They say that every city, founded in ancient times or in the Middle Ages, has its own secret name. According to legend, only a few people could know him. The city's secret name contained its DNA. Having learned the “password” of the city, the enemy could easily take possession of it.

"Secret Name"

According to the ancient town-planning tradition, at the beginning the secret name of the city was born, then the corresponding place was found, the “heart of the city,” which symbolized the Tree of the World. Moreover, it is not necessary that the navel of the city should be located in the “geometric” center of the future city. The city is almost like Koshchei’s: “...his death is at the end of a needle, that needle is in an egg, that egg is in a duck, that duck is in a hare, that hare is in a chest, and the chest stands on a tall oak tree, and that tree Koschey protects like his own eye "

Interestingly, ancient and medieval city planners always left clues. A love of puzzles distinguished many professional guilds. The Masons alone are worth something. Before the profanation of heraldry during the Enlightenment, the role of these rebuses was played by the coats of arms of cities. But this is in Europe. In Russia, until the 17th century, there was no tradition at all of encrypting the essence of the city, its secret name, in a coat of arms or some other symbol. For example, St. George the Victorious migrated to the coat of arms of Moscow from the seals of the great Moscow princes, and even earlier - from the seals of the Tver Principality. It had nothing to do with the city.

"Heart of the City"

In Rus', the starting point for the construction of a city was a temple. It was the axis of any settlement. In Moscow, this function was performed by the Assumption Cathedral for centuries. In turn, according to Byzantine tradition, the temple was to be built on the relics of the saint. In this case, the relics were usually placed under the altar (sometimes also on one of the sides of the altar or at the entrance to the temple). It was the relics that constituted the “heart of the city.” The name of the saint, apparently, was that very “secret name.” In other words, if the “founding stone” of Moscow was St. Basil’s Cathedral, then the “secret name” of the city would be “Vasiliev” or “Vasiliev-grad”.

However, we do not know whose relics lie at the base of the Assumption Cathedral. There is not a single mention of this in the chronicles. Probably the name of the saint was kept secret.

At the end of the 12th century, a wooden church stood on the site of the current Assumption Cathedral in the Kremlin. A hundred years later, Moscow Prince Daniil Alexandrovich built the first Assumption Cathedral on this site. However, for unknown reasons, 25 years later Ivan Kalita builds a new cathedral on this site. Interestingly, the temple was built on the model of St. George's Cathedral in Yuryev-Polsky. It's not entirely clear why? St. George's Cathedral can hardly be called a masterpiece of ancient Russian architecture. So there was something else?

Perestroika

The model temple in Yuryev-Polsky was built in 1234 by Prince Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich on the site on the foundation of the white stone Church of St. George, which was built in 1152 when the city was founded by Yuri Dolgoruky. Apparently, some special attention was paid to this place. And the construction of the same temple in Moscow, perhaps, should have emphasized some kind of continuity.

The Assumption Cathedral in Moscow stood for less than 150 years, and then Ivan III suddenly decided to rebuild it. The formal reason is the dilapidation of the structure. Although one and a half hundred years is not God knows how long for a stone temple. The temple was dismantled, and in its place in 1472 the construction of a new cathedral began. However, on May 20, 1474, an earthquake occurred in Moscow. The unfinished cathedral received serious damage, and Ivan decides to dismantle the remains and start building a new temple. Architects from Pskov are invited for construction, but for mysterious reasons they categorically refuse construction.

Aristotle Fioravanti

Then Ivan III, at the insistence of his second wife Sophia Paleologus, sent emissaries to Italy, who were supposed to bring the Italian architect and engineer Aristotle Fioravanti to the capital. By the way, in his homeland he was called the “new Archimedes.” This looks absolutely fantastic, since for the first time in the history of Rus', a Catholic architect is invited to build an Orthodox church, the main church of the Moscow state!

From the point of view of the then tradition, he was a heretic. Why an Italian was invited, who had never seen a single Orthodox church, remains a mystery. Maybe because not a single Russian architect wanted to deal with this project.

Construction of the temple under the leadership of Aristotle Fioravanti began in 1475 and ended in 1479. Interestingly, the Assumption Cathedral in Vladimir was chosen as a model. Historians explain that Ivan III wanted to show the continuity of the Moscow state from the former “capital city” of Vladimir. But this again does not look very convincing, since in the second half of the 15th century, Vladimir’s former authority could hardly have any image significance.

Perhaps this was connected with the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, which in 1395 was transported from the Vladimir Assumption Cathedral to the Moscow Assumption Cathedral, built by Ivan Kalita. However, history has not preserved direct indications of this.

One of the hypotheses why Russian architects did not get down to business, and an Italian architect was invited, is connected with the personality of the second wife of John III, the Byzantine Sophia Palaeologus. Let's talk about this in a little more detail.

Sophia and the "Latin Faith"

As you know, Pope Paul II actively promoted the Greek princess as a wife to Ivan III. In 1465, her father, Thomas Palaiologos, moved her with his other children to Rome. The family settled at the court of Pope Sixtus IV.

A few days after their arrival, Thomas died, having converted to Catholicism before his death. History has not left us information that Sophia converted to the “Latin faith,” but it is unlikely that the Palaiologans could remain Orthodox while living at the court of the Pope. In other words, Ivan III most likely wooed a Catholic woman. Moreover, not a single chronicle reports that Sofia converted to Orthodoxy before the wedding. The wedding took place in November 1472. In theory, it should have taken place in the Assumption Cathedral. However, shortly before this, the temple was dismantled to its foundation in order to begin new construction. This looks very strange, since about a year before this it was known about the upcoming wedding. It is also surprising that the wedding took place in a wooden church specially built near the Assumption Cathedral, which was demolished immediately after the ceremony. Why another Kremlin cathedral was not chosen remains a mystery. Perhaps the “mortgage” relic could have been the relics of a non-Orthodox saint. As you know, Sofia brought many relics as a dowry, including Orthodox icons and a library. But we probably don’t know about all the relics. It is no coincidence that Pope Paul II lobbied for this marriage so much.

If during the reconstruction of the temple there was a change in the relics, then, according to the Russian tradition of urban planning, the “secret name” changed, and most importantly the fate of the city. People who understand history well and subtly know that it was with Ivan III that the change in the rhythm of Russia began. Then still the Grand Duchy of Moscow.

This woman was credited with many important government deeds. What made Sofia Paleolog so different? Interesting facts about her, as well as biographical information, are collected in this article.


Sofia Fominichna Paleolog, aka Zoya Paleologina, was born in October 1455. Origins from the Byzantine imperial dynasty of the Palaiologos.
Grand Duchess of Moscow, second wife of Ivan III, mother of Vasily III, grandmother of Ivan the Terrible.

Cardinal's proposal

The ambassador of Cardinal Vissarion arrived in Moscow in February 1469. He handed over a letter to the Grand Duke with a proposal to marry Sophia, daughter of Theodore I, Despot of Morea. By the way, this letter also said that Sofia Paleologus (real name is Zoya, they decided to replace it with an Orthodox one for diplomatic reasons) had already refused two crowned suitors who had wooed her. These were the Duke of Milan and the French king. The fact is that Sofia did not want to marry a Catholic.

Sofia Paleolog (of course, you can’t find a photo of her, but portraits are presented in the article), according to the ideas of that distant time, was no longer young. However, she was still quite attractive. She had expressive, amazingly beautiful eyes, as well as matte, delicate skin, which in Rus' was considered a sign of excellent health. In addition, the bride was distinguished by her stature and sharp mind.

Who is Sofia Fominichna Paleolog?

Sofia Fominichna is the niece of Constantine XI Palaiologos, the last emperor of Byzantium. Since 1472, she was the wife of Ivan III Vasilyevich. Her father was Thomas Palaiologos, who fled to Rome with his family in 1453 after the Turks captured Constantinople. Sophia Paleologus 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 agreed.


Sofia Paleolog gave birth to a son in 1479, who later became Vasily III Ivanovich. In addition, she achieved the declaration of Vasily as the Grand Duke, whose place was to be taken by Dmitry, the grandson of Ivan III, crowned king. Ivan III used his marriage to Sophia to strengthen Rus' in the international arena.


Icon "Blessed Heaven" and the image of Michael III

Sofia Palaeologus, Grand Duchess of Moscow, brought several Orthodox icons. It is believed that among them was the “Blessed Heaven” icon, a rare image of the 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, this icon was used to bless the marriage of Princess Sofya Vitovtovna when she married Vasily I, Prince of Moscow. The image that is in the cathedral today is a copy of an ancient icon, made at the end of the 17th century by order of Fyodor Alekseevich.

Muscovites traditionally brought lamp oil and water to this icon. It was believed that they were filled with healing properties, because the image had healing powers. This icon is one of the most revered in our country today.

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, also appeared. Thus, it was argued that Moscow is the successor of the Byzantine Empire, and the sovereigns of Rus' are the heirs of the Byzantine emperors.

The birth of the long-awaited heir

After Sofia Palaeologus, 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. Paleologue understood that for this she had to present the prince with a gift that only she could give: to give birth to him a son who would become the heir to the throne. To Sofia’s chagrin, the first-born was a daughter who died almost immediately after birth. A year later, a girl was born again, but she also died suddenly. Sofia Palaeologus cried, prayed to God to give her an heir, distributed handfuls of alms to the poor, and donated to churches. After some time, the Mother of God heard her prayers - Sofia 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 of Paria. The boy was baptized by Vasiyan, the Rostov archbishop, in the Sergius Monastery.

What did Sofia bring with her?

Sofia managed to instill in her what was dear to her, and what was valued and understood in Moscow. She brought with her the customs and traditions of the Byzantine court, pride in her own origins, as well as annoyance at the fact that she had to marry a tributary of the Mongol-Tatars. It is unlikely that Sophia liked the simplicity of the situation in Moscow, as well as the unceremoniousness of the relations that reigned at the court at that time. Ivan III himself was forced to listen to reproachful speeches from the 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 she brought, who saw both Roman and Byzantine life, could give the Russians valuable instructions on what models and how they should implement the changes everyone desired.

The prince's wife cannot be denied influence on the behind-the-scenes life of the court and its decorative environment. She skillfully built personal relationships and was excellent at court intrigue. However, Paleologue could only respond to political ones with suggestions that echoed the vague and secret thoughts of Ivan III. The idea was especially clear that by her marriage the princess was making the Moscow rulers successors to the emperors of Byzantium, with the interests of the Orthodox East clinging to the latter. Therefore, Sophia Palaeologus 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. As Princess Sofia, she enjoyed 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.


Ivan, sensing his new position in the international arena, found the previous environment of the Kremlin ugly and cramped. Masters were sent from Italy, following the princess. They built the Faceted Chamber, the Assumption Cathedral (St. Basil's Cathedral), and a new stone palace on the site of the wooden mansion. In the Kremlin at this time, a strict and complex ceremony began to take place at the court, imparting arrogance and stiffness to Moscow life. Just as in his palace, Ivan III began to act in external relations with a more solemn gait. Especially when the Tatar yoke fell off the shoulders without a fight, as if by itself. And it weighed heavily for almost two centuries over the entire north-eastern Russia (from 1238 to 1480). A new language, more solemn, appeared at this time in government papers, especially diplomatic ones. A rich terminology is emerging.

Sofia Paleologue was not loved in Moscow for the influence she exerted on the Grand Duke, as well as for the changes in the life of Moscow - “great unrest” (in the words of the boyar Bersen-Beklemishev). Sofia interfered not only in domestic, but also in foreign policy affairs. She demanded that Ivan III refuse to pay tribute to the Horde khan and finally free himself from his power. The skilful advice of the Paleologist, as evidenced by V.O. Klyuchevsky, always responded to her husband’s intentions. 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 “talked” about Paleologus. Before Ivan III left for the great stand on the Ugra in 1480, he sent his wife and children to Beloozero. For this, the subjects attributed to the sovereign the intention to give up power if Moscow was taken by Khan Akhmat, and to flee with his wife.

"Duma" and changes in treatment of subordinates

Ivan III, freed from the yoke, finally felt like a sovereign sovereign. Through the efforts of Sofia, palace etiquette began to resemble Byzantine. The prince gave his wife a “gift”: Ivan III allowed Sofia to assemble her own “duma” from the members of her retinue and organize “diplomatic receptions” in her half. The princess received foreign ambassadors and politely talked to them. This was an unprecedented innovation for Rus'. The treatment at the sovereign's court also changed.

Sophia Palaeologus brought her spouse sovereign rights, as well as the right to the Byzantine throne. The boyars had to reckon with this. Ivan III used to love arguments and objections, but under Sophia he radically changed the way he treated his courtiers. Ivan began to act unapproachable, easily fell into anger, often brought disgrace, and demanded special respect for himself. Rumor also attributed all these misfortunes to the influence of Sophia Paleologus.

Fight for the throne

She was also accused of violating the succession to the throne. In 1497, enemies told the prince that Sophia Palaeologus was planning to poison his grandson in order to place her own son on the throne, that she was secretly visited by sorcerers preparing a poisonous potion, and that Vasily himself was participating in this conspiracy. Ivan III took the side of his grandson in this matter. He ordered the sorcerers to be drowned in the Moscow River, arrested Vasily, and removed his wife from him, demonstratively executing several members of the “Duma” Paleologus. In 1498, Ivan III crowned Dmitry in the Assumption Cathedral as heir to the throne.
However, Sophia had the ability for court intrigue in her blood. She accused Elena Voloshanka of adherence to heresy and was able to bring about her downfall. The Grand Duke put his grandson and daughter-in-law into disgrace and named Vasily the legal heir to the throne in 1500.

The marriage of Sofia Paleolog and Ivan III certainly strengthened the Moscow state. He contributed to its transformation into the Third Rome. Sofia Paleolog lived for more than 30 years in Russia, giving birth to 12 children to her husband. However, she never managed to fully understand the foreign country, its laws and traditions. Even in official chronicles there are entries 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 made Moscow not inferior in majesty and beauty to the capitals of Europe. This contributed to strengthening the prestige of the Moscow sovereign and emphasized the continuity of the Russian capital to the Second Rome.

Death of Sofia

Sofia 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, using the preserved skull of Sophia, restored her sculptural portrait (pictured above). Now we can at least approximately imagine what Sophia Paleologue looked like.

The year of birth is approximately 1455.
Year of death - 1503
In 1472, an event occurred in the life of Moscow Prince John III that made all European states look with curiosity at little-known and distant “barbarian” Russia.

Having learned about John's widowhood, Pope Paul II offered him the hand of the Byzantine princess Zoe through the ambassador. After the ruin of their fatherland, the family of the Byzantine kings Palaiologos settled in Rome, where they enjoyed universal respect and patronage of the Pope.

To interest the Grand Duke, the papal legate described how decisively the princess refused two suitors - the French king and the Duke of Milan - because of her reluctance to change the Orthodox faith to the Catholic one. In fact, as contemporaries believed, the suitors for Zoya’s hand abandoned her themselves after learning about her excessive plumpness and lack of a dowry. Precious time passed, there were still no suitors, and Zoya most likely faced an unenviable fate: a monastery.

Reconstruction based on the skull of S. A. Nikitin, 1994

John was delighted with the honor offered to him, and together with his mother, the clergy and the boyars, he decided that such a bride had been sent to him from God himself. After all, in Rus' the nobility and extensive family ties of the future wife were highly valued. After a while, a portrait of the bride was brought to John III from Italy - she caught his eye.

Presentation of the portrait of Sophia Paleologus to Ivan III

Unfortunately, Zoya's portrait has not survived. It is only known that with a height of about 156 cm, she was considered the most voluptuous reigning person in Europe - however, already at the end of her life. But, according to Italian historians, Zoya had amazingly beautiful big eyes and skin of incomparable whiteness. Many noted her affectionate behavior with guests and her ability to do needlework.

“Sources that describe in some detail the circumstances of the marriage of Sophia Paleologus and Ivan III, report almost nothing about the intentions of the bride herself: did she want to become the wife of a widower who already had an heir to the throne, and go to a distant and little-known northern country where she had no no friends or acquaintances? - notes historian Lyudmila Morozova. - All negotiations about marriage took place behind the bride’s back. No one even bothered to describe to her the appearance of the Moscow prince, the features of his character, etc. They got by with only a few phrases about how he is “a great prince, and his land is in the Orthodox Christian faith.”

Those around the princess apparently believed that she, as a dowry-free and orphan, did not have to choose...

Presentation of the dowry to Sofia Paleolog

It is likely that life in Rome was joyless for Zoe... No one wanted to take into account the interests of this girl, who had become a dumb toy in the hands of Catholic politicians. Apparently, the princess was so tired of their intrigues that she was ready to go anywhere, as long as she was away from Rome.”

SOFIA PALEOLOGIST ARRIVAL IN MOSCOW
Ivan Anatolyevich Kovalenko

On January 17, 1472, ambassadors were sent for the bride. They were received with great honors in Rome, and on June 1 the princess in the church of St. Petra was betrothed to the Russian sovereign - he was represented at the ceremony by the chief ambassador. So Zoya went to Moscow, which she knew almost nothing about, to her thirty-year-old husband. “Faithful” people had already managed to whisper to her that John had a sweetheart in Moscow. Or not even one...

F. Bronnikov. Meeting of the Greek princess Sophia Paleologus. Photo from a pictorial sketch from the Bronnikov archive. Shadrinsky Museum of Local Lore named after. V.P. Biryukova

The journey lasted six months. Zoya was greeted everywhere as an empress, giving her due honors. Early in the morning of November 12, Zoya, named Sophia in Orthodoxy, entered Moscow. The Metropolitan was waiting for her in the church and, having received his blessing, she went to John’s mother and there she saw her groom for the first time. The Grand Duke - tall and thin, with a beautiful noble face - liked the Greek princess. The wedding was also celebrated on the same day.

Wedding of Ivan III and Sophia Paleologus.

From time immemorial, the Byzantine emperor was considered the main defender of all Eastern Christianity. Now, when Byzantium was enslaved by the Turks, the Grand Duke of Moscow became such a defender: with the hand of Sophia, he, as it were, inherited the rights of the Palaiologos. And he even adopted the coat of arms of the Eastern Roman Empire - the double-headed eagle. From that time on, all seals, which were attached to cords on cords, began to depict a double-headed eagle on one side, and on the other, the ancient Moscow coat of arms - St. George the Victorious on a horse, slaying a dragon.

Double-headed eagle on the regalia of Sophia Paleologus 1472

The day after the wedding, Cardinal Anthony, who arrived in the bride’s retinue, began negotiations on the union of churches - the purpose for which, as historians note, Sophia’s marriage was mainly conceived. But the cardinal's embassy ended in nothing, and he soon left without a meal. And Zoya, as N.I. Kostomarov noted, “during her life she deserved the reproach and censure of the Pope and his supporters, who were very mistaken in her, hoping through her to introduce the Florentine Union into Moscow Rus'.”

F. Bronnikov. Meeting of the Greek princess Sophia Paleologus. Drawing option. Paper, pencil, ink, pen. Shadrinsky Museum of Local Lore named after. V.P. Biryukova

Sophia brought with her to Russia the brilliance and charm of the imperial name. Until recently, the Grand Duke traveled to the Horde, bowed to the khan and his nobles, as his ancestors had bowed for two centuries. But when Sophia entered the grand ducal court, Ivan Vasilyevich spoke to the khan in a completely different way.

John III overthrows the Tatar yoke, tearing up the Khan's charter and ordering the death of the ambassadors
Shustov Nikolay Semenovich

The chronicles report: it was Sophia who insisted that the Grand Duke not go out on foot, as was customary before her, to meet the Horde ambassadors, so that he would not bow to the ground to them, would not bring a cup of kumis and would not listen to the Khan’s letter on his knees. She sought to attract cultural figures and doctors from Italy to the Moscow Principality. It was under her that the construction of remarkable architectural monuments began. She personally gave audiences to strangers and had her own circle of diplomats.

Meeting Sophia Paleolog
Ivan Anatolyevich Kovalenko

Grand Duchess Sophia had three daughters. She and her husband were really looking forward to their son, and God finally listened to their fervent prayers: in 1478 (according to other sources - in 1479) their son Vasily was born.

Meeting the princess
Fedor Bronnikov

The son of the Grand Duke from his first wife, John the Young, immediately took hostility to his stepmother, often was rude to her and did not show due respect. The Grand Duke hastened to marry his son and removed him from the court, then again brought him closer to himself and declared him heir to the throne. John the Young was already taking an active part in the affairs of the government, when suddenly he suddenly fell ill from some unknown disease like leprosy and died in 1490.

Wedding train.
In the carriage - Sophia Paleolog
with "girlfriends"

The question was raised of who should inherit the throne: the son of John the Young, Demetrius, or Vasily, the son of Sophia. The boyars, who were hostile to the arrogant Sophia, took the side of the former. They accused Vasily and his mother of having evil plans against the Grand Duke and incited the Grand Duke in such a way that he alienated his son, lost interest in Sophia, and most importantly, solemnly crowned his grandson Dimitri to the great reign. It is known that during this period the Grand Duchess lost two children one after another, who were born premature... As historians say, on the very day of the coronation the sovereign seemed sad - it was noticeable that he was sad about his wife, with whom he had lived happily for twenty-five years, about his son , whose birth always seemed to him a special favor of fate...

Embroidered shroud 1498. In the lower left corner is Sophia Paleologus. Her clothes are decorated with a round tablion, a brown circle on a yellow background - a sign of royal dignity. Click to see larger image.

A year passed, the machinations of the boyars, thanks to the efforts of Sophia, were revealed, and they paid severely for their machinations. Vasily was declared heir to the throne, and Sophia again regained the favor of John.

Death of Sophia Paleologue. Copy of a miniature from the front chronicle of the second half of the 16th century.

Sophia died in 1503 (according to other sources, in 1504), mourned by her husband and children. The chronicles do not contain any information about the reasons for her death. She did not have a chance to see her grandson - the future Ivan the Terrible. Her husband, John III, survived her only by a year...

Plaster copy of the skull of Ivan the Terrible
with the main contours of the skull superimposed on it
(lighter) Sophia Paleolog.

Text by E. N. Oboymina and O. V. Tatkova

This woman was credited with many important government deeds. What made Sophia Paleolog so different? Interesting facts about her, as well as biographical information, are collected in this article.

Cardinal's proposal
The ambassador of Cardinal Vissarion arrived in Moscow in February 1469. He handed over a letter to the Grand Duke with a proposal to marry Sophia, daughter of Theodore I, Despot of Morea. By the way, this letter also said that Sofia Paleologus (real name is Zoya, they decided to replace it with an Orthodox one for diplomatic reasons) had already refused two crowned suitors who had wooed her. These were the Duke of Milan and the French king. The fact is that Sophia did not want to marry a Catholic.

Sofia Paleolog, according to the ideas of that distant time, was no longer young. However, she was still quite attractive. She had expressive, amazingly beautiful eyes, as well as matte, delicate skin, which in Rus' was considered a sign of excellent health. In addition, the bride was distinguished by her stature and sharp mind.

Who is Sofia Fominichna Paleolog?

Sofya Fominichna is the niece of Constantine XI Palaiologos, the last emperor of Byzantium. Since 1472, she was the wife of Ivan III Vasilyevich. Her father was Thomas Palaiologos, who fled to Rome with his family in 1453 after the Turks captured Constantinople. Sophia Paleologue 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 agreed.

Sofia Paleolog gave birth to a son in 1479, who later became Vasily III Ivanovich. In addition, she achieved the declaration of Vasily as the Grand Duke, whose place was to be taken by Dmitry, the grandson of Ivan III, crowned king. Ivan III used his marriage to Sophia to strengthen Rus' in the international arena.

Icon "Blessed Heaven" and the image of Michael III
Sofia Palaeologus, Grand Duchess of Moscow, brought several Orthodox icons. It is believed that among them was the “Blessed Heaven” icon, a rare image of the 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, this icon was used to bless the marriage of Princess Sofya Vitovtovna when she married Vasily I, Prince of Moscow. The image that is in the cathedral today is a copy of an ancient icon, made at the end of the 17th century by order of Fyodor Alekseevich. Muscovites traditionally brought lamp oil and water to this icon. It was believed that they were filled with healing properties, because the image had healing powers. This icon is one of the most revered in our country today.

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, also appeared. Thus, it was argued that Moscow is the successor of the Byzantine Empire, and the sovereigns of Rus' are the heirs of the Byzantine emperors.

The birth of the long-awaited heir
After Sofia Palaeologus, 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. Paleologue understood that for this she had to present the prince with a gift that only she could give: to give birth to him a son who would become the heir to the throne. To Sophia’s chagrin, the first-born was a daughter who died almost immediately after birth. A year later, a girl was born again, but she also died suddenly. Sofia Palaeologus cried, prayed to God to give her an heir, distributed handfuls of alms to the poor, and donated to churches. After some time, the Mother of God heard her prayers - Sofia 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 of Paria. The boy was baptized by Vasiyan, the Rostov archbishop, in the Sergius Monastery.

What did you bring with you?
Sophia Sophia managed to instill in her what was dear to her, and what was valued and understood in Moscow. She brought with her the customs and traditions of the Byzantine court, pride in her own origins, as well as annoyance at the fact that she had to marry a tributary of the Mongol-Tatars. It is unlikely that Sophia liked the simplicity of the situation in Moscow, as well as the unceremoniousness of the relations that reigned at the court at that time. Ivan III himself was forced to listen to reproachful speeches from the 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 she brought, who saw both Roman and Byzantine life, could give the Russians valuable instructions on what models and how they should implement the changes everyone desired.

Sofia's influence

The prince's wife cannot be denied influence on the behind-the-scenes life of the court and its decorative environment. She skillfully built personal relationships and was excellent at court intrigue. However, Paleologue could only respond to political ones with suggestions that echoed the vague and secret thoughts of Ivan III. The idea was especially clear that by her marriage the princess was making the Moscow rulers successors to the emperors of Byzantium, with the interests of the Orthodox East clinging to the latter. Therefore, Sophia Paleologue 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. As a princess, Sophia enjoyed 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

Ivan, sensing his new position in the international arena, found the previous environment of the Kremlin ugly and cramped. Masters were sent from Italy, following the princess. They built the Faceted Chamber, the Assumption Cathedral (St. Basil's Cathedral), and a new stone palace on the site of the wooden mansion. In the Kremlin at this time, a strict and complex ceremony began to take place at the court, imparting arrogance and stiffness to Moscow life. Just as in his palace, Ivan III began to act in external relations with a more solemn gait. Especially when the Tatar yoke fell off the shoulders without a fight, as if by itself. And it weighed heavily for almost two centuries over the entire north-eastern Russia (from 1238 to 1480). A new language, more solemn, appeared at this time in government papers, especially diplomatic ones. A rich terminology is emerging.

Sophia's role in overthrowing the Tatar yoke

Paleologus was not liked in Moscow for the influence she exerted on the Grand Duke, as well as for the changes in the life of Moscow - “great unrest” (in the words of boyar Bersen-Beklemishev). Sophia interfered not only in domestic but also in foreign policy affairs. She demanded that Ivan III refuse to pay tribute to the Horde khan and finally free himself from his power. The skilful advice of the Paleologist, as evidenced by V.O. Klyuchevsky, always responded to her husband’s intentions. 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 “talked” about Paleologus. Before Ivan III left for the great stand on the Ugra in 1480, he sent his wife and children to Beloozero. For this, the subjects attributed to the sovereign the intention to give up power if Moscow was taken by Khan Akhmat, and to flee with his wife.

"Duma" and changes in treatment of subordinates
Ivan III, freed from the yoke, finally felt like a sovereign sovereign. Through the efforts of Sophia, palace etiquette began to resemble Byzantine. The prince gave his wife a “gift”: Ivan III allowed Palaeologus to assemble his own “duma” from the members of his retinue and organize “diplomatic receptions” in his half. The princess received foreign ambassadors and politely talked to them. This was an unprecedented innovation for Rus'. The treatment at the sovereign's court also changed. Sophia Palaeologus brought her spouse sovereign rights, 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 arguments and objections, but under Sophia he radically changed the way he treated his courtiers. Ivan began to act unapproachable, easily fell into anger, often brought disgrace, and demanded special respect for himself. Rumor also attributed all these misfortunes to the influence of Sophia Paleologus.

Fight for the throne
She was also accused of violating the succession to the throne. In 1497, enemies told the prince that Sophia Palaeologus was planning to poison his grandson in order to place her own son on the throne, that she was secretly visited by sorcerers preparing a poisonous potion, and that Vasily himself was participating in this conspiracy. Ivan III took the side of his grandson in this matter. He ordered the sorcerers to be drowned in the Moscow River, arrested Vasily, and removed his wife from him, demonstratively executing several members of the “Duma” Paleologus. In 1498, Ivan III crowned Dmitry in the Assumption Cathedral as heir to the throne. However, Sophia had the ability for court intrigue in her blood. She accused Elena Voloshanka of adherence to heresy and was able to bring about her downfall. The Grand Duke put his grandson and daughter-in-law into disgrace and named Vasily the legal heir to the throne in 1500.

Sofia Paleolog: role in history
The marriage of Sophia Paleolog and Ivan III certainly strengthened the Moscow state. He contributed to its transformation into the Third Rome. Sofia Paleolog lived for more than 30 years in Russia, giving birth to 12 children to her husband. However, she never managed to fully understand the foreign country, its laws and traditions. Even in official chronicles there are entries 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 made Moscow not inferior in majesty and beauty to the capitals of Europe. This contributed to strengthening the prestige of the Moscow sovereign and emphasized the continuity of the Russian capital to the Second Rome.

Death of Sofia

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, using the preserved skull of Sophia, restored her sculptural portrait (pictured above). Now we can at least approximately imagine what Sophia Paleologue looked like. Interesting facts and biographical information about her are numerous. We tried to select the most important things when compiling this article.

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

Origin

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

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

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

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

Life in Rome

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

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

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

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

Embassy to Ivan III

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

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

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

Wedding

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

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

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

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

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

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

Historical role

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

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

During the days of standing on the Ugra

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

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

The heir problem

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

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

Conflict with Elena

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

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

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

Opal

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

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

The fight continues

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

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

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

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

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

Triumph and death

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

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

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