Most historians agree that the grandmother, Grand Duchess Sophia (Zoya) Paleologus of Moscow played a huge role in the formation of the Muscovite kingdom. Many consider her the author of the concept “Moscow is the third Rome”. And together with Zoya Paleologina, a double-headed eagle appeared. At first it was the family coat of arms of her dynasty, and then migrated to the coat of arms of all the tsars and Russian emperors.
Childhood and youth
Zoe Paleologue was born (presumably) in 1455 in Mystras. The daughter of the despot of Morea, Thomas Palaiologos, was born at a tragic and turning point - the time of the fall of the Byzantine Empire.
After the capture of Constantinople by the Turkish Sultan Mehmed II and the death of Emperor Constantine, Thomas Palaiologos, along with his wife Catherine of Achaia and their children, fled to Corfu. From there he moved to Rome, where he was forced to convert to Catholicism. In May 1465, Thomas died. His death occurred shortly after the death of his wife in the same year. The children, Zoya and her brothers, 5-year-old Manuel and 7-year-old Andrei, moved to Rome after the death of their parents.
The education of orphans was undertaken by the Greek scientist, Uniate Vissarion of Nicaea, who served as a cardinal under Pope Sixtus IV (it was he who commissioned the famous Sistine Chapel). In Rome, the Greek princess Zoe Palaiologos and her brothers were raised in the Catholic faith. The cardinal took care of the maintenance of the children and their education.
It is known that Vissarion of Nicea, with the permission of the pope, paid for the modest court of the young Palaiologos, which included servants, a doctor, two professors of Latin and Greek languages, translators and priests. Sofia Paleolog received a fairly solid education for those times.
Grand Duchess of Moscow
When Sophia came of age, the Venetian Signoria became concerned about her marriage. The king of Cyprus, Jacques II de Lusignan, was first offered to take the noble girl as his wife. But he refused this marriage, fearing conflict with Ottoman Empire. A year later, in 1467, Cardinal Vissarion, at the request of Pope Paul II, offered the hand of a noble Byzantine beauty to the prince and Italian nobleman Caracciolo. A solemn engagement took place, but for unknown reasons the marriage was canceled.
There is a version that Sophia secretly communicated with the Athonite elders and adhered to Orthodox faith. She herself made an effort to avoid marrying a non-Christian, upsetting all the marriages offered to her.
In the turning point for the life of Sophia Paleologus in 1467, the wife of the Grand Duke of Moscow, Maria Borisovna, died. This marriage produced an only son. Pope Paul II, counting on the spread of Catholicism to Moscow, invited the widowed sovereign of All Rus' to take his ward as his wife.
After 3 years of negotiations, Ivan III, having asked for advice from his mother, Metropolitan Philip and the boyars, decided to get married. It is noteworthy that the negotiators from the pope prudently kept silent about Sophia Paleologue’s conversion to Catholicism. Moreover, they reported that the proposed wife of Paleologina is an Orthodox Christian. They didn't even realize that it was so.
In June 1472, in the Basilica of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in Rome, the betrothal in absentia of Ivan III and Sophia Paleologus took place. After this, the bride's convoy left Rome for Moscow. The same Cardinal Vissarion accompanied the bride.
Bolognese chroniclers described Sophia as a rather attractive person. She looked 24 years old, had snow-white skin and incredibly beautiful and expressive eyes. Her height was no higher than 160 cm. The future wife of the Russian sovereign had a dense physique.
There is a version that in Sophia Paleolog’s dowry, in addition to clothes and jewelry, there were many valuable books, which later formed the basis of the mysteriously disappeared library of Ivan the Terrible. Among them were treatises and unknown poems.
Meeting of Princess Sophia Paleolog on Lake Peipsi At the end of a long route that ran through Germany and Poland, the Roman escorts of Sophia Palaeologus realized that their desire to spread (or at least bring closer) Catholicism to Orthodoxy through the marriage of Ivan III to Palaeologus had been defeated. Zoya, as soon as she left Rome, demonstrated her firm intention to return to the faith of her ancestors - Christianity. The wedding took place in Moscow on November 12, 1472. The ceremony took place in the Assumption Cathedral.
The main achievement of Sophia Paleolog, which turned into a huge benefit for Russia, is considered to be her influence on her husband’s decision to refuse to pay tribute to the Golden Horde. Thanks to his wife, Ivan the Third finally dared to throw off the centuries-old Tatar-Mongol yoke, although the local princes and elite offered to continue paying the quitrent in order to avoid bloodshed.
Personal life
Apparently, Sophia Paleologue’s personal life with Grand Duke Ivan III was successful. This marriage produced a significant number of offspring - 5 sons and 4 daughters. But it’s difficult to call the existence of the new Grand Duchess Sophia in Moscow cloudless. The boyars saw the enormous influence that the wife had on her husband. Many people didn't like it.
Vasily III, son of Sophia Paleologus Rumor has it that the princess had a bad relationship with the heir born in the previous marriage of Ivan III, Ivan the Young. Moreover, there is a version that Sophia was involved in the poisoning of Ivan the Young and the further removal from power of his wife Elena Voloshanka and son Dmitry.
Be that as it may, Sophia Paleologus had a huge influence on the entire subsequent history of Rus', on its culture and architecture. She was the mother of the heir to the throne and the grandmother of Ivan the Terrible. According to some reports, the grandson bore considerable resemblance to his wise Byzantine grandmother.
Death
Sophia Paleologue, Grand Duchess of Moscow, died on April 7, 1503. The husband, Ivan III, survived his wife by only 2 years.
Destruction of the grave of Sophia Paleolog in 1929 Sophia was buried next to the previous wife of Ivan III in the sarcophagus of the tomb of the Ascension Cathedral. The cathedral was destroyed in 1929. But the remains of the women of the royal house were preserved - they were transferred to the underground chamber of the Archangel Cathedral.
Sofia Paleolog... How much has been said, written, invented, discovered about her... Not every, far from every person in history is clothed in such a long trail of omissions, gossip, slander... And in parallel with them - delight, gratitude, admiration. The personality of Sophia Paleologus has long been haunting archaeologists, historians, doctors, scientists, researchers, and just people who have somehow tangentially encountered stories about her. So who is she? Genius? Villain? Witch? Saint? Benefactor of the Russian land or fiend of hell? Based on the information we know about her biography, let's try to figure it out.
Start over. Sophia, or in infancy Zoya, was born into the family of Thomas Palaiologos, the despot of the Morea. He was the younger brother of the last Byzantine emperor, Constantine XI, who died during the fall of Constantinople in the mid-15th century.
It is after this phrase that sometimes chaos begins in people’s thinking. Well, if the father is a despot, then who should the daughter be? And a hail of accusations begins. Meanwhile, if we show a little curiosity and look into the dictionary, which does not always interpret words in monosyllables, then we can read something different about the word “despot”.
It turns out that the highest-ranking Byzantine nobles were called despots. And despotates are divisions in the state, similar to modern provinces or states. So Sofia’s father was a nobleman who led one of these pieces of the state - a despotate.
She was not in the family only child– she had two more brothers: Manuel and Andrey. The family professed Orthodoxy, the mother of the children, Ekaterina Akhaiskaya, was a very church-going woman, which she taught her children.
But the years were very difficult. The Byzantine Empire was on the verge of collapse. And when Constantine XI died and the capital was captured by the Turkish Sultan Mehmed II, the Paleologus family was forced to flee their family nest. They first settled on the island of Corfu and later moved to Rome.
In Rome, children were orphaned. First, the mother died, and then, six months later, Thomas Paleologus also went to the Lord. The education of orphans was taken up by the Greek scientist, Uniate Vissarion of Nicea, who served as a cardinal under Pope Sixtus IV (yes, he was the one who ordered the construction of the chapel, which now bears his name - the Sistine).
And naturally, Zoya and her brothers were raised Catholic. But at the same time, the children received a good education. They knew Latin and Greek, mathematics and astronomy, and spoke several languages fluently.
The Pope showed such virtue not only out of compassion for orphans. His thoughts were much more pragmatic. In order to restore the Florentine union of churches and join the Moscow state to the union, he decided to marry Sophia Paleologus to the Russian prince Ivan III, who had recently been a widower.
The widowed prince liked the Pope's desire to unite the ancient Moscow family with the famous Paleologus family. But he himself could not decide anything. Ivan III asked his mother for advice on what to do. The offer was tempting, but he understood perfectly well that not only his personal fate was at stake, but also the fate of the state whose ruler he would become. His father, Grand Duke Vasily II of Moscow, nicknamed the Dark One because of his blindness, appointed his 16-year-old son as his co-ruler. And at the time of the alleged matchmaking, Vasily II had already died.
The mother sent her son to Metropolitan Philip. He spoke out sharply against the upcoming marriage and did not give his highest blessing to the prince. As for Ivan III himself, he liked the idea of marriage with a Byzantine princess. Indeed, by doing so, Moscow became the heir of Byzantium - the “third Rome”, which incredibly strengthened the authority of the Grand Duke not only in his own country, but also in relations with neighboring states.
After some thought, he sent his ambassador to Rome, the Italian Jean-Baptiste della Volpe, who in Moscow was called much more simply: Ivan Fryazin. His personality is very interesting. He was not only the main minter of coins at the court of Grand Duke Ivan III, but also the tax farmer of this very profitable business. But that’s not what we’re talking about now.
The wedding agreement was concluded, and Sofia, along with several accompanying persons, left Rome for Russia.
She crossed all of Europe. In all the cities where she stopped, she was given a magnificent reception and showered with souvenirs. The last stop before arriving in Moscow was the city of Novgorod. And then an unpleasant event happened.
In Sofia's train there was a large Catholic cross. The news of this reached Moscow and incredibly upset Metropolitan Philip, who had not given his blessing to this marriage anyway. Bishop Philip gave an ultimatum: if the cross is brought to Moscow, he will leave the city. Things were getting serious. The envoy of Ivan III acted simply in Russian: having met a convoy at the entrance to Moscow, he took and took away the cross from the representative of the Pope, who accompanied Sophia Palaeologus. Everything was decided quickly and without unnecessary fuss.
Directly on the day of her arrival in Belokamennaya, namely November 12, 1472, as the chronicles of that time testify, her wedding took place with Ivan III. It took place in a temporary wooden church, erected near the Assumption Cathedral under construction, so as not to stop the services. Metropolitan Philip, still beside himself with rage, refused to perform the wedding ceremony. And this sacrament was performed by Kolomna Archpriest Josiah, who was specially urgently invited to Moscow. Sofia Paleolog became the wife of Ivan III. But, to the great misfortune and disappointment of the Pope, everything turned out completely differently than he expected.
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.
Sofia, whose goal was to persuade Rus' to Catholicism, became Orthodox. The angry ambassadors of the union left Moscow with nothing. A number of historians are inclined to believe that Sophia secretly communicated with the Athonite elders, learning the basics of the Orthodox faith, which she liked more and more. There is evidence that several people of other faiths approached her, whom she refused solely because of differences in religious views.
“The double-headed eagle, the dynastic sign of the Paleologus family, becomes a visible sign of the continuity of Rus' from Byzantium”
Be that as it may, Paleologue became the Grand Russian Duchess Sophia Fominichnaya. And she didn’t just become one formally. She brought with her a great baggage to Rus' - the covenants and traditions of the Byzantine Empire, the so-called “symphony” of state and church power. And these were not just words. A visible sign of the continuity of Rus' from Byzantium becomes the double-headed eagle - the dynastic sign of the Paleologus family. And this sign becomes the state emblem of Rus'. A little later, a horseman was added to it, striking a serpent with a sword - Saint George the Victorious, who used to be the coat of arms of Moscow.
The husband listened to the wise advice of his enlightened wife, although his boyars, who previously had undivided influence over the prince, did not like this.
And Sofia became not only her husband’s assistant in government affairs, but also the mother of a huge family. She gave birth to 12 children, 9 of whom lived long lives. First, Elena was born, who died in early infancy. Fedosia followed her, followed by Elena again. And finally - happiness! Heir! On the night of March 25-26, 1479, a boy was born, named Vasily in honor of his grandfather. Sofia Paleologus had a son, Vasily, the future Vasily III. For his mother, he always remained Gabriel - in honor of the Archangel Gabriel, to whom she tearfully prayed for the gift of an heir.
Fate also gave the couple Yuri, Dmitry, Evdokia (who also died as an infant), Ivan (who died as a child), Simeon, Andrei, again Evdokia and Boris.
Immediately after the birth of the heir, Sofia Paleologus ensured that he was declared Grand Duke. With this action, she practically ousted Ivan III’s eldest son from a previous marriage, Ivan (Young), from the line for the throne, and after him, his son, that is, Ivan III’s grandson, Dmitry.
Naturally, this led to all sorts of rumors. But it seemed that the Grand Duchess did not care about them at all. She was worried about something completely different.
Sofia Paleolog insisted that her husband surround himself with pomp, wealth and establish etiquette at court. These were the traditions of the empire, and they had to be observed. From Western Europe Moscow was flooded with doctors, artists, architects... They were given the order to decorate the capital!
Aristotle Fioravanti was invited from Milan, who was charged with the task of building the Kremlin chambers. The choice was not accidental. Signor Aristotle was known as an excellent specialist in underground passages, hiding places and labyrinths.
And before laying the walls of the Kremlin, he built real catacombs under them, in one of the casemates of which a real treasury was hidden - a library in which manuscripts from antiquity and volumes saved from the fire of the famous Library of Alexandria were kept. Remember, on the Feast of the Presentation we talked about Simeon the God-Receiver? His translation of the book of the prophet Isaiah into Greek was kept in this library.
In addition to the Kremlin chambers, the architect Fioravanti built the Assumption and Annunciation Cathedrals. Thanks to the skill of other architects, the Faceted Chamber, the Kremlin towers, the Terem Palace, the State Court and the Archangel Cathedral appeared in Moscow. Moscow became more and more beautiful every day, as if preparing to become royal.
But this was not the only thing our heroine cared about. Sofia Paleolog, having big influence on her husband, who saw in her a reliable friend and wise adviser, she convinced him to refuse to pay tribute to the Golden Horde. Ivan III finally threw off this long-term yoke. But the boyars were very afraid that the horde would go wild when they learned about the prince’s decision, and bloodshed would begin. But Ivan III was firm, enlisting the support of his wife.
Well. For now, we can say that Sofia Paleologus was a kind genius both for her husband and for Mother Rus'. But we forgot about one person who didn’t think so at all. This man's name is Ivan. Ivan the Young, as he was called at court. And he was the son from the first marriage of Grand Duke Ivan III.
After Sophia's son Palaeologus was declared heir to the throne, the Russian nobility at court split. Two groups formed: one supported Ivan the Young, the other supported Sophia.
From the very moment of his appearance at court, Ivan the Young did not have a good relationship with Sophia, and she did not try to improve it, being busy with other state and personal affairs. Ivan Young was only three years younger than his stepmother, and like all teenagers, he was jealous of his father for his new lover. Soon Ivan the Young married the daughter of the ruler of Moldavia, Stephen the Great, Elena Voloshanka. And at the time of the birth of his half-brother, he himself was the father of Dmitry’s son.
Ivan the Young, Dmitry... Vasily’s chances of taking the throne were very slim. And this did not suit Sofia Paleolog. It didn't suit me at all. Two women - Sofia and Elena - became sworn enemies and simply burned with the desire to get rid of not only each other, but also the offspring of their rival. And Sofia Paleologus makes a mistake. But about this in order.
The Grand Duchess maintained very warm and friendly relations with her brother Andrei. His daughter Maria married Prince Vasily Vereisky in Moscow, who was the nephew of Ivan III. And one day, without asking her husband, Sofia gave her niece a jewel that once belonged to the first wife of Ivan III.
And the Grand Duke, seeing his daughter-in-law’s hostility towards his wife, decided to appease her and give her this family jewel. This is where the great failure occurred! The prince was beside himself with anger! He demanded that Vasily Vereisky immediately return the heirloom to him. But he refused. They say it's a gift, sorry! Moreover, its cost was very, very impressive.
Ivan III was simply furious and ordered Prince Vasily Vereisky and his wife to be thrown into prison! The relatives had to hastily flee to Lithuania, where they escaped the wrath of the sovereign. But the prince was angry with his wife for this act for a long time.
By the end of the 15th century, passions in the grand ducal family had subsided. At least the appearance of a cold world remained. Suddenly a new misfortune struck: Ivan Molodoy fell ill with aching legs and was practically paralyzed. The best doctors from Europe were quickly prescribed to him. But they could not help him. Soon Ivan Molodoy died.
The doctors, as usual, were executed... But among the boyars, the rumor began to emerge more and more clearly that Sofia Paleologus had a hand in the death of the heir. They say she poisoned her competitor Vasily. Rumor reached Ivan III that some dashing women came to Sofia with a potion. He flew into a rage, did not even want to see his wife, and ordered his son Vasily to be kept in custody. The women who came to Sophia were drowned in the river, many were thrown into prison. But Sofia Paleolog did not stop there.
After all, Ivan the Young left an heir, known as Dmitry Ivanovich Grandson. Grandson of Ivan III. And on February 4, 1498, at the end of the 15th century, he was officially proclaimed heir to the throne.
But you have a bad idea of the personality of Sophia Paleologue if you think that she has resigned herself. Quite the opposite.
At that time, the Judaizing heresy began to spread in Rus'. She was brought to Rus' by some Kiev Jewish scientist named Skhariya. He began to reinterpret Christianity in a Jewish manner, denied the Holy Trinity, Old Testament put the New above all, rejected the veneration of icons and relics of saints... In general, speaking modern language, gathered sectarians like him who had broken away from holy Orthodoxy. Elena Voloshanka and Prince Dmitry somehow joined this sect.
This was a great trump card in the hands of Sofia Paleolog. Immediately, Ivan III was reported about sectarianism. And Elena and Dmitry fell into disgrace. Sofia and Vasily again took their previous position. From that time on, the sovereign began, according to the chroniclers, “not to care about his grandson,” and declared his son Vasily the Grand Duke of Novgorod and Pskov. Sofia achieved that it was ordered to keep Dmitry and Elena in custody, not to remember them at litanies in the church and not to call Dmitry the Grand Duke.
Sophia Paleologus, who actually won the royal throne for her son, did not live to see this day. She died in 1503. Elena Voloshanka also died in prison.
Thanks to the method of plastic reconstruction based on the skull, at the end of 1994 the sculptural portrait of Grand Duchess Sophia Paleologue was restored. She was short - about 160 cm, plump, with strong-willed features and had a mustache that did not spoil her at all.
Ivan III, already feeling weak in health, prepared a will. It lists Vasily as heir to the throne.
Meanwhile, the time has come for Vasily to get married. An attempt to marry him to the daughter of the Danish king failed; then, on the advice of one courtier, a Greek, Ivan Vasilyevich followed the example of the Byzantine emperors. It was ordered to bring the most beautiful maidens, daughters of boyars and boyar children to the court for the viewing. One and a half thousand of them were collected. Vasily chose Solomonia, the daughter of the nobleman Saburov.
After the death of his wife, Ivan Vasilyevich lost heart and became seriously ill. Apparently, Grand Duchess 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 paralyzed. On October 27, 1505, he departed to the Lord, outliving his beloved wife by only two years.
Vasily III, having ascended the throne, first of all tightened the conditions of detention for his nephew, Dmitry Vnuk. He was shackled and placed in a small, stuffy cell. In 1509 he died.
Vasily and Solomonia had no children. On the advice of those close to him, he married Elena Glinskaya. On August 25, 1530, Elena Glinskaya gave birth to an heir Vasily III, who was named John at baptism. Then there was a rumor that when he was born, a terrible thunder rolled across the entire Russian land, lightning flashed and the earth shook...
Ivan the Terrible was born, as modern scientists say, in appearance very similar to his grandmother, Sofia Palaeologus. Ivan the Terrible is a maniac, sadist, libertine, despot, alcoholic, the first Russian Tsar and the last in the Rurik dynasty. Ivan the Terrible, who took the schema on his deathbed and was buried in a cassock and doll. But that's a completely different story.
And Sophia Paleologus was buried in a massive white-stone sarcophagus in the tomb of the Ascension Cathedral in the Kremlin. Next to her lay the body of Ivan III’s first wife, Maria Borisovna. This cathedral was destroyed in 1929 by the new government. But the remains of the women of the royal house have been preserved. They now rest in the underground chamber of the Archangel Cathedral.
This was the life of Sophia Paleolog. Virtue and villainy, genius and meanness, the decoration of Moscow and the destruction of competitors - everything was in her difficult, but very bright biography.
Who she is - the embodiment of evil and intrigue or the creator of a new Muscovy - is up to you, the reader, to decide. In any case, her name is inscribed in the annals of history, and we still see part of her family coat of arms - a double-headed eagle - on Russian heraldry today.
One thing is certain - she made a huge contribution to the history of the Moscow Principality. May he rest in peace! The mere fact that she did not allow Moscow to become a Catholic state is priceless for us Orthodox!
The main photo is the meeting of Princess Sofia Palaeolog by Pskov mayors and boyars at the mouth of the Embakh on Lake Peipus. Bronnikov F.A.
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Ivan III Vasilyevich was widowed in 1467. Two years later, an embassy from Rome arrived in Moscow. Cardinal Vissarion, a champion of the Florentine unity of churches, in a letter offered Ivan Vasilyevich the hand of Sophia, the niece of the last Byzantine emperor, the daughter of his brother Thomas, Prince of Morea, who after the fall of Constantinople found refuge with his family in Rome. Pope Paul II, through his cardinal, decided to arrange the marriage of Sophia with the Grand Duke in order to establish relations with Moscow and try to assert his power over the Russian Church.
Such a proposal pleased the proud Ivan; but, due to his cautious disposition, he did not immediately agree. He consulted with his mother, and with the metropolitan, and with the closest boyars. Everyone, like the tsar himself, found this marriage desirable. Ivan Vasilyevich sent Ivan Fryazin, his moneyman (who minted the coin), to Rome as ambassador. He returned from there with letters from the pope and a portrait of Sophia and was again sent to Rome to represent the groom at the betrothal. The pope thought about restoring the Florentine connection and hoped to find a strong ally against the Turks in the Russian sovereign. Fryazin, although he converted to Orthodoxy in Moscow, did not particularly value it and therefore was ready to promise the pope everything he wanted, just to settle the matter as quickly as possible.
1472, summer - Sofia Paleolog was already on her way to Moscow. She was accompanied by Cardinal Anthony; besides this, there were many Greeks with her. Along the way, ceremonial meetings were arranged for her. When she approached Pskov, mayors and clergy came out to meet her with crosses and banners. Sofia went to the Trinity Cathedral, there she prayed earnestly and venerated the images. People liked it; but the Roman cardinal who was with her confused the Orthodox.
He was dressed, according to the chronicler, not according to our custom - all in red, he had gloves on his hands, which he never took off and blessed in them. Before him they carried a silver cast crucifix on a long shaft (Latin kryzh). He was not baptized and did not venerate images; He venerated only the icon of the Mother of God, and then at the request of the princess. The Orthodox did not like all this very much.
From the church Sofia went to the princely court. There the mayors and boyars treated her and her entourage to various dishes, honey and wine; Finally, they brought her gifts. Boyars and merchants gave it as best they could. From all of Pskov they gave her a gift of 50 rubles. She was also solemnly received in Novgorod.
When Sofia was already approaching Moscow, the Grand Duke consulted with his mother, brothers and boyars on what to do: he learned that wherever Sofia entered, the papal cardinal walked ahead, and a Latin roof was carried before him. Some advised not to prohibit this, so as not to offend the pope; others said that it had never happened in Rus' before that such honor was given to the Latin faith; Isidore tried to do this, but for that he died.
The Grand Duke sent to ask the Metropolitan what he thought about this, and received the following answer:
“Not only is it not proper for a papal ambassador to enter the city with a cross, but even to even come close.” If you honor him, he will go through one gate into the city, and I, your father, will go through the other gate out of the city! It is indecent for us not only to see, but also to hear about it. He who honors someone else's faith mocks his own!
Such intolerance of the Metropolitan already showed in advance that the papal ambassador would not be able to achieve anything. The Grand Duke ordered the boyar to take the cross from him and hide it in the sleigh. At first the legate did not want to give in; Ivan Fryazin was especially opposed, because he wanted the papal ambassador to be received in Moscow with the same honor as he, Fryazin, was received in Rome; but the boyar insisted, and the order of the Grand Duke was carried out.
Sophia's arrival in Moscow
1472, November 12 - Sofia entered Moscow. On the same day the marriage took place; and the next day the papal ambassador was received. He presented the Grand Duke with gifts from the pope.
For three months there was a Roman embassy in Moscow. Here he was treated and held in great honor; Ivan III generously presented gifts to the cardinal. He tried to talk about uniting the churches, but, as one would expect, nothing came of it. Ivan Vasilyevich gave this church matter to the metropolitan to decide, and he found some scribe Nikita Popovich to compete with the legate. This Nikita, according to the chronicler, out-argued the cardinal, so that he did not know what to answer - he only made the excuse that he did not have the books necessary for the argument with him. The pope's attempt to unite the churches ended in complete failure this time.
Dowry of Sophia Paleolog
Sofia brought with her a generous dowry. This was the legendary “Liberia” - a library allegedly brought on 70 carts (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 legendary Library of Alexandria.
According to legend, Sophia brought with her a “bone throne” (now known as the “throne of Ivan the Terrible”) as a gift to her husband: its wooden frame was covered with plates of ivory and walrus bone with biblical themes carved on them.
Sophia also brought several Orthodox icons, including, presumably, a rare icon of the Mother of God “Blessed Heaven”.
The meaning of the marriage of Ivan and Sophia
The marriage of the Grand Duke to the Greek princess had important consequences. There had been cases before that Russian princes married Greek princesses, but these marriages did not have the same significance as the marriage of Ivan and Sophia. Byzantium was now enslaved by the Turks. The Byzantine emperor was previously considered the main defender of all Eastern Christianity; now the Moscow sovereign became such a defender; with the hand of Sophia, he seemed to inherit the rights of the Palaiologos, even adopting the coat of arms of the Eastern Roman Empire - the double-headed eagle; on the seals that were attached to the letters, they began to depict a double-headed eagle on one side, and on the other, the former Moscow coat of arms, St. George the Victorious, slaying the dragon.
The Byzantine order began to have a stronger and stronger effect in Moscow. Although the last Byzantine emperors were not powerful at all, they held themselves very highly in the eyes of everyone around them. Access to them was very difficult; many different court officials filled the magnificent palace. The pomp of palace customs, luxurious royal clothes, shining with gold and precious stones, the unusually rich decoration of the royal palace - all this greatly elevated the sovereign’s personality in the eyes of the people. Everything bowed before him as before an earthly deity.
It was not the same in Moscow. The Grand Duke was already a powerful sovereign, and lived a little wider and richer than the boyars. They treated him respectfully, but simply: some of them were from appanage princes and, like the Grand Duke, traced their origins, too, to Rurik. The simple life of the tsar and the simple treatment of the boyars could not please Sophia, who knew about the royal greatness of the Byzantine autocrats and had seen the court life of the popes in Rome. From his wife and especially from the people who came with her, Ivan III could hear a lot about the court life of the Byzantine kings. He, who wanted to be a real autocrat, must have really liked many of the Byzantine court practices.
And little by little, new customs began to appear in Moscow: Ivan Vasilyevich began to behave majestically, in relations with foreigners he was titled “tsar,” he began to receive ambassadors with magnificent solemnity, and established the ritual of kissing the royal hand as a sign of special favor. Then the court ranks appeared (nurser, stablemaster, bedkeeper). The Grand Duke began to reward the boyars for their merits. In addition to the boyar's son, at this time another lower rank appears - the okolnichy.
The boyars, who had previously been advisers, Duma princes, with whom the sovereign, according to custom, consulted on every important matter, as with comrades, now turned into his obedient servants. The mercy of the sovereign can exalt them, anger can destroy them.
At the end of his reign, Ivan III became a real autocrat. Many boyars did not like these changes, but no one dared to express this: the Grand Duke was very harsh and punished cruelly.
Innovations. Sophia's influence
Since the arrival of Sofia Paleologus in Moscow, relations have begun with the West, especially with Italy.
An attentive observer of Moscow life, Baron Herberstein, who came to Moscow twice as the ambassador of the German Emperor under Ivan's successor, having listened to enough boyar talk, notes about Sophia in his notes that she was an unusually cunning woman who had great influence on the Grand Duke, who, at her suggestion, did a lot . Even Ivan III’s determination to throw off the Tatar yoke was attributed to her influence. In the boyars' tales and judgments about the princess, it is not easy to separate observation from suspicion or exaggeration guided by ill will.
Moscow at that time was very unsightly. Small wooden buildings, placed haphazardly, crooked, unpaved streets, dirty squares - all this made Moscow look like a large village, or, rather, a collection of many village estates.
After the wedding, Ivan Vasilyevich himself felt the need to rebuild the Kremlin into a powerful and impregnable citadel. It all started with the disaster of 1474, when the Assumption Cathedral, built by Pskov craftsmen, collapsed. Rumors immediately spread among the people that the trouble had happened because of the “Greek woman,” who had previously been in “Latinism.” While the reasons for the collapse were being clarified, Sophia advised her husband to invite architects from Italy, who were then the best craftsmen in Europe. Their creations could make Moscow equal in beauty and majesty to European capitals and support the prestige of the Moscow sovereign, as well as emphasize the continuity of Moscow not only with the Second, but also with the First Rome.
One of the best Italian builders of that time, Aristotle Fioravanti, agreed to go to Moscow for a salary of 10 rubles per month (a decent amount of money at that time). In 4 years, he built a temple that was magnificent at that time - the Assumption Cathedral, consecrated in 1479. This building is still preserved in the Moscow Kremlin.
Then they began to build other stone churches: in 1489, the Annunciation Cathedral was erected, which had the significance of the tsar’s house church, and shortly before the death of Ivan III, the Archangel Cathedral was built again instead of the previous dilapidated church. The sovereign decided to build a stone chamber for ceremonial meetings and receptions of foreign ambassadors.
This building, built by Italian architects, known as the Chamber of Facets, has survived to this day. The Kremlin was again surrounded by a stone wall and decorated with beautiful gates and towers. The Grand Duke ordered the construction of a new stone palace for himself. Following the Grand Duke, the Metropolitan began to build brick chambers for himself. Three boyars also built themselves stone houses in the Kremlin. Thus, Moscow began to gradually be built with stone buildings; but these buildings did not become a custom for a long time after that.
Birth of children. State affairs
1474, April 18 - Sophia gave birth to her first daughter Anna (who died quickly), then another daughter (who also died so quickly that they did not have time to christen her). Disappointments in family life compensated by activity in government affairs. The Grand Duke consulted with her in making government decisions (in 1474 he bought half of the Rostov principality and entered into a friendly alliance with the Crimean Khan Mengli-Girey).
Sofia Paleologue took an active part in diplomatic receptions (Venetian envoy Cantarini noted that the reception she organized was “very stately and affectionate”). According to the legend cited not only by Russian chronicles, but also by the English poet John Milton, in 1477 Sophia was able to outwit the Tatar khan by declaring that she had a sign from above about the construction of a temple to St. Nicholas on the spot in the Kremlin where the house of the khan’s governors stood, who controlled the yasak collections. and the Kremlin's actions. This legend represents Sophia as a decisive person (“she kicked them out of the Kremlin, demolished the house, although she did not build a temple”).
1478 - Rus' actually stopped paying tribute to the Horde; There are 2 years left until the complete overthrow of the yoke.
In 1480, again on the “advice” of his wife, Ivan Vasilyevich went with the militia to the Ugra River (near Kaluga), where the army of the Tatar Khan Akhmat was stationed. The “stand on the Ugra” did not end with the battle. The onset of frost and lack of food forced the khan and his army to leave. These events put an end to the Horde yoke.
The main obstacle to strengthening the grand-ducal power collapsed and, relying on his dynastic connection with “Orthodox Rome” (Constantinople) through his wife Sophia, the sovereign proclaimed himself the successor to the sovereign rights of the Byzantine emperors. The Moscow coat of arms with St. George the Victorious was combined with a double-headed eagle - the ancient coat of arms of Byzantium. This emphasized that Moscow is the heir of the Byzantine Empire, Ivan III is “the king of all Orthodoxy,” and the Russian Church is the successor of the Greek Church. Under the influence of Sophia, the ceremony of the Grand Duke's court acquired unprecedented pomp, similar to the Byzantine-Roman one.
Rights to the Moscow throne
Sophia began a stubborn struggle to justify the right to the Moscow throne for her son Vasily. When he was eight years old, she even tried to organize a conspiracy against her husband (1497), but it was discovered, and Sophia herself was condemned on suspicion of magic and connection with a “witch woman” (1498) and, together with Tsarevich Vasily, was subjected to disgraced.
But fate was merciful to her (over the years of her 30-year marriage, Sophia gave birth to 5 sons and 4 daughters). The death of Ivan III's eldest son, Ivan the Young, forced Sophia's husband to change his anger to mercy and return those exiled to Moscow.
Death of Sophia Paleolog
Sophia died on April 7, 1503. She was buried in the grand-ducal tomb of the Ascension Convent in the Kremlin. The buildings of this monastery were dismantled in 1929, and the sarcophagi with the remains of the great duchesses and queens were transported to the basement chamber of the Archangel Cathedral in the Kremlin, where they remain today.
After death
This circumstance, as well as the good preservation of Sophia Paleologue’s skeleton, made it possible for experts to recreate her appearance. The work was carried out at the Moscow Bureau of Forensic Medicine. Apparently, there is no need to describe the recovery process in detail. We only note that the portrait was reproduced using all scientific techniques.
A study of the remains of Sophia Paleolog showed that she was short - about 160 cm. The skull and every bone were carefully studied, and as a result it was established that the death of the Grand Duchess occurred at the age of 55-60 years. As a result of studies of the remains, it was established that Sophia was a plump woman, with strong-willed facial features and had a mustache that did not spoil her at all.
When the appearance of this woman appeared before the researchers, it once again became clear that nothing happens by chance in nature. We are talking about the amazing similarity between Sophia Paleolog and her grandson, Tsar Ivan IV the Terrible, whose true appearance is well known to us from the work of the famous Soviet anthropologist M.M. Gerasimov. The scientist, working on the portrait of Ivan Vasilyevich, noted the features of the Mediterranean type in his appearance, linking this precisely with the influence of the blood of his grandmother, Sophia Paleolog.
In fact, the niece of the last emperor of Byzantium, Constantine XI Palaiologos, was named Zoe. She received a new name - Sofia - on Russian soil, where strange circumstances and unusual twists of fate brought her. To this day, her name is shrouded in legends and speculation, although almost all historians agree that this woman had an undeniable influence on the formation of the Russian state during the times of Ivan III.
Uncle's prophecy
Thomas Paleologus, father of Sophia Paleologus
It seemed only Zoya always knew in her soul what her uncle’s dying words said to the servant meant: “Tell Foma to save his head!” Where the head is, there is Byzantium, there is our Rome!”
Zoya's father, Thomas, took them literally, trying to preserve the main relic of the Orthodox world - the head of the Apostle Andrew. Eventually, this shrine found its place in Rome, in St. Peter's Basilica. But this did not change anything and did not in any way affect the revival of Byzantium.
Thomas himself, as well as his sons, remained titled exiles without their land. And then the father placed all his hopes on his smart daughter Zoya. It is unknown what thoughts he put into her smart head, what far-reaching plans he voiced during their long conversations. Unfortunately, after some time, the girl was left an orphan and found herself in the care of the Vatican, and specifically of Cardinal Vissarion of Nicaea, who sought to instill in her Catholic values.
Groom's choice
If we compare various sources, then the Byzantine princess, although she was pleasant in appearance, did not shine with particular beauty. Nevertheless, she, of course, had suitors. True, she herself secretly upset the proposed marriages. As they will later say, because the suitors for her hand were Catholics. But that comes later.
At that moment, when the Vatican wanted to place Zoya, no one could have thought that she was waiting for a groom of the Orthodox faith.
Sofia Paleolog is married to Ivan III Vasilyevich. Zoe Palaeologus, niece of the last emperor of Byzantium, Constantine XI, after the fall of Byzantium by the sword.
Moreover, prophesying that the widowed Moscow sovereign Ivan III would be her future husband, the Vatican made far-reaching plans - not only to enlist Moscow's support for a new campaign against the Turks, but also to promote the spread of Catholicism.
Subsequent events showed that Zoya, who in the past communicated with the Athonite elders, opponents of the Florentine Union, skillfully hid her true faith from her Roman patrons. As soon as she set foot on Russian soil, it became obvious and clear to everyone. Here she also changed her name to the Byzantine name Sophia.
As the chronicles testify, the bride and groom liked each other, although at that time the bride was not young, she was almost 30 years old. Considering that in those days people got married at the age of 14-15, then even her youthfulness (according to some evidence, she looked 24 years old) did not save the situation. Probably, her belonging to the Byzantine family played a big role, which left an imprint on the very perception of this undoubtedly intelligent, diplomatic, educated woman who knew how to present herself with dignity.
Karamzin wrote about this marriage like this:
“The main effect of this marriage... was that Russia became more famous in Europe, which honored the tribe of the ancient Byzantine emperors in Sofia and, so to speak, followed it with its eyes to the borders of our fatherland... Moreover, many Greeks who came to us with the princess, they became useful in Russia with their knowledge of arts and languages, especially Latin, which was then necessary for external affairs of state; enriched Moscow church libraries with books saved from Turkish barbarism and contributed to the splendor of our court by imparting to it the magnificent rites of Byzantium, so that from now on the capital of Ioann could truly be called the new Constantinople, like ancient Kyiv.”
At the origins of the “Third Rome”
IN different sources They evaluate the role of Sofia in the formation of the Russian state differently. Sometimes her name is mentioned in passing during this historical period, and sometimes she is spoken of as the person “who literally began to write the history of the modern superpower.”
Indeed, the heiress of Byzantium brought to Russia not only a rich spiritual heritage.
- First of all ancient library of Liberia, better known now as the “library of Ivan the Terrible” (it has not been found to this day), but also their ideas about what the capital of a powerful state should be like and what the government should become. The library included Greek parchments, Latin chronographs, ancient Eastern manuscripts, among which were unknown poems by Homer, works by Aristotle and Plato, and even surviving books from the famous Library of Alexandria.
- After the wedding, Ivan III accepted coat of arms Byzantine double headed eagle- symbol royal power, placing it on your seal.
- According to legend, she brought with her as a gift to her husband "bone throne" now known as "throne of Ivan the Terrible". Its wooden frame was entirely covered with plates of ivory and walrus ivory with biblical scenes carved on them.
- Sofia brought with her several Orthodox icons, including, as suggested, a rare icon of the Mother of God “Blessed Heaven”.
A. Vasnetsov. Moscow Kremlin under Ivan III
During Sofia's lifetime, Moscow, which looked more like several united villages, acquired a completely different look. Much of what has survived in the Kremlin was built during this period. Ivan III himself liked the transformation of Moscow, so he actively invited Italian architects and craftsmen to the capital.
At the same time, historians believe that Ivan III, who soon began to call himself Tsar, hardly had any claims to the Byzantine throne. In any case, there is no such evidence.
Yes, in the Archangel Cathedral after the wedding of Ivan III, an image of Michael III, the Byzantine emperor who was the founder of the Palaeologus dynasty, appeared. Thus, it was allegedly shown that Moscow is the successor to the Byzantine Empire, and the sovereigns of Rus' are the heirs of the Byzantine emperors. In addition, a symbol of autocracy appeared - the Byzantine double-headed eagle.
However, the reality of those years is far from modern speculation. If Ivan III really dreamed of Byzantium, he would have intended his common son with Sophia, Vasily, to be his heir, and not the son from his first marriage, Ivan, and then his grandson Dmitry. And about the double-headed eagle, not everything is so simple - modern researchers claim that it appeared in the state practice of Rus' almost two decades after the marriage of Ivan III and Sofia.
All life is an intrigue
In fact, Sofia’s entire life after the birth of her long-awaited heirs turned into a struggle for their place in the sun.
Due to intrigues, she fell into disgrace several times, but then returned to the court again and strengthened her position by all means. In the end, Ivan III's beloved son, Ivan the Younger, died due to improper treatment. At that time, there was no evidence that Sofia was involved in this, although many wanted it. But she carefully collected “compromising evidence” on everyone who could harm her. In particular, the wife of the deceased stepson and her son Dmitry, who was aiming for the throne.
Soon, including with the help of the papers she collected, the king realized that his daughter-in-law turned out to be a cunning and malicious woman who humiliated and belittled his own family and children and was practically preparing a conspiracy against him. He sent his once beloved daughter-in-law and his grandson to prison, and executed their supporters. The common son of Ivan III, Vasily, was blessed and placed in the great reign of Vladimir, Moscow and All Rus' by the autocrat.
Sofia's last refuge
Finally, Sofia could breathe a sigh of relief. But it didn’t take long to rejoice that everything worked out so well. Soon she became seriously ill and died, finally begging forgiveness from her husband for her former daughter-in-law, who was returned from prison to her homeland, Moldova.
Sofia died on August 7, 1503, she was buried in the Moscow Ascension Convent of the Kremlin in a massive sarcophagus, on the lid of which the word “Sofia” was scratched.
This cathedral was destroyed in 1929, and the remains of Sophia were transferred to the underground chamber of the southern annex of the Archangel Cathedral.
Soon her husband also died, whose work was continued by Vasily III and Ivan IV the Terrible.
Sofya Fominichna Paleolog, aka Zoya Paleologina (born approximately 1455 - death April 7, 1503) - Grand Duchess of Moscow. Wife of Ivan III, mother of Vasily III, grandmother of Ivan IV the Terrible. Origin: Byzantine imperial dynasty of the Palaiologos. Her father, Thomas Palaiologos, was the brother of the last emperor of Byzantium, Constantine XI, and despot of the Morea. Sophia's maternal grandfather is Centurion II Zaccaria, the last Frankish prince of Achaia.
Advantageous marriage
According to legend, Sophia brought with her a “bone throne” (now known as the “throne of Ivan the Terrible”) as a gift to her husband: its wooden frame was covered with plates of ivory and walrus bone with biblical themes carved on them.
Sophia also brought several Orthodox icons, including, presumably, a rare icon of the Mother of God “Blessed Heaven”.
The meaning of the marriage of Ivan and Sophia
The marriage of the Grand Duke to the Greek princess had important consequences. There had been cases before that Russian princes married Greek princesses, but these marriages did not have the same significance as the marriage of Ivan and Sophia. Byzantium was now enslaved by the Turks. The Byzantine emperor was previously considered the main defender of all Eastern Christianity; now the Moscow sovereign became such a defender; with the hand of Sophia, he seemed to inherit the rights of the Palaiologos, even adopting the coat of arms of the Eastern Roman Empire - the double-headed eagle; on the seals that were attached to the letters, they began to depict a double-headed eagle on one side, and on the other, the former Moscow coat of arms, St. George the Victorious, slaying the dragon.
The Byzantine order began to have a stronger and stronger effect in Moscow. Although the last Byzantine emperors were not powerful at all, they held themselves very highly in the eyes of everyone around them. Access to them was very difficult; many different court officials filled the magnificent palace. The splendor of palace customs, luxurious royal clothing, shining with gold and precious stones, the unusually rich decoration of the royal palace - all this greatly elevated the sovereign’s personality in the eyes of the people. Everything bowed before him as before an earthly deity.
It was not the same in Moscow. The Grand Duke was already a powerful sovereign, and lived a little wider and richer than the boyars. They treated him respectfully, but simply: some of them were from appanage princes and, like the Grand Duke, traced their origins back to. The simple life of the tsar and the simple treatment of the boyars could not please Sophia, who knew about the royal greatness of the Byzantine autocrats and had seen the court life of the popes in Rome. From his wife and especially from the people who came with her, Ivan III could hear a lot about the court life of the Byzantine kings. He, who wanted to be a real autocrat, must have really liked many of the Byzantine court practices.
And little by little, new customs began to appear in Moscow: Ivan Vasilyevich began to behave majestically, in relations with foreigners he was titled “tsar,” he began to receive ambassadors with magnificent solemnity, and established the ritual of kissing the royal hand as a sign of special favor. Then the court ranks appeared (nurser, stablemaster, bedkeeper). The Grand Duke began to reward the boyars for their merits. In addition to the boyar's son, at this time another lower rank appears - the okolnichy.
The boyars, who had previously been advisers, Duma princes, with whom the sovereign, according to custom, consulted on every important matter, as with comrades, now turned into his obedient servants. The mercy of the sovereign can exalt them, anger can destroy them.
At the end of his reign, Ivan III became a real autocrat. Many boyars did not like these changes, but no one dared to express this: the Grand Duke was very harsh and punished cruelly.
Innovations. Sophia's influence
Since the arrival of Sofia Paleologus in Moscow, relations have begun with the West, especially with Italy.
An attentive observer of Moscow life, Baron Herberstein, who came to Moscow twice as the ambassador of the German Emperor under Ivan's successor, having listened to enough boyar talk, notes about Sophia in his notes that she was an unusually cunning woman who had great influence on the Grand Duke, who, at her suggestion, did a lot . Even Ivan III’s determination to throw off the Tatar yoke was attributed to her influence. In the boyars' tales and judgments about the princess, it is not easy to separate observation from suspicion or exaggeration guided by ill will.
Moscow at that time was very unsightly. Small wooden buildings, placed haphazardly, crooked, unpaved streets, dirty squares - all this made Moscow look like a large village, or, rather, a collection of many village estates.
After the wedding, Ivan Vasilyevich himself felt the need to rebuild the Kremlin into a powerful and impregnable citadel. It all started with the disaster of 1474, when the Assumption Cathedral, built by Pskov craftsmen, collapsed. Rumors immediately spread among the people that the trouble had happened because of the “Greek woman,” who had previously been in “Latinism.” While the reasons for the collapse were being clarified, Sophia advised her husband to invite architects from Italy, who were then the best craftsmen in Europe. Their creations could make Moscow equal in beauty and majesty to European capitals and support the prestige of the Moscow sovereign, as well as emphasize the continuity of Moscow not only with the Second, but also with the First Rome.
One of the best Italian builders of that time, Aristotle Fioravanti, agreed to go to Moscow for a salary of 10 rubles per month (a decent amount of money at that time). In 4 years, he built a temple that was magnificent at that time - the Assumption Cathedral, consecrated in 1479. This building is still preserved in the Moscow Kremlin.
Then they began to build other stone churches: in 1489, the Annunciation Cathedral was erected, which had the significance of the tsar’s house church, and shortly before the death of Ivan III, the Archangel Cathedral was built again instead of the previous dilapidated church. The sovereign decided to build a stone chamber for ceremonial meetings and receptions of foreign ambassadors.
This building, built by Italian architects, known as the Chamber of Facets, has survived to this day. The Kremlin was again surrounded by a stone wall and decorated with beautiful gates and towers. The Grand Duke ordered the construction of a new stone palace for himself. Following the Grand Duke, the Metropolitan began to build brick chambers for himself. Three boyars also built themselves stone houses in the Kremlin. Thus, Moscow began to gradually be built with stone buildings; but these buildings did not become a custom for a long time after that.
Birth of children. State affairs
Ivan III and Sophia Paleologue
1474, April 18 - Sophia gave birth to her first daughter Anna (who died quickly), then another daughter (who also died so quickly that they did not have time to baptize her). Disappointments in family life were compensated by activity in government affairs. The Grand Duke consulted with her in making government decisions (in 1474 he bought half of the Rostov principality and entered into a friendly alliance with the Crimean Khan Mengli-Girey).
Sofia Paleologue took an active part in diplomatic receptions (Venetian envoy Cantarini noted that the reception she organized was “very stately and affectionate”). According to the legend cited not only by Russian chronicles, but also by the English poet John Milton, in 1477 Sophia was able to outwit the Tatar khan by declaring that she had a sign from above about the construction of a temple to St. Nicholas on the spot in the Kremlin where the house of the khan’s governors stood, who controlled the yasak collections. and the Kremlin's actions. This legend represents Sophia as a decisive person (“she kicked them out of the Kremlin, demolished the house, although she did not build a temple”).
1478 - Rus' actually stopped paying tribute to the Horde; There are 2 years left until the complete overthrow of the yoke.
In 1480, again on the “advice” of his wife, Ivan Vasilyevich went with the militia to the Ugra River (near Kaluga), where the army of the Tatar Khan Akhmat was stationed. The “stand on the Ugra” did not end with the battle. The onset of frost and lack of food forced the khan and his army to leave. These events put an end to the Horde yoke.
The main obstacle to strengthening the grand-ducal power collapsed and, relying on his dynastic connection with “Orthodox Rome” (Constantinople) through his wife Sophia, the sovereign proclaimed himself the successor to the sovereign rights of the Byzantine emperors. The Moscow coat of arms with St. George the Victorious was combined with a double-headed eagle - the ancient coat of arms of Byzantium. This emphasized that Moscow is the heir of the Byzantine Empire, Ivan III is “the king of all Orthodoxy,” and the Russian Church is the successor of the Greek Church. Under the influence of Sophia, the ceremony of the Grand Duke's court acquired unprecedented pomp, similar to the Byzantine-Roman one.
Rights to the Moscow throne
Sophia began a stubborn struggle to justify the right to the Moscow throne for her son Vasily. When he was eight years old, she even tried to organize a conspiracy against her husband (1497), but it was discovered, and Sophia herself was condemned on suspicion of magic and connection with a “witch woman” (1498) and, together with Tsarevich Vasily, was subjected to disgraced.
But fate was merciful to her (over the years of her 30-year marriage, Sophia gave birth to 5 sons and 4 daughters). The death of Ivan III's eldest son, Ivan the Young, forced Sophia's husband to change his anger to mercy and return those exiled to Moscow.
Death of Sophia Paleolog
Sophia died on April 7, 1503. She was buried in the grand-ducal tomb of the Ascension Convent in the Kremlin. The buildings of this monastery were dismantled in 1929, and the sarcophagi with the remains of the great duchesses and queens were transported to the basement chamber of the Archangel Cathedral in the Kremlin, where they remain today.
After death
This circumstance, as well as the good preservation of Sophia Paleologue’s skeleton, made it possible for experts to recreate her appearance. The work was carried out at the Moscow Bureau of Forensic Medicine. Apparently, there is no need to describe the recovery process in detail. We only note that the portrait was reproduced using all scientific techniques.
A study of the remains of Sophia Paleolog showed that she was short - about 160 cm. The skull and every bone were carefully studied, and as a result it was established that the death of the Grand Duchess occurred at the age of 55-60 years. As a result of studies of the remains, it was established that Sophia was a plump woman, with strong-willed facial features and had a mustache that did not spoil her at all.
When the appearance of this woman appeared before the researchers, it once again became clear that nothing happens by chance in nature. We are talking about the amazing similarity between Sophia Paleolog and her grandson, Tsar Ivan IV the Terrible, whose true appearance is well known to us from the work of the famous Soviet anthropologist M.M. Gerasimov. The scientist, working on the portrait of Ivan Vasilyevich, noted the features of the Mediterranean type in his appearance, linking this precisely with the influence of the blood of his grandmother, Sophia Paleolog.