Her personality has always worried historians, and opinions about her varied up to the opposite: some considered her a witch, others idolized and called her a saint. Your interpretation of the phenomenon Grand Duchess A few years ago, director Alexei Andrianov also presented in the serial film "Sofia", which was broadcast on the Russia 1 TV channel. What is true in it, and what - we understand.
The film novel "Sofia", which made itself known on the wide screen, stands out against the background of other historical domestic films. It covers a distant era that was not even taken to film before: the events in the film are dedicated to the beginning of the formation of Russian statehood, in particular, the marriage of the Grand Duke of Moscow Ivan III with the last heir to the Byzantine throne.
A little digression: Zoya (that's what the girl was named at birth) was offered as a wife to Ivan III at the age of 14. Pope Sixtus IV himself very much hoped for this marriage (he hoped to strengthen Catholicism in Russian lands through marriage). The negotiations lasted a total of 3 years and eventually were crowned with success: at the age of 17, Zoya was engaged in absentia in the Vatican and sent along with her retinue on a trip to the Russian lands, which only after inspecting the territories ended with her arrival in the capital. The Pope's plan, by the way, finally fell apart when the newly-born Byzantine princess was baptized in a short time and received the name Sophia.
The film, of course, does not reflect all the historical twists and turns. In 10 hour series, the creators tried to contain, in their opinion, the most important of what happened in Russia at the turn of the 15th-16th centuries. It was during this period, thanks to Ivan III, that Russia finally freed itself from the Tatar-Mongol yoke, the prince began to unite the territories, which eventually led to the formation of an integral strong state.
The fateful time in many respects became such thanks to Sophia Palaiologos. She, educated, culturally enlightened, did not become a mute addition for the prince, capable only of continuing the family and the princely family, as was established at that distant time. The Grand Duchess had her own opinion on everything and could always voice it, and her husband invariably put it highly. According to historians, it was probably Sofia who put Ivan III in the head with the idea of uniting the lands under a single center. The princess saw in Russia an unprecedented power, believed in its great goal, and, according to the hypothesis of historians, it is she who owns the famous phrase "Moscow is the third Rome."
The niece of the last emperor of Byzantium, Sophia also "gave" Moscow the coat of arms of her dynasty - that same double-headed eagle. It was inherited by the capital as an integral part of its dowry (along with the book library, which later became part of the legacy of the great library of Ivan the Terrible). Assumption and Annunciation Cathedrals - designed and created thanks to the Italian Alberti Fioravanti, whom Sofia personally invited to Moscow. In addition, the princess summoned artists and architects from Western Europe to ennoble the capital: they built palaces, erected new temples. It was then that Moscow was adorned with the Kremlin towers, the Terem Palace and the Archangel Cathedral.
Of course, we cannot know what the marriage of Sophia and Ivan III really was, unfortunately, we can only guess about this (it is only known that, according to various hypotheses, they had 9 or 12 children). A serial film is primarily an artistic perception and understanding of their relationship; it is in its own way the author's interpretation of the fate of the princess. In the film novel, the love line is brought to the fore, and all other historical ups and downs seem to be an accompanying background. Of course, the creators do not promise absolute certainty, it was important for them to make a sensual picture that they would believe, the characters of which would sympathize with, and sincerely worry about their serial fate.
However, everything that concerns the details, the filmmakers have given tremendous importance. In this regard, it is possible and necessary to learn history on a film: historically reliable scenery was created especially for filming (the decoration of the princely palace, the secret offices of the Vatican, even the smallest household items of the era), costumes (of which more than 1000 were made and mostly by hand). For the filming of Sofia, consultants and experts were involved so that even the most fastidious and attentive viewer would not have questions about the picture.
In the film novel, Sofia is a beauty. Actress Maria Andreeva - the star of the popular Duhless - in her incomplete 30s on the screen (on the date of filming) really looks 17. But historians confirmed that in fact Paleologus was not a beauty. However, ideals change not only over centuries, even over decades, and therefore it is difficult for us to rant about this. But the fact that she suffered from overweight(according to the statements of her contemporaries, even critically), it cannot be omitted. However, the same historians confirm that Sophia was indeed a very smart and educated woman for her time. This was understood by her contemporaries, and some of them, either out of envy or because of their own ignorance, were sure that such a smart Paleolog could only become thanks to connections with dark forces and the devil himself (based on this ambiguous hypothesis, one federal TV channel even directed the film "The Witch of All Russia").
However, Ivan III was in reality unprepossessing: he was short, hunchbacked and did not differ in beauty. But the filmmakers obviously decided that such a character would not evoke a response in the souls of the spectators, so the actor for this role was selected from among the main heartthrobs of the country, Yevgeny Tsyganov.
Apparently, the director wanted to please the eye of a fastidious viewer in the first place. In addition, for him, a spectator, thirsty for spectacle, they created the atmosphere of a real historical action: large-scale battles, massacres, natural disasters, betrayal and court intrigues, and in the center is a beautiful love story of Sophia Paleolog and Ivan III. The viewer can only stock up on popcorn and enjoy the beauty of a perfectly filmed romantic story.
Photo: Getty Images, footage from the TV series
November 12, 1472 Ivan III marries for the second time. This time, the Greek princess Sophia, the niece of the last Byzantine emperor Constantine XI Palaiologos, becomes his chosen one.
Belokamennaya
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 temple. Whether this will be due to the new status - the Grand Duke of Moscow by that time will position himself as the "sovereign of all Russia" - or whether his wife Sophia, dissatisfied with the "wretched situation", will "prompt" the idea, it's hard to say for sure. By 1479, the construction of the new temple will be completed, and its properties will later 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 foundations 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 choirs for the reception of ambassadors, they will begin to build a new stone chamber, called the Embankment. The Palace of Facets will be built for official receptions. Will be rebuilt and built a large number of churches. 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 advent of Sophia, a number of researchers associate the new ceremonial and the new diplomatic language - complex and strict, prim and strained. Marrying a noble heiress of the Byzantine emperors will allow Tsar John to position himself as the political and ecclesiastical successor of Byzantium, and the final overthrow Horde yoke will make it possible to transfer the status of the Moscow prince to inaccessible high level national ruler of the entire Russian land. “Ivan, Sovereign and Grand Duke” leaves the government acts and “John, by the grace of God, Sovereign of All Russia” appears. The significance of the new title is complemented by a long list of the limits of the Muscovite state: "The Sovereign of All Russia and the Grand Duke of Vladimir, and Moscow, and Novgorod, and Pskov, and Tver, and Perm, and Yugorsky, and Bulgarian, and others."
divine origin
In his new position, the source of which was partly the marriage with Sophia, Ivan III finds the former source of power insufficient - the 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 the appointment from 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 also be found: from the end of the 15th century, the Byzantine emblem - 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 rather impressive group of immigrants from Italy and Greece will form at the Russian court. Subsequently, many foreigners will occupy influential public office, and more than once will carry out the most important diplomatic state assignments. Ambassadors visited Italy with enviable regularity, but often the list of tasks did not include a solution political issues. They returned with another rich "catch": architects, jewelers, coiners and weapons craftsmen, whose activities were directed in one direction - to contribute to the prosperity of Moscow. Visiting miners will find silver and copper ore, and in Moscow they will start minting coins from Russian silver. There will also be a large number of professional doctors among the visitors.
Through the eyes of foreigners
During the reign of Ivan III and Sophia Paleolog, the first detailed notes of foreigners about Russia appear. Before some, Muscovy appeared as a wild land in which rude morals reign. 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, requested to return to his homeland, he was deprived of his property and imprisoned. Other travelers saw Muscovy, those who did not stay long in the bear region. The Venetian merchant Josaphat Barbaro was amazed at the well-being of Russian cities, "abundant in 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 well-established border service by the Muscovites, the ban on selling alcohol, except on holidays, but most of all he is captivated by Russian morality. “To deceive each other is revered by them as a terrible, heinous crime,” writes Campenze. - Adultery, violence and public debauchery are also very rare. Unnatural vices are completely unknown, and perjury and blasphemy are not heard at all.
New orders
External paraphernalia played a significant role in the exaltation of the king in the eyes of the people. Sofya Fominichna knew about this on the example of the Byzantine emperors. Lush palace ceremonial, luxurious royal robes, rich decoration of the courtyard - all this was not in Moscow. Ivan III, already a powerful sovereign, lived not much wider and richer than the boyars. Simplicity was heard in the speeches of the closest subjects - some of them came, like the Grand Duke, 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 as well. Gradually, new customs began to appear: Ivan Vasilyevich “began to behave majestically”, was titled “king” before the ambassadors, received foreign guests with special pomp and solemnity, and ordered to kiss the royal hand as a sign of special mercy. A little later, court ranks will appear - the bed-keeper, nursery, equestrian, and the sovereign will begin to favor the boyars for merit.
After a while, Sophia Paleolog will be called an intriguer, she will be accused of the death of her stepson Ivan the Young and they will justify “disorders” in the state with her witchcraft. However, this marriage of convenience will last 30 years and become, perhaps, one of the most significant matrimonial unions in history.
Sophia Paleolog was one of the most significant figures on the Russian throne both in her origin and in personal qualities, and also because of the people she attracted to the service of the Moscow rulers. This woman had the talent of a statesman, she knew how to set goals and achieve results.
Family and lineage
The Byzantine imperial dynasty of 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 of Byzantium. He died during the capture of the city by the Turks. Of the hundreds of thousands of inhabitants, only 5,000 went on the defensive, 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, having torn off the signs of imperial dignity, he rushed into battle and was killed.
Sophia's father, Thomas Palaiologos, was the ruler of the Despotate of Morea on the Peloponnese peninsula. By her mother, Catherine of Akhai, the girl came from a noble Genoese family of Centurione.
The exact date of Sophia's birth is unknown, but her older sister Elena was born in 1431, and her brothers in 1453 and 1455. Therefore, most likely, those researchers 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 are right.
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 guarantee the location of the Vatican, Thomas converted to Catholicism.
Thomas and his wife died almost simultaneously in 1465. Sophia and her brothers were under the patronage of Pope Paul II. The training of young Palaiologos was entrusted to the Greek philosopher Bessarion of Nicaea, 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 wait for any help from European rulers.
The eldest son of Thomas, Andrew, was the legitimate heir of the Palaiologoi. Subsequently, he managed to get two million ducats from Sixtus IV for a military expedition, but spent them on other purposes. After that, he wandered around European courtyards 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 with Grand Duke Ivan III
Pope Paul II hoped to marry Sophia Palaiologos for his own benefit, in order to expand his influence with her assistance. But although the pope gave her a dowry of 6,000 ducats, she had neither land nor military force. She had a famous name, which only scared the Greek rulers who did not want to quarrel with Ottoman Empire, and Sophia refused marriages with Catholics.
The Greek ambassador proposed to Ivan III a marriage proposal to a Byzantine princess two years after the Grand Duke of Moscow had been 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 was educated in the spirit of Uniatism. And the Rome of the Renaissance was a place of concentration of all the vices of mankind, and this moral decay was headed by the pontiffs 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 unambiguously demonstrated her commitment to Orthodoxy while on the road, Metropolitan Philip disapproved of this marriage and avoided the wedding of the royal couple. The rite was performed by Archpriest Hosea of Kolomna. The wedding took place immediately on the day of the bride's arrival - November 12, 1472. Such a rush was explained by the fact that it was a holiday: the day of memory of John Chrysostom - the patron saint of the Grand Duke.
Despite the fears of the zealots of Orthodoxy, Sophia never tried to create the basis for religious conflicts. According to legend, she brought with her several Orthodox shrines, including the Byzantine miraculous icon of the Mother of God “Blessed Sky”.
The role of Sophia in the development of Russian art
In Russia, Sophia faced the problem of the lack of sufficiently experienced architects of 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. So, in 1474, the almost completed Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin collapsed.
Sophia Paleolog knew which of the Italian specialists was capable of solving this problem. One of the first invited by her 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.
Maybe Fioravanti would not have agreed to come, but shortly before that he was falsely accused of selling counterfeit money, besides, under Sixtus IV, the Inquisition began to gain momentum, and the architect considered it good to leave for Russia, 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 they took building material a hundred years before for the first stone Kremlin. The temple looks like 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 participated in campaigns against Kazan and Tver.
Italian architects rebuilt the Kremlin, giving it modern look, erected dozens of temples and monasteries. They took into account Russian traditions, harmoniously combining them with their new products. In 1505-1508, under the guidance of the Italian architect Aleviz the New, the Kremlin Cathedral of Michael the Archangel 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 involvement in the conflict with the Horde
Historian V.N. Tatishchev in his writings cites evidence that, under the influence of his wife, Ivan III went into conflict with the Golden Horde Khan Akhmat, refusing to pay tribute to him, since Sophia was very oppressed by the dependent position of the Russian state. If this is true, then Sophia acted under the influence European politicians. The events unfolded as follows: 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. In one of the chronicles, it is even noted that the Grand Duke panicked: “Horror found me on the river, and I wanted to run away from the shore, and I sent my Grand Duchess Roman and the treasury with her to Beloozero.”
The Venetian Republic was actively looking for an ally who would help stop the advance 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 the wedding procession of Sophia Paleolog. According to Russian sources, Sophia kindly received members of the Venetian embassy. From all of the above, it follows that the Venetians were playing a double game and made an attempt, through the Grand Duchess, to plunge Russia into a difficult conflict with a bad prospect.
However, Moscow diplomacy also did not waste time: the Crimean Khanate of Girey agreed to interact with the Russians. Akhmat's campaign ended with "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 because of the attack on his lands by Ivan III's allied Mengli Giray.
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, of which four 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. From Venice, the doctor Mister Leon was discharged, who vouched for his recovery with his head. The treatment was carried out by such methods that completely ruined the prince's health, and at the age of 32 Ivan Mladoy died in terrible agony. The doctor was publicly executed, and two warring parties formed at the court: one supported the young Grand Duchess and her son, the other supported Dmitry, the infant son of Ivan the Younger.
For several years, Ivan III hesitated over who to give preference to. In 1498, the Grand Duke crowned Dmitry's grandson, but a year later he changed his mind and gave preference to Vasily, Sophia's son. In 1502, he ordered Dmitry and his mother to be imprisoned. A year later, Sophia Paleolog died. For Ivan, this was a heavy blow. In mourning, the Grand Duke made a number of pilgrimages to monasteries, where he diligently indulged in prayers. He died two years later at the age of 65.
What was the appearance of Sophia Paleolog
In 1994, the remains of the princess were removed and studied. Criminalist Sergei Nikitin restored her appearance. She was short in stature - 160 cm, full build. This was confirmed by the Italian chronicle, which sarcastically called Sophia fat. In Russia, there were other canons of beauty, which the princess fully corresponded to: fullness, beautiful, expressive eyes and beautiful skin. Scientists have determined that the princess died at the age of 50-60 years.
What did Sophia Paleolog do? Sofia Paleolog short biography famous Greek princess will talk about her contribution to history.
Sophia Paleolog biography the most important thing
Sophia Paleolog is an outstanding woman in Russian history. Sophia Paleolog is the second wife of Grand Duke Ivan III, as well as the mother of Vasily III and the grandmother of Ivan IV the Terrible. Her exact date of birth is unknown, but scholars suggest that she was born around 1455.
In 1469, the Great Moscow Prince Ivan III, who by this time had been a widower for two years, decided to marry again. But he could not decide on the role of the bride. Pope Paul II invited him to marry Sophia. After much deliberation, he was seduced by her title of Greek princess. The wedding of crowned individuals took place in 1472. The ceremony took place in the Assumption Cathedral, the couple was married by Metropolitan Philip.
Sophia was very happy in a marriage in which 9 children were born - four daughters and five sons. For the Grand Duchess of Greek origin, separate mansions were built in Moscow, which, unfortunately, perished during a fire in 1493.
Sophia Paleolog what did she do? According to contemporaries, Sophia Paleolog was a smart woman who skillfully directed her husband to actions. There is an opinion that it was Sophia who pushed Ivan III to the decision not to pay tribute to the Tatars.
With the advent of Sophia and her children at the Moscow court, real dynastic strife began in the city. Ivan III had a son, Ivan Young from his first marriage, who was supposed to inherit the throne. Sophia's son, Vasily, it seemed, was not destined to be the heir to his father's power.
But fate decreed otherwise. Ivan Young, who already had a family and a son, received the Tver lands, but suddenly fell ill and died. Thereafter long time there were rumors that he had been poisoned. Sophia's son Vasily Ivanovich remained the only heir of Ivan III.
The attitude towards the wife of Ivan III in the princely environment was different. One of the nobility revered the Grand Duchess, respected her for her mind, while the other considered her very proud, not considering anyone's opinion, and the third side was convinced that with the advent of the Greek princess in Moscow, Prince Ivan III because of her "changed the old customs ".
Sophia Palaiologos died two years before the death of her husband in 1503. Until the end of her life, she considered herself a princess of Tsaregorod, a Greek, and only then the Grand Duchess of Moscow.
This woman was credited with many important state deeds. Why is Sophia Paleolog so distinguished? Interesting Facts about her, as well as biographical information are collected in this article.
Cardinal's Proposal
In February 1469, the ambassador of Cardinal Vissarion arrived in Moscow. He handed over a letter to the Grand Duke with a proposal to marry Sophia, the daughter of Theodore I, Despot of Morea. By the way, this letter also said that Sophia Paleolog (real name - Zoya, they decided to replace it with an Orthodox one for diplomatic reasons) had already refused two crowned suitors who were wooing her. They were the Duke of Milan and the French king. The fact is that Sophia did not want to marry a Catholic.
Sophia Palaiologos (of course, her photo cannot be found, but the portraits are presented in the article), according to the ideas of that distant time, she was no longer young. However, she was still quite attractive. She had expressive, amazingly beautiful eyes, as well as matte delicate skin, which was considered in Russia a sign of excellent health. In addition, the bride was distinguished by her article and a sharp mind.
Who is Sofia Fominichna Paleolog?
Sofya Fominichna - niece of Constantine XI Palaiologos, the last Since 1472, she was the wife of Ivan III Vasilyevich. Her father was Thomas Palaiologos, who fled to Rome with his family after the Turks captured Constantinople. Sophia Paleolog lived after the death of her father in the care of the great pope. For a number of reasons, he wished to marry her to Ivan III, who was widowed in 1467. He answered yes.
Sofia Paleolog gave birth to a son in 1479, who later became Vasily III Ivanovich. In addition, she achieved the announcement of Vasily the Grand Duke, whose place was to be taken by Dmitry, the grandson of Ivan III, who was crowned king. Ivan III used his marriage to Sophia to strengthen Russia in the international arena.
Icon "Blessed Sky" and the image of Michael III
Sophia Paleolog, Grand Duchess of Moscow, brought several Orthodox icons. It is believed that among them was a rare image Mother of God. She was in the Kremlin Archangel Cathedral. However, according to another legend, the relic was transported from Constantinople to Smolensk, and when the latter was captured by Lithuania, Sofya Vitovtovna, the princess, was blessed with this icon for marriage when she married Vasily I, the Moscow prince. The image, which is today in the cathedral, is a list from an ancient icon, made at the end of the 17th century by order (pictured below). Muscovites, according to tradition, brought lamp oil and water to this icon. They were thought to be filled medicinal properties, because the image had healing power. This icon today is one of the most revered in our country.
In the Archangel Cathedral, after the wedding of Ivan III, an image of Michael III, the Byzantine emperor, who was the ancestor of the Palaiologos dynasty, also appeared. Thus, it was argued that Moscow is the successor of the Byzantine Empire, and the sovereigns of Russia are the heirs of the Byzantine emperors.
The birth of the long-awaited heir
After Sophia Paleolog, the second wife of Ivan III, married him in the Assumption Cathedral and became his wife, she began to think about how to gain influence and become a real queen. Paleolog understood that for this it was necessary to present the prince with a gift that only she could do: to give birth to a son who would become the heir to the throne. To the chagrin of Sophia, the firstborn was a daughter who died almost immediately after birth. A year later, a girl was born again, who also died suddenly. Sophia Palaiologos cried, prayed to God to give her an heir, handed out handfuls of alms to the poor, donated to churches. After some time, the Mother of God heard her prayers - Sophia Paleolog became pregnant again.
Her biography was finally marked by a long-awaited event. It took place on March 25, 1479 at 8 pm, as stated in one of the Moscow chronicles. A son was born. He was named Vasily Pariysky. The boy was baptized by Vasiyan, Archbishop of Rostov, in the Sergius Monastery.
What did Sophia bring with her?
Sophia managed to inspire what was dear to her, and what was appreciated and understood in Moscow. She brought with her the customs and traditions of the Byzantine court, pride in her own lineage, and annoyance at having to marry a Mongol-Tatar tributary. It is unlikely that Sophia liked the simplicity of the situation in Moscow, as well as the unceremonious relations that prevailed at that time at court. Ivan III himself was forced to listen to reproachful speeches from obstinate boyars. However, in the capital, even without it, many had a desire to change the old order, which did not correspond to the position of the Moscow sovereign. And the wife of Ivan III with the Greeks brought by her, who saw both Roman and Byzantine life, could give the Russians valuable instructions on what models and how to implement the changes desired by everyone.
Sophia's influence
The prince's wife cannot be denied influence on the behind-the-scenes life of the court and its decorative setting. She skillfully built personal relationships, she was excellent at court intrigues. However, Paleolog could only respond to political ones with suggestions that echoed the vague and secret thoughts of Ivan III. Especially clear was the idea that by her marriage the princess was making the Muscovite rulers the successors of the emperors of Byzantium, with the interests of the Orthodox East holding on to the latter. Therefore, Sophia Paleolog in the capital of the Russian state was valued mainly as a Byzantine princess, and not as a Grand Duchess of Moscow. She herself understood this. How she used the right to receive foreign embassies in Moscow. Therefore, her marriage to Ivan was a kind of political demonstration. It was announced to the whole world that the heiress of the Byzantine house, which had fallen shortly before, transferred its sovereign rights to Moscow, which became the new Constantinople. Here she shares these rights with her husband.
Reconstruction of the Kremlin, the overthrow of the Tatar yoke
Ivan, sensing his new position in the international arena, found the old Kremlin environment ugly and cramped. From Italy, following the princess, the masters were discharged. They built the Assumption Cathedral (St. Basil's Cathedral) on the site of the wooden choirs, as well as a new stone palace. In the Kremlin at that time, a strict and complex ceremonial began to start up at the court, imparting arrogance and stiffness to Moscow life. Just as in his own palace, Ivan III began to act in external relations with a more solemn step. Especially when Tatar yoke without a fight, as if by itself, fell off his shoulders. And it weighed almost two centuries over the entire north-eastern Russia (from 1238 to 1480). A new language, more solemn, appears at this time in government papers, especially diplomatic ones. There is a lot of terminology.
The role of Sophia in overthrowing the Tatar yoke
Paleolog in Moscow was not loved for the influence it exerted on the Grand Duke, as well as for the changes in the life of Moscow - "great disturbances" (in the words of the boyar Bersen-Beklemishev). Sophia interfered not only in internal, but also in foreign affairs. She demanded that Ivan III refuse to pay tribute to the Horde Khan and finally free himself from his power. Skillful advice Paleolog, as evidenced by V.O. Klyuchevsky, always met the intentions of her husband. Therefore, he refused to pay tribute. Ivan III trampled on the khan's charter in Zamoskovreche, in the Horde courtyard. Later, the Transfiguration Church was built on this site. However, even then the people "spoke" of Paleologus. Before Ivan III went to the great in 1480, he sent his wife and children to Beloozero. For this, the subjects attributed to the sovereign the intention to quit power in the event that he takes Moscow and flees with his wife.
"Duma" and a change in the treatment of subordinates
Ivan III, freed from the yoke, finally felt like a sovereign sovereign. Palace etiquette through the efforts of Sophia began to resemble Byzantine. The prince gave his wife a "gift": Ivan III allowed Paleolog to gather his own "thought" from the members of the retinue and arrange "diplomatic receptions" in his half. The princess received foreign ambassadors and conversed politely with them. This was an unprecedented innovation for Russia. The treatment at the court of the sovereign also changed.
Sophia Palaiologos brought sovereign rights to her husband, as well as the right to the Byzantine throne, as noted by F. I. Uspensky, a historian who studied this period. The boyars had to reckon with this. Ivan III used to love disputes and objections, but under Sophia, he radically changed the treatment of his courtiers. Ivan began to hold himself impregnable, easily fell into anger, often imposed disgrace, demanded special respect for himself. Rumor also attributed all these misfortunes to the influence of Sophia Paleolog.
Fight for the throne
She was also accused of violating the throne. Enemies in 1497 told the prince that Sophia Paleologus planned to poison his grandson in order to put her own son on the throne, that fortune-tellers preparing a poisonous potion were secretly visiting her, that Vasily himself was participating in this conspiracy. Ivan III took the side of his grandson in this matter. He ordered the soothsayers to be drowned in the Moscow River, arrested Vasily, and removed his wife from him, defiantly executing several members of the Paleolog "thought". In 1498, Ivan III married Dmitry in the Assumption Cathedral as heir to the throne.
However, Sophia had in her blood the ability to court intrigues. She accused Elena Voloshanka of heresy and was able to bring about her downfall. Grand Duke imposed disgrace on his grandson and daughter-in-law and named Vasily in 1500 as the legitimate heir to the throne.
Sophia Paleolog: role in history
The marriage of Sophia Paleolog and Ivan III, of course, strengthened the Muscovite state. He contributed to its transformation into the Third Rome. Sofia Paleolog lived for over 30 years in Russia, having given birth to 12 children to her husband. However, she never managed to fully understand a foreign country, its laws and traditions. Even in official chronicles there are records condemning her behavior in some situations that are difficult for the country.
Sofia attracted architects and other cultural figures, as well as doctors, to the Russian capital. The creations of Italian architects have made Moscow not inferior in majesty and beauty to the capitals of Europe. This helped to strengthen the prestige of the Moscow sovereign, emphasized the continuity of the Russian capital to the Second Rome.
Sophia's death
Sophia died in Moscow on August 7, 1503. She was buried in the Ascension Convent of the Moscow Kremlin. In December 1994, in connection with the transfer of the remains of the royal and princely wives to the Archangel Cathedral, S. A. Nikitin restored her sculptural portrait based on the preserved skull of Sophia (pictured above). Now we can at least roughly imagine what Sophia Paleolog looked like. Interesting facts and biographical information about her are numerous. We tried to select the most important when compiling this article.
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