to some sources, he even converted to Islam.

As a representative of the extinct imperial dynasty, Sophia Palaiologos from Byzantium was one of the most enviable brides in Europe. However, none of the Catholic monarchs with whom they tried to negotiate in Rome agreed to marry the girl. Even the glory of the Palaiologos name could not overshadow the danger posed by the Ottomans. It is precisely known that Sophia’s patrons began to match her with the Cypriot King Jacques II, but he responded with a firm refusal. Another time, the Roman Pontiff Paul II himself proposed the girl’s hand to the influential Italian aristocrat Caracciolo, but this attempt at a wedding also failed.

Embassy to Ivan III

In Moscow they learned about Sofia in 1469, when Russian capital Greek diplomat Yuri Trachaniot arrived. He proposed to the recently widowed but still very young Ivan III the project of marriage with the princess. The Roman Epistle delivered by the foreign guest was composed by Pope Paul II. The Pontiff promised Ivan support if he wanted to marry Sophia.

What made Roman diplomacy turn to the Moscow Grand Duke? In the 15th century, after a long period of political fragmentation and Mongol yoke Russia reunited and became a major European power. In the Old World there were legends about the wealth and power of Ivan III. In Rome, many influential people hoped for the help of the Grand Duke in the struggle of Christians against Turkish expansion.

One way or another, Ivan III agreed and decided to continue negotiations. His mother Maria Yaroslavna reacted favorably to the “Roman-Byzantine” candidacy. Ivan III, despite his tough temperament, was afraid of his mother and always listened to her opinion. At the same time, the figure of Sophia Paleologus, whose biography was connected with the Latins, did not please the head of the Russian Orthodox Church- Metropolitan Philip. Realizing his powerlessness, he did not oppose the Moscow sovereign and distanced himself from the upcoming wedding.

Wedding

The Moscow embassy arrived in Rome in May 1472. The delegation was headed by the Italian Gian Batista della Volpe, known in Russia as Ivan Fryazin. The ambassadors were met by Pope Sixtus IV, who had recently replaced the deceased Paul II. As a token of gratitude for the hospitality shown, the pontiff received a large amount of sable fur as a gift.

Only a week passed, and a solemn ceremony took place in the main Roman Cathedral of St. Peter, at which Sophia Paleologus and Ivan III became engaged in absentia. Volpe played the role of groom. While preparing for an important event, the ambassador made a serious mistake. Catholic rite required the use wedding rings, but Volpe did not prepare them. The scandal was hushed up. All the influential organizers of the engagement wanted to complete it safely and turned a blind eye to the formalities.

In the summer of 1472, Sophia Paleologus, together with her retinue, the papal legate and Moscow ambassadors, set off on a long journey. At parting, she met with the pontiff, who gave the bride his final blessing. Of several routes, Sofia's companions chose the path through Northern Europe and the Baltics. The Greek princess crossed the entire Old World, coming from Rome to Lubeck. Sofia Palaeologus from Byzantium endured the hardships of a long journey with dignity - such trips were not the first time for her. At the insistence of the pope, all Catholic cities organized a warm welcome for the embassy. The girl reached Tallinn by sea. This was followed by Yuryev, Pskov, and then Novgorod. Sofia Paleolog, whose appearance was reconstructed by specialists in the 20th century, surprised Russians with her foreign southern appearance and unfamiliar habits. Everywhere the future Grand Duchess was greeted with bread and salt.

On November 12, 1472, Princess Sophia Paleologus arrived in the long-awaited Moscow. The wedding ceremony with Ivan III took place on the same day. There was an understandable reason for the rush. Sophia's arrival coincided with the celebration of the day of memory of John Chrysostom, the patron saint of the Grand Duke. So the Moscow sovereign gave his marriage under heavenly protection.

For the Orthodox Church, the fact that Sofia was the second wife of Ivan III was reprehensible. A priest who would officiate such a marriage had to risk his reputation. In addition, the attitude towards the bride as a foreign Latina has been entrenched in conservative circles since her appearance in Moscow. That is why Metropolitan Philip avoided the obligation to perform the wedding. Instead, the ceremony was led by Archpriest Hosiya of Kolomna.

Sophia Palaeologus, whose religion remained Orthodox even during her stay in Rome, nevertheless arrived with the papal legate. This messenger, traveling through Russian roads, defiantly carried a large Catholic crucifix in front of him. Under pressure from Metropolitan Philip, Ivan Vasilyevich made it clear to the legate that he was not going to tolerate such behavior that embarrassed his Orthodox subjects. The conflict was settled, but “Roman glory” haunted Sophia until the end of her days.

Historical role

Together with Sofia, her Greek retinue came to Russia. Ivan III was very interested in the heritage of Byzantium. The marriage to Sophia became a signal for many other Greeks wandering in Europe. A stream of co-religionists arose who sought to settle in the possessions of the Grand Duke.

What did Sofia Paleolog do for Russia? She opened it to Europeans. Not only Greeks, but also Italians went to Muscovy. Masters and learned people were especially valued. Ivan III patronized Italian architects (for example, Aristotle Fioravanti), who built a large number of architectural masterpieces in Moscow. A separate courtyard and mansions were built for Sophia herself. They burned down in 1493 during a terrible fire. The Grand Duchess's treasury was lost along with them.

During the days of standing on the Ugra

In 1480, Ivan III escalated the conflict with Tatar Khan Akhmatom. The result of this conflict is known - after a bloodless stand on the Ugra, the Horde left Russia and never again demanded tribute from it. Ivan Vasilyevich managed to throw off the long-term yoke. However, before Akhmat left the possessions of the Moscow prince in disgrace, the situation seemed uncertain. Fearing an attack on the capital, Ivan III organized the departure of Sophia and their children to White Lake. Together with his wife there was the grand ducal treasury. If Akhmat had captured Moscow, she should have fled further north closer to the sea.

The decision to evacuate, which was made by Ivan 3 and Sofia Paleolog, caused outrage among the people. Muscovites began to recall with pleasure the “Roman” origins of the princess. Sarcastic descriptions of the empress's flight to the north were preserved in some chronicles, for example in the Rostov vault. Nevertheless, all the reproaches of his contemporaries were immediately forgotten after the news arrived in Moscow that Akhmat and his army had decided to retreat from the Ugra and return to the steppes. Sofia from the Paleolog family arrived in Moscow a month later.

The heir problem

Ivan and Sofia had 12 children. Half of them died in childhood or infancy. The remaining grown children of Sofia Paleolog also left behind offspring, but the Rurik branch, which began from the marriage of Ivan and the Greek princess, died out around the middle of the 17th century. The Grand Duke also had a son from his first marriage to the Tver princess. Named after his father, he is remembered as Ivan Mladoy. According to the law of seniority, it was this prince who was supposed to become the heir to the Moscow state. Of course, Sofia did not like this scenario, who wanted power to pass to her son Vasily. A loyal group of court nobility formed around her, supporting the princess’s claims. However, for the time being, she could not influence the dynastic issue in any way.

Since 1477, Ivan the Young was considered his father's co-ruler. He took part in the battle on the Ugra and gradually learned princely duties. For many years, Ivan the Young's position as the rightful heir was undeniable. However, in 1490 he fell ill with gout. There was no cure for “ache in the legs.” Then the Italian doctor Mister Leon was discharged from Venice. He undertook to cure the heir and vouched for success with his own head. Leon used rather strange methods. He gave Ivan a certain potion and burned his legs with red-hot glass vessels. The treatment only made the illness worse. In 1490, Ivan the Young died in terrible agony at the age of 32. In anger, Sophia's husband Paleologus imprisoned the Venetian, and a few weeks later he publicly executed him.

Conflict with Elena

The death of Ivan the Young did not bring Sofia much closer to the fulfillment of her dream. The deceased heir was married to the daughter of the Moldavian sovereign, Elena Stefanovna, and had a son, Dmitry. Now Ivan III faced difficult choice. On the one hand, he had a grandson, Dmitry, and on the other, a son from Sofia, Vasily.

For several years, the Grand Duke continued to hesitate. The boyars split again. Some supported Elena, others - Sofia. The first had significantly more supporters. Many influential Russian aristocrats and nobles did not like the story of Sophia Paleologus. Some continued to reproach her for her past with Rome. In addition, Sofia herself tried to surround herself with her native Greeks, which did not benefit her popularity.

On the side of Elena and her son Dmitry there was a good memory of Ivan the Young. Vasily’s supporters resisted: on his mother’s side, he was a descendant of the Byzantine emperors! Elena and Sofia were worth each other. Both of them were distinguished by ambition and cunning. Although the women observed palace decorum, their mutual hatred of each other was no secret to the princely entourage.

Opal

In 1497, Ivan III became aware of a conspiracy being prepared behind his back. Young Vasily fell under the influence of several careless boyars. Fyodor Stromilov stood out among them. This clerk was able to assure Vasily that Ivan was already going to officially declare Dmitry his heir. Reckless boyars suggested getting rid of their competitor or seizing the sovereign's treasury in Vologda. The number of like-minded people involved in the venture continued to grow until Ivan III himself found out about the conspiracy.

As always, the Grand Duke, terrible in anger, ordered the execution of the main noble conspirators, including clerk Stromilov. Vasily escaped prison, but guards were assigned to him. Sofia also fell into disgrace. Her husband heard rumors that she was bringing imaginary witches to her place and was trying to get a potion to poison Elena or Dmitry. These women were found and drowned in the river. The Emperor forbade his wife to come into his sight. To top it off, Ivan actually declared his fifteen-year-old grandson his official heir.

The fight continues

In February 1498, celebrations were held in Moscow to mark the coronation of young Dmitry. The ceremony in the Assumption Cathedral was attended by all the boyars and members of the grand ducal family with the exception of Vasily and Sofia. The disgraced relatives of the Grand Duke were pointedly not invited to the coronation. The Monomakh Cap was put on Dmitry, and Ivan III arranged a grand feast in honor of his grandson.

Elena's party could triumph - this was her long-awaited triumph. However, even supporters of Dmitry and his mother could not feel too confident. Ivan III was always distinguished by impulsiveness. Because of his tough temperament, he could throw anyone into disgrace, including his wife, but nothing guaranteed that the Grand Duke would not change his preferences.

A year has passed since Dmitry's coronation. Unexpectedly, the sovereign's favor returned to Sophia and her eldest son. There is no evidence in the chronicles about the reasons that prompted Ivan to reconcile with his wife. One way or another, the Grand Duke ordered the case against his wife to be reconsidered. During the repeated investigation, new circumstances of the court struggle were discovered. Some denunciations against Sofia and Vasily turned out to be false.

The sovereign accused the most influential defenders of Elena and Dmitry - princes Ivan Patrikeev and Simeon Ryapolovsky - of slander. The first of them was the chief military adviser to the Moscow ruler for more than thirty years. Ryapolovsky's father defended Ivan Vasilyevich as a child when he was in danger from Dmitry Shemyaka during the last Russian internecine war. These great merits of the nobles and their families did not save them.

Six weeks after the boyars' disgrace, Ivan, who had already returned favor to Sofia, declared their son Vasily the prince of Novgorod and Pskov. Dmitry was still considered the heir, but members of the court, sensing a change in the sovereign’s mood, began to abandon Elena and her child. Fearing the same fate as Patrikeev and Ryapolovsky, other aristocrats began to demonstrate loyalty to Sofia and Vasily.

Triumph and death

Three more years passed, and finally, in 1502, the struggle between Sophia and Elena ended with the fall of the latter. Ivan ordered guards to be assigned to Dmitry and his mother, then sent them to prison and officially deprived his grandson of his grand-ducal dignity. At the same time, the sovereign declared Vasily his heir. Sofia was triumphant. Not a single boyar dared to contradict the decision of the Grand Duke, although many continued to sympathize with eighteen-year-old Dmitry. Ivan was not stopped even by a quarrel with his faithful and important ally - Elena's father and the Moldavian ruler Stefan, who hated the owner of the Kremlin for the suffering of his daughter and grandson.

Sofia Paleolog, whose biography was a series of ups and downs, managed to achieve main goal of his life shortly before his own death. She died at the age of 48 on April 7, 1503. The Grand Duchess was buried in a sarcophagus made of white stone, placed in the tomb of the Ascension Cathedral. Sofia's grave was next to the grave of Ivan's first wife, Maria Borisovna. In 1929, the Bolsheviks destroyed the Ascension Cathedral, and the remains of the Grand Duchess were transferred to the Archangel Cathedral.

For Ivan, the death of his wife became with a strong blow. He was already over 60. In mourning, the Grand Duke visited several Orthodox monasteries, where he diligently devoted himself to prayer. Last years life together was overshadowed by disgrace and mutual suspicions of the spouses. Nevertheless, Ivan III always appreciated Sophia’s intelligence and her assistance in state affairs. After the loss of his wife, the Grand Duke, feeling the proximity of his own death, made a will. Vasily's rights to power were confirmed. Ivan followed Sophia in 1505, dying at the age of 65.

Sophia Paleologus was one of the most significant figures on the Russian throne both in terms of her origin and personal qualities, and also because of the people she attracted to the service of the Moscow rulers. This woman had talent statesman, she knew how to set goals and achieve results.

Family and background

The Byzantine imperial dynasty of the Palaiologos ruled for two centuries: from the expulsion of the Crusaders in 1261 to the capture of Constantinople by the Turks in 1453.

Sophia's uncle Constantine XI is known as the last Emperor Byzantium. He died during the capture of the city by the Turks. Of the hundreds of thousands of residents, only 5,000 came to the defense; foreign sailors and mercenaries, led by the emperor himself, fought with the invaders. Seeing that the enemies were winning, Constantine exclaimed in despair: “The city has fallen, but I am still alive,” after which, tearing off the signs of imperial dignity, he rushed into battle and was killed.

Sophia's father, Thomas Palaiologos, was the ruler of the Morean Despotate on the Peloponnese Peninsula. According to her mother, Catherine of Akhai, the girl came from the noble Genoese family of Centurion.

Sophia's exact date of birth is unknown, but her older sister Elena was born in 1431, and her brothers in 1453 and 1455. Therefore, most likely, those researchers are right who claim that at the time of her marriage to Ivan III in 1472, she was, according to the concepts of that time, already quite a few years old.

Life in Rome

In 1453, the Turks captured Constantinople, and in 1460 they invaded the Peloponnese. Thomas managed to escape with his family to the island of Corfu, and then to Rome. To ensure the favor of the Vatican, Thomas converted to Catholicism.

Thomas and his wife died almost simultaneously in 1465. Sophia and her brothers found themselves under the patronage of Pope Paul II. The training of young Palaiologos was entrusted to the Greek philosopher Vissarion of Nicea, the author of the project for the union of the Orthodox and Catholic churches. By the way, Byzantium agreed to the above alliance in 1439, counting on support in the war against the Turks, but did not receive any help from European rulers.

Thomas's eldest son Andrei was the legal heir of the Palaiologos. Subsequently, he managed to beg from Sixtus IV two million ducats for a military expedition, but spent them on other purposes. After that, he wandered around European courts in the hope of finding allies.

Andrew's brother Manuel returned to Constantinople and ceded his rights to the throne to Sultan Bayezid II in exchange for maintenance.

Marriage to Grand Duke Ivan III

Pope Paul II hoped to marry Sophia Paleologue for his own benefit, so that with her assistance he could expand his influence. But although the pope determined her dowry of 6 thousand ducats, she had neither lands nor military force. She had a famous name, which only scared off the Greek rulers who did not want to quarrel with Ottoman Empire, and Sophia refused to marry Catholics.

The Greek ambassador proposed to Ivan III the project of marriage with a Byzantine princess two years after the Grand Duke of Moscow was widowed in 1467. He was presented with a miniature portrait of Sophia. Ivan III agreed to the marriage.

However, Sophia was brought up in Rome and received an education in the spirit of Uniatism. And Rome of the Renaissance was a place of concentration of all the vices of mankind, and the pontiffs headed this moral decay catholic church. Petrarch wrote about this city: “It is enough to see Rome to lose faith.” All this was well known in Moscow. And despite the fact that the bride, while still on the way, unequivocally demonstrated her commitment to Orthodoxy, Metropolitan Philip disapproved of this marriage and avoided the wedding of the royal couple. The ceremony was performed by Archpriest Hosiya of Kolomna. The wedding took place immediately on the day the bride arrived - November 12, 1472. Such a rush was explained by the fact that it was a holiday: the day of remembrance of John Chrysostom, the patron saint of the Grand Duke.

Despite the fears of the zealots of Orthodoxy, Sophia never tried to create the ground for religious conflicts. According to legend, she brought with her several Orthodox shrines, including the Byzantine miraculous icon of the Mother of God “Blessed Heaven”.

The role of Sophia in the development of Russian art

In Rus', Sophia was faced with the problem of the lack of sufficiently experienced architects for large buildings. There were good Pskov craftsmen, but they had experience in building mainly on a limestone foundation, while Moscow stands on fragile clay, sand and peat bogs. Thus, in 1474, the almost completed Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin collapsed.

Sofia Paleolog knew which Italian specialists were capable of solving this problem. One of the first people she invited was Aristotle Fioravanti, a talented engineer and architect from Bologna. In addition to many buildings in Italy, he also designed bridges across the Danube at the court of the Hungarian king Matthias Corvinus.

Perhaps Fioravanti would not have agreed to come, but shortly before this he was falsely accused of selling counterfeit money, moreover, under Sixtus IV, the Inquisition began to gain momentum, and the architect considered it best to leave for Rus', taking his son with him.

For the construction of the Assumption Cathedral, Fioravanti set up a brick factory and identified as suitable deposits of white stone in Myachkovo, from where building material was taken a hundred years earlier for the first stone Kremlin. The temple is externally similar to the ancient Assumption Cathedral of Vladimir, but inside it is not divided into small rooms, but is one large hall.

In 1478, Fioravanti, as chief of artillery, went with Ivan III on a campaign against Novgorod and built a pontoon bridge across the Volkhov River. Later, Fioravanti took part in campaigns against Kazan and Tver.

Italian architects rebuilt the Kremlin, giving it modern look, built dozens of temples and monasteries. They took into account Russian traditions, harmoniously combining them with their new products. In 1505-1508, under the leadership of the Italian architect Aleviz Novy, the Kremlin Cathedral of the Archangel Michael was erected, during the construction of which the architect made the zakomaras not smooth, as before, but in the form of shells. Everyone liked this idea so much that it was subsequently used everywhere.

Sophia's participation in the conflict with the Horde

Historian V.N. Tatishchev in his writings provides evidence that, under the influence of his wife, Ivan III went into conflict with the Golden Horde Khan Akhmat, refusing to pay him tribute, since Sophia was very oppressed by the dependent position of the Russian state. If this is true, then Sophia acted under the influence of European politicians. Events unfolded like this: in 1472, the Tatar raid was repulsed, but in 1480, Akhmat went to Moscow, concluding an alliance with the king of Lithuania and Poland, Casimir. Ivan III was not at all sure of the outcome of the battle and sent his wife with the treasury to Beloozero. One of the chronicles even notes that the Grand Duke panicked: “I was in horror, and wanted to run away from the shore, and sent my Grand Duchess Roman and the treasury with her to Beloozero.”

The Republic of Venice was actively looking for an ally to help stop the advance of the Turkish Sultan Mehmed II. The mediator in the negotiations was the adventurer and merchant Jean-Battista della Volpe, who had estates in Moscow and was known to us as Ivan Fryazin, it was he who was the ambassador and head of Sophia Paleologue’s wedding cortege. According to Russian sources, Sophia kindly received members of the Venetian embassy. From all of the above, it follows that the Venetians played a double game and made an attempt, through the Grand Duchess, to plunge Rus' into a serious conflict with a bad prospect.

However, Moscow diplomacy also did not waste time: the Crimean Khanate of Giray agreed to interact with the Russians. Akhmat’s campaign ended with the “Standing on the Ugra”, as a result of which the khan retreated without a general battle. Akhmat did not receive the promised help from Casimir due to an attack on his lands by Mengli Giray, an ally of Ivan III.

Difficulties in family relationships

The first two children (girls) of Sophia and Ivan died in infancy. There is a legend that the young princess had a vision of St. Sergius of Radonezh, the patron saint of the Moscow state, and after this sign from above she gave birth to a son - the future Vasily III. In total, 12 children were born in the marriage, four of whom died in infancy.

From his first marriage with a Tver princess, Ivan III had a son, Ivan Mladoy, heir to the throne, but in 1490 he fell ill with gout. The doctor Mister Leon was discharged from Venice, who vouched for his recovery. The treatment was carried out using methods that completely ruined the prince’s health, and at the age of 32, Ivan the Young died in terrible agony. The doctor was publicly executed, and two warring parties formed at court: one supported the young Grand Duchess and her son, the other supported Dmitry, the young son of Ivan the Young.

For several years, Ivan III hesitated over whom to give preference. In 1498, the Grand Duke crowned his grandson Dmitry, but a year later he changed his mind and gave preference to Vasily, the son of Sophia. In 1502, he ordered the imprisonment of Dmitry and his mother. A year later, Sophia Paleolog died. For Ivan it was a heavy blow. In mourning, the Grand Duke made a number of pilgrimage trips to monasteries, where he diligently devoted himself to prayer. He died two years later at the age of 65.

What was Sophia Paleolog's appearance like?

In 1994, the remains of the princess were recovered and studied. Criminologist Sergei Nikitin restored it appearance. She was short - 160 cm, with a full build. This was confirmed by the Italian chronicle, which sarcastically called Sophia fat. In Rus', there were other canons of beauty, which the princess fully complied with: plumpness, beautiful, expressive eyes and beautiful skin. Scientists have determined that the princess died at the age of 50-60 years.

On November 12, 1472, Ivan III married for the second time. This time his chosen one is the Greek princess Sophia, the niece of the last Byzantine emperor Constantine XI Palaiologos.

White stone

Three years after the wedding, Ivan III will begin the arrangement of his residence with the construction of the Assumption Cathedral, which was erected on the site of the dismantled Kalita Church. Whether this will be connected with the new status - the Grand Duke of Moscow will by that time position himself as “the sovereign of all Rus'” - or whether the idea will be “suggested” by his wife Sophia, dissatisfied with the “wretched situation”, it is difficult to say for sure. By 1479, the construction of the new temple will be completed, and its properties will subsequently be transferred to the whole of Moscow, which is still called “white stone”. Large-scale construction will continue. The Annunciation Cathedral will be built on the foundation of the old palace church of the Annunciation. To store the treasury of the Moscow princes, a stone chamber will be built, which will later be called the “Treasury Yard”. Instead of the old wooden mansion, a new stone chamber will be built to receive ambassadors, called the “Embankment”. The Faceted Chamber will be built for official receptions. A large number of churches will be rebuilt and built. As a result, Moscow will completely change its appearance, and the Kremlin will turn from a wooden fortress into a “Western European castle.”

New title

With the appearance of Sophia, a number of researchers associate a new ceremony and a new diplomatic language - complex and strict, prim and strained. Marriage to a noble heiress of the Byzantine emperors will allow Tsar John to position himself as the political and church successor of Byzantium, and the final overthrow of the Horde yoke will make it possible to transfer the status of the Moscow prince to the unattainable high level national ruler of the entire Russian land. From government acts “Ivan, Sovereign and Grand Duke” leaves and “John, by the grace of God, sovereign of all Rus'” appears. The significance of the new title is complemented by a long list of the boundaries of the Moscow state: “Sovereign of All Rus' and Grand Duke of Vladimir, and Moscow, and Novgorod, and Pskov, and Tver, and Perm, and Yugorsk, and Bulgarian, and others.”

Divine origin

In his new position, the source of which was partly the marriage with Sophia, Ivan III finds the previous source of power insufficient - succession from his father and grandfather. The idea of ​​the divine origin of power was not alien to the ancestors of the sovereign, however, none of them expressed it so firmly and convincingly. To the proposal of the German Emperor Frederick III to reward Tsar Ivan with a royal title, the latter will answer: “... by the grace of God we are sovereigns on our land from the beginning, from our first ancestors, and we have been appointed by God,” indicating that in the worldly recognition of his power the Moscow prince does not need.

Double headed eagle

To visually illustrate the succession of the fallen house of the Byzantine emperors, a visual expression will be found: from the end of the 15th century, the Byzantine coat of arms - a double-headed eagle - will appear on the royal seal. There are a large number of other versions where the two-headed bird “flew” from, but it is impossible to deny that the symbol appeared during the marriage of Ivan III and the Byzantine heiress.

The best minds

After Sophia’s arrival in Moscow, a fairly impressive group of immigrants from Italy and Greece will form at the Russian court. Subsequently, many foreigners will occupy influential government positions, and will more than once carry out the most important diplomatic government assignments. Ambassadors visited Italy with enviable regularity, but often the list of assigned tasks did not include resolving political issues. They returned with another rich “catch”: architects, jewelers, coiners and gunsmiths, whose activities were directed in one direction - to contribute to the prosperity of Moscow. Visiting miners will find silver and copper ore in the Pechora region, and coins will begin to be minted from Russian silver in Moscow. Among the visitors there will be a large number of professional doctors.

Through the eyes of foreigners

During the reign of Ivan III and Sophia Paleologus, the first detailed notes by foreigners about Rus' appeared. To some, Muscovy appeared as a wild land in which rude morals reigned. For example, for the death of a patient, a doctor could be beheaded, stabbed, drowned, and when one of the best Italian architects, Aristotle Fioravanti, fearing for his life, asked to return to his homeland, he was deprived of his property and imprisoned. Muscovy was seen differently by travelers, those who did not stay long in the bear region. The Venetian merchant Josaphat Barbaro was amazed at the welfare of Russian cities, “abundant with bread, meat, honey and other useful things.” The Italian Ambrogio Cantarini noted the beauty of Russians, both men and women. Another Italian traveler Alberto Campenze, in a report for Pope Clement VII, writes about the excellent border service set up by the Muscovites, the ban on selling alcohol, except holidays, but most of all he is captivated by the morality of Russians. “They consider it a terrible, vile crime to deceive each other,” writes Campenze. – Adultery, violence and public debauchery are also very rare. Unnatural vices are completely unknown, and perjury and blasphemy are completely unheard of.”

New orders

External attributes played a significant role in the rise of the king in the eyes of the people. Sofya Fominichna knew about this from the example of the Byzantine emperors. A magnificent palace ceremony, luxurious royal robes, rich decoration of the courtyard - all this was not present in Moscow. Ivan III, already a powerful sovereign, lived not much more widely and richly than the boyars. Simplicity was heard in the speeches of his closest subjects - some of them, like the Grand Duke, came from Rurik. The husband heard a lot about the court life of the Byzantine autocrats from his wife and from the people who came with her. He probably wanted to become “real” here too. Gradually, new customs began to appear: Ivan Vasilyevich “began to behave majestically”, before the ambassadors he was titled “Tsar”, he received foreign guests with special pomp and solemnity, and as a sign of special mercy he ordered to kiss the Tsar’s hand. A little later, court ranks will appear - bed keeper, nursery keeper, stable keeper, and the sovereign will begin to reward the boyars for their merits.
After a while, Sophia Paleologue will be called an intriguer, she will be accused of the death of Ivan the Young’s stepson and the “unrest” in the state will be justified by her witchcraft. However, this marriage of convenience would last 30 years and would become perhaps one of the most significant marital unions in history.