Sophia Paleolog built. Sophia Paleolog: Byzantine blood in the Russian state
Greetings history lovers and regular visitors to this site! In the article "Sophia Paleolog: biography of the Grand Duchess of Moscow" about the life of the second wife of the sovereign of all Russia Ivan III. At the end of the article is a video with an interesting lecture on this topic.
Biography of Sophia Paleolog
The reign of Ivan III in Russia is considered the time of the establishment of Russian autocracy, the consolidation of forces around a single Moscow principality, the time of the final overthrow of the Mongol-Tatar yoke.
Sovereign of All Russia Ivan III
Ivan III married for the first time very young. When he was only seven years old, he was betrothed to the daughter of the Prince of Tver, Maria Borisovna. This step was dictated by political motives.
The parents, who until then were at enmity, entered into an alliance against Dmitry Shemyaka, who sought to seize the princely throne. The young couple were married in 1462. But after five years of happy marriage, Mary died, leaving her husband a young son. They said she was poisoned.
Matchmaking
Two years later, Ivan III, due to dynastic interests, began the famous matchmaking for a Byzantine princess. The emperor's brother Thomas Palaiologos lived with his family. His daughter, Sophia, raised by papal legates, was offered by the Romans as a wife to the Moscow prince.
The Pope hoped in this way to spread the influence catholic church to Russia, to use Ivan III in the fight against Turkey, which captured Greece. An important argument was Sophia's right to the throne of Constantinople.
For his part, Ivan III wanted to establish his authority by marrying the legitimate heir to the royal throne. Having received an offer from Rome, the sovereign, after consulting with his mother, the metropolitan and the boyars, sent an ambassador to Rome - the coin master Ivan Fryazin, an Italian by birth.
Fryazin returned with a portrait of the princess and with the assurance of Rome's complete favorable disposition. He went for the second time to Italy with the authority to represent the person of the prince at the betrothal.
Wedding
In July 1472, Sophia Paleolog left Rome, accompanied by Cardinal Anthony and a large retinue. In Russia, she was met very solemnly. A messenger rode in front of the retinue, warning about the movement of the Byzantine princess.
The wedding took place in the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin in 1472. Sophia's stay in Russia coincided with great changes in the life of the country. The Byzantine princess did not justify the hopes of Rome. She did not campaign in support of the Catholic Church.
Far from the vigilant legates, for the first time, perhaps, she felt herself the heiress of the kings. She wanted freedom and power. At the house of the Moscow prince, she began to revive the order of the Byzantine court.
"Wedding of Ivan III with Sophia Paleolog in 1472" 19th century engraving
According to legend, Sophia brought many books with her from Rome. In those days, the book was a luxury item. These books were included in the famous royal library of Ivan the Terrible.
Contemporaries noticed that after marrying the niece of the emperor of Byzantium, Ivan became a formidable sovereign in Russia. The prince began to independently decide the affairs of the state. Innovations were perceived differently. Many were afraid that the new order would lead Russia to death, as well as Byzantium.
The decisive steps of the sovereign against the Golden Horde are also attributed to the influence of the Grand Duchess. The chronicle brought to us the angry words of the princess: "How long will I be a khan's slave ?!" Obviously, by this she wanted to influence the vanity of the king. Only under Ivan III did Russia finally throw off the Tatar yoke.
Family life The Grand Duchess was successful. This is evidenced by numerous offspring: 12 children (7 daughters and 5 sons). Two daughters died in infancy. — her grandson. The years of the life of Sophia (Zoya) Paleolog: 1455-1503.
Video
In this video, additional and detailed information (lecture) "Sophia Paleolog: biography" ↓
A Greek princess who had a significant impact on our country. Since that time, in fact, the device of an independent monarchical Russian state began.
Sofia Paleolog was born in the 40s of the 15th century, at birth she had the name Zoya and was the heiress of an ancient Greek family that ruled Byzantium from the 13th to the 15th centuries. Then the Palaiologos family moved to Rome.
Contemporaries noted oriental beauty princesses, a sharp mind, curiosity, a high level of her education and culture. They tried to marry Sophia to the king of Cyprus, Jacob 2, and then to the Italian prince Caracciolo. Both marriages did not take place, there were rumors that Sophia allegedly refused the suitors, because she did not want to give up her faith.
In 1469, Pope Paul 2 advised Sophia as a wife to the widowed Grand Duke of Moscow. The Catholic Church hoped to exert its influence on Russia with this union.
But the matter of the wedding did not go soon. The prince was in no hurry, he decided to consult with the boyars and his mother Maria of Tver. Only then did he send his envoy to Rome, the Italian Gian Batistta del Volpe, who in Russia was simply called Ivan Fryazin.
He is instructed on behalf of the king to negotiate and see the bride. The Italian came back, not alone, but with a portrait of the bride. Three years later, Volpe left for the future princess. In the summer, Zoya, with her large retinue, set off on a journey to a northern, unknown country. In many cities through which the niece of the Greek emperor passed, the future princess of Russia aroused great curiosity.
The townspeople noted her appearance, wonderful white skin and huge black, very beautiful eyes. The princess is dressed in a purple dress, over a brocade mantle lined with sables. On Zoya's head, priceless stones and pearls sparkled in her hair, a large clasp adorned with a large precious stone, conspicuous against the backdrop of a luxurious outfit.
After the courtship, Ivan 3 was presented with a portrait of the bride of skillful work. There was a version that the Greek woman was engaged in magic and thereby bewitched the portrait. One way or another, but the wedding of Ivan 3 and Sophia took place in November 1472, when Sophia arrived in Moscow.
Hopes of the Catholic Church Sofia Paleolog were not justified. Upon entering Moscow, the representative of the pope was denied the solemn bearing of the Catholic cross, and subsequently his position at the Russian court did not play any role. The Byzantine princess returned to the Orthodox faith and became an ardent opponent of Catholicism.
The marriage of Sophia and Ivan 3 had 12 children. The first two daughters died in infancy. There is a legend that the birth of a son was predicted by the saints of Sophia. During the pilgrimage of the Moscow princess to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, the monk appeared to her and offered up a male baby. Indeed, soon Sophia gave birth to a boy, who later became the heir to the throne and the first recognized Russian tsar - Vasily 3.
With the birth of a new pretender to the throne, intrigues began at court, a struggle for power ensued between Sophia and Ivan the 3rd's son from his first marriage, Ivan the Young. The young prince already had his heir - little Dmitry, but he was in poor health. But soon Ivan Molodoy fell ill with gout and died, the doctor who treated him was executed and rumors spread that the prince had been poisoned.
His son - Dimitri, the grandson of Ivan 3, was crowned as a Grand Duke, and was considered the heir to the throne. However, in the course of Sophia's intrigues, grandfather Ivan 3 soon fell into disgrace, was imprisoned and soon died, and the right of inheritance passed to Sophia's son Vasily.
As a Moscow princess, Sophia showed great initiative in her husband's public affairs. At her insistence, Ivan 3 in 1480 refused to pay tribute to the Tatar Khan Akhmat, tore up the letter and ordered the Horde ambassadors to be driven out.
The consequences were not long in coming - Khan Akhmat gathered all his soldiers and moved to Moscow. His troops settled on the Ugra River and began to prepare for an attack. The gently sloping banks of the river did not give the necessary advantage in battle, time passed and the troops remained in place, waiting for the onset of cold weather to cross the river on ice. At the same time, riots and uprisings began in the Golden Horde, perhaps this was the reason why the khan turned his tumens and left Russia.
Sophia Paleolog transferred her legacy of the Byzantine Empire to Russia. Together with the dowry, the princess brought rare icons, a large library with the works of Aristotle and Plato, the writings of Homer, and as a gift her husband got an ivory royal throne with carved biblical scenes. All this later passed to their grandson -
Thanks to her ambitions and great influence on her husband, she attached Moscow to the European order. Under her rule, etiquette was established in the princely court, the princess was allowed to have her own half of the palace and independently receive ambassadors. The best architects and painters of that time were called from Europe to Moscow.
The wooden capital of Sophia clearly lacked the former majesty of Byzantium. Buildings were erected that became the best jewelry Moscow: Assumption, Annunciation, Archangel Cathedrals. Also built: the Faceted Chamber for the reception of ambassadors and guests, the Treasury Court, the Embankment Stone Chamber, the towers of the Moscow Kremlin.
Throughout her life, Sophia considered herself a princess of Tsaregorod, it was she who had the idea to make the third Rome out of Moscow. After marriage, Ivan 3 introduced into his coat of arms and printers the symbol of the Palaiologos family - the double-headed eagle. In addition, Russia began to be called Russia, thanks to the Byzantine tradition.
Despite the apparent advantages, the people and the boyars treated Sophia with hostility, calling her a “Greek woman” and a “sorceress”. Many were afraid of her influence on Ivan 3, since the prince began to have a tough temper and demand complete obedience from his subjects.
Nevertheless, it was thanks to Sophia Paleolog that the rapprochement between Russia and the West took place, the architecture of the capital changed, private ties with Europe were established, and foreign policy was also strengthened.
The campaign of Ivan 3 against independent Novgorod ended in its complete liquidation. The fate of the Novgorod Republic also predetermined fate. The Moscow army entered the territory of the Tver land. Now Tver "kissed the cross" swearing allegiance to Ivan 3, and the prince of Tver was forced to flee to Lithuania.
The successful unification of the Russian lands created the conditions for liberation from the Horde dependence, which happened in 1480.
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Sophia Paleolog... How much has been said, written, invented, discovered about her... Not every, far from every person in history is clothed in such a long train of omissions, gossip, slander... And in parallel with them - delights, thanks, admiration. The personality of Sophia Palaiologos has not let archaeologists, historians, doctors, scientists, researchers, and just people who at least somehow tangentially encountered stories about her sleep peacefully for a long time. So who is she? Genius? Villainess? Witch? Holy? Benefactor of the Russian land or a fiend? Based on the information of her biography known to us, we will try to figure it out.
Start over. Sophia, or in infancy Zoya, was born in the family of Thomas Palaiologos, the despot of the Morea. He was the younger brother of the last Byzantine emperor, Constantine XI, who died during the fall of Constantinople in the middle of the 15th century.
It is after this phrase that sometimes gibberish begins in people's thinking. Well, if the father is a despot, then who should be a daughter? And the hail of accusations begins. Meanwhile, if we show a little curiosity and look into the dictionary, which interprets words for us not always in monosyllables, then we can read something else about the word "despot".
It turns out that the most senior Byzantine nobles were called despots. And despotates are such divisions in the state, similar to modern provinces or states. So Sofia's father was a nobleman who led one of these pieces of the state - a despotate.
She was not the only child in the family - she had two more brothers: Manuel and Andrei. The family professed Orthodoxy, the mother of the children, Ekaterina Akhaiskaya, was a very church-going woman, which she taught her children.
But the years were very difficult. The Byzantine Empire was on the verge of collapse. And when Constantine XI died and the capital was captured by the Turkish Sultan Mehmed II, the Palaiologos family was forced to flee from the family nest. First they settled on the island of Corfu, and later moved to Rome.
In Rome, children were orphaned. First, the mother died, and then, six months later, Thomas Palaiologos also went to the Lord. The education of orphans was taken up by the Greek scientist, Uniate Vissarion of Nicaea, who served as a cardinal under Pope Sixtus IV (yes, it was he who ordered the construction of the chapel, which now bears his name - the Sistine).
And of course, Zoya and her brothers were brought up in Catholicism. But at the same time, the children received a good education. They knew Latin and Greek, mathematics and astronomy, and were fluent in several languages.
The Pope of Rome showed such virtue not only out of compassion for the orphans. His thoughts were much more pragmatic. In order to restore the Florentine union of churches and to attach the Moscow state to the union, he decided to marry Sophia Palaiologos to the Russian prince Ivan III, who had recently been a widower.
The widowed prince liked the desire of the Pope to make the ancient Moscow family related to the famous Palaiologos family. But he himself could not decide anything. Ivan III asked his mother for advice on what to do. The offer was tempting, but he was well aware that not only his personal fate was at stake, but also the fate of the state, whose ruler he would become. His father, the Grand Duke of Moscow Vasily II, nicknamed the Dark One because of his blindness, appointed the 16-year-old son as his co-ruler. And at the time of the alleged matchmaking, Vasily II had already passed away.
The mother sent her son to Metropolitan Philip. He spoke out sharply against the planned marriage and did not give his highest blessing to the prince. As for Ivan III himself, he liked the idea of marriage with a Byzantine princess. Indeed, in this way, Moscow became the heir of Byzantium - the “third Rome”, which inexpressibly strengthened the authority of the Grand Duke not only in his own country, but also in relations with neighboring states.
On reflection, he sent his ambassador to Rome, the Italian Jean-Baptiste della Volpe, who in Moscow was called much more simply: Ivan Fryazin. His personality is very interesting. He was not only the chief minter of coins at the court of Grand Duke Ivan III, but also the farmer of this very profitable business. But it's not about him now.
The wedding contract was concluded, and Sophia, along with several accompanying persons, left Rome for Russia.
She crossed all of Europe. In all the cities where she stayed, she was given a magnificent reception and was bombarded with souvenirs. The last stop before arriving in Moscow was the city of Novgorod. And then an unfortunate event happened.
There was a big Catholic cross in Sofia's convoy. The news of this reached Moscow and incredibly upset Metropolitan Philip, who did not give his blessing for this marriage anyway. Vladyka Philip delivered an ultimatum: if the cross is brought into Moscow, it will leave the city. The matter took a serious turn. The envoy of Ivan III acted in Russian simply: having met a convoy at the entrance to Moscow, he took and took away the cross from the representative of the Pope, who accompanied Sophia Palaiologos. Everything was resolved quickly and without much fuss.
Directly on the day of her arrival in Belokamennaya, namely on November 12, 1472, as evidenced by the annals of that time, her wedding with Ivan III took place. It took place in a temporary wooden church, placed near the Assumption Cathedral under construction, so as not to stop worship. Metropolitan Philip, still beside himself with rage, refused to hold the wedding ceremony. And this sacrament was performed by Archpriest Josiah of Kolomna, who was specially urgently invited to Moscow. Sophia Paleolog became the wife of Ivan III. But, to the great misfortune and disappointment of the Pope, things did not turn out the way he expected.
According to legend, she brought with her a “bone throne” as a gift to her husband: its wooden frame was all covered with ivory and walrus ivory plates with biblical themes carved on them. Sophia brought with her several Orthodox icons.
Sophia, whose goal was to incline Russia to Catholicism, became Orthodox. Angry envoys of the union left Moscow with nothing. A number of historians are inclined to the version that Sophia secretly communicated with the Athonite elders, learning the basics Orthodox faith which she liked more and more. There is evidence that several Gentiles wooed her, whom she refused solely because of a discrepancy in religious views.
« visible sign the succession of Russia from Byzantium becomes a double-headed eagle - the dynastic sign of the Paleolog family "
Be that as it may, Paleolog became the Grand Russian Duchess Sophia Fominichnaya. And not just became it formally. She brought with her to Russia a great baggage - the covenants and traditions of the Byzantine Empire, the so-called "symphony" of state and church power. And these were not just words. A visible sign of the continuity of Russia from Byzantium is the double-headed eagle - the dynastic sign of the Palaiologos family. And this sign becomes state emblem Russia. A little later, a horseman was added to it, striking a snake with a sword - St. George the Victorious, who used to be the coat of arms of Moscow.
Husband listened to wise advice his enlightened wife, although his boyars, who previously had undivided influence on the prince, did not like this.
And Sophia became not only her husband's assistant in state affairs, but also the mother of a huge family. She had 12 children, 9 of whom lived a long life. First, Elena was born, who died in early infancy. Fedosiya followed her, followed by Elena again. And finally - happiness! Heir! On the night of March 25-26, 1479, a boy was born, named after his grandfather Vasily. Sophia Palaiologos had a son, Vasily, the future Vasily III. For his mother, he always remained Gabriel - in honor of the Archangel Gabriel, to whom she tearfully prayed for the gift of an heir.
Fate also gave the spouses Yuri, Dmitry, Evdokia (who also died as a baby), Ivan (died as a child), Simeon, Andrei, again Evdokia and Boris.
Immediately after the birth of the heir, Sophia Paleologus ensured that he was declared the Grand Duke. By this action, she practically ousted the eldest son of Ivan III from a previous marriage - Ivan (Young), and after him - his son, that is, the grandson of Ivan III - Dmitry.
Naturally, this led to all sorts of rumors. But it seemed that they did not care for the Grand Duchess at all. She was worried about something else.
Sophia Palaiologos insisted that her husband surround himself with splendor, wealth and etiquette at court. These were the traditions of the empire, and they had to be observed. From Western Europe Moscow was flooded with doctors, artists, architects… They were ordered to decorate the capital!
Aristotle Fioravanti was invited from Milan, who was charged with the task of building the Kremlin chambers. The choice was not accidental. Signor Aristotle was known as an excellent specialist in underground passages, caches and labyrinths.
And before laying the walls of the Kremlin, he built real catacombs under them, in one of the casemates of which a real treasury was hidden - a library in which manuscripts from antiquity and folios saved from the fire of the famous Alexandria Library were stored. Remember, on the feast of the Presentation, we talked about Simeon the God-Receiver? Just his translation of the book of the prophet Isaiah into Greek was kept in this library.
In addition to the Kremlin chambers, the architect Fioravanti built the Assumption and Annunciation Cathedrals. Thanks to the skill of other architects, the Faceted Chamber, the Kremlin towers, the Terem Palace, the Treasury Court and the Archangel Cathedral appeared in Moscow. Moscow every day became more and more beautiful, as if preparing to become royal.
But not only this cared for our heroine. Sophia Paleolog, having a great influence on her husband, who saw in her a reliable friend and wise adviser, convinced him to refuse to pay tribute to the Golden Horde. Ivan III finally threw off this long-term yoke. But the boyars were very afraid that the horde would go berserk after learning about the decision of the prince, and bloodshed would begin. But Ivan III was firm, enlisting the support of his wife.
Well. So far, we can say that Sophia Paleolog was a good genius both for her husband and for Mother Russia. But we forgot about one person who did not think so at all. This man's name is Ivan. Ivan the Young, as he was called at court. And he was a son from the first marriage of Grand Duke Ivan III.
After Sophia's son Palaiologos was declared heir to the throne, the Russian nobility at court split. Two groups formed: one supported Ivan the Young, the other - Sophia.
From the very appearance at court, Ivan the Young did not have a relationship with Sophia, and she did not try to establish them, being engaged in other state and personal affairs. Ivan Molodoy was only three years younger than his stepmother, and like all teenagers, he was jealous of his father for his new lover. Soon, Ivan the Young also married the daughter of the sovereign of Moldavia, Stephen the Great, Elena Voloshanka. And at the time of birth stepbrother he himself was the father of a son Dmitry.
Ivan Molodoy, Dmitry ... Vasily's chances of taking the throne were very illusory. And this did not suit Sophia Paleolog. It didn't suit me at all. Two women - Sophia and Elena - became sworn enemies and simply burned with the desire to get rid of not only each other, but also the offspring of a competitor. Sophia Paleologus makes a mistake. But about this in order.
The Grand Duchess maintained very warm friendly relations with her brother Andrei. His daughter Maria married in Moscow Prince Vasily Vereisky, who was the nephew of Ivan III. And once Sophia, without asking her husband, gave her niece a jewel that once belonged to the first wife of Ivan III.
And the Grand Duke, seeing his daughter-in-law's dislike for his wife, decided to appease her and give her this family jewel. This is where it happened great failure! The prince was beside himself with anger! He demanded that Vasily Vereisky immediately return the family heirloom to him. But he refused. Say, a gift, sorry! Moreover, its cost was very, very impressive.
Ivan III was simply furious and ordered to plant Prince Vasily Vereisky and his wife in a dungeon! The relatives had to hastily flee to Lithuania, where they escaped the wrath of the sovereign. But the prince was angry with his wife for this act for a long time.
By the end of the 15th century, the passions in the grand ducal family subsided. At least the appearance of a cold world remained. Suddenly a new misfortune struck: Ivan Molodoy fell ill with an ache in his legs, he was practically paralyzed. The best doctors from Europe were hastily sent to him. But they couldn't help him. Soon Ivan Young died.
Doctors, as usual, were executed ... But in the circle of the boyars, the rumor began to emerge more and more clearly that Sophia Paleolog had a hand in the death of the heir. Say, she poisoned her rival Vasily. A rumor reached Ivan III that some dashing women with a potion came to Sophia. He was furious, and did not want to see his wife, and ordered his son Vasily to be kept in custody. The women who came to Sophia were drowned in the river, many were thrown into prison. But Sophia Paleolog did not stop at this.
After all, Ivan the Young left an heir, known as Dmitry Ivanovich Vnuk. Grandson of Ivan III. And on February 4, 1498, at the end of the 15th century, he was officially proclaimed heir to the throne.
But you have a bad idea of the personality of Sophia Paleolog if you think that she has reconciled. Quite the opposite.
At that time, the Judaizing heresy began to spread in Russia. She was brought to Russia by some Kyiv Jewish scientist named Skhariya. He began to twist Christianity into a Jewish manner, denied the Holy Trinity, Old Testament put more important than the New, rejected the veneration of icons and relics of saints ... In general, speaking modern language, collected the same as he, sectarians who broke away from holy Orthodoxy. Elena Voloshanka and Prince Dmitry somehow joined this sect.
It was a great trump card in the hands of Sophia Palaiologos. Immediately, sectarianism was reported to Ivan III. And Elena and Dmitry fell into disgrace. Sophia and Vasily again took their former position. From that time on, the sovereign began, according to the chroniclers, "not to take care of his grandson", and declared his son Vasily the Grand Duke of Novgorod and Pskov. Sophia achieved what was ordered to keep Dmitry and Elena in custody, not to commemorate them at litanies in the church and not to call Dmitry the Grand Duke.
Sophia Paleolog, who actually won the royal throne for her son, did not live to see this day. She died in 1503. Elena Voloshanka also died in prison.
Thanks to the method of plastic reconstruction from the skull, at the end of 1994, a sculptural portrait of Grand Duchess Sophia Paleolog was restored. She was short - about 160 cm, full, with strong-willed features and had a mustache that did not spoil her at all.
Ivan III, already feeling weak in health, prepared a will. Basil is listed as heir to the throne.
Meanwhile, it was time for Vasily to get married. An attempt to marry him to the daughter of the Danish king failed; then, on the advice of a courtier, a Greek, Ivan Vasilyevich followed the example of the Byzantine emperors. It was ordered to the court to gather the most beautiful girls, daughters of the boyars and boyar children, for the bride. They collected fifteen hundred of them. Vasily chose Solomonia, the daughter of the nobleman Saburov.
Ivan Vasilyevich, after the death of his wife, lost heart, became seriously ill. Apparently grand duchess Sophia gave him the necessary energy to build a new power, her mind helped in state affairs, her sensitivity warned of dangers, her all-conquering love gave him strength and courage. Leaving all his affairs, he went on a trip to the monasteries, but failed to atone for sins. He was stricken with paralysis. On October 27, 1505, he passed away to the Lord, having outlived his beloved wife by only two years.
Vasily III, having ascended the throne, first of all tightened the conditions of detention of his nephew, Dmitry Vnuk. He was shackled and placed in a small stuffy cell. In 1509 he died.
Basil and Solomon had no children. On the advice of those close to him, he married Elena Glinskaya. On August 25, 1530, Elena Glinskaya gave birth to the heir Vasily III, who was named John at baptism. Then there was a rumor that when he was born, a terrible thunder swept across the Russian land, lightning flashed and the earth trembled ...
Ivan the Terrible was born, as modern scientists say, outwardly very similar to his grandmother - Sophia Paleolog. Ivan the Terrible is a maniac, a sadist, a libertine, a despot, an alcoholic, the first Russian tsar and the last in the Rurik dynasty. Ivan the Terrible, who accepted the schema on his deathbed and was buried in a cassock and a doll. But that's a completely different story.
And Sophia Paleolog was buried in a massive white stone sarcophagus in the tomb of the Ascension Cathedral in the Kremlin. Next to her rested the body of the first wife of Ivan III - Maria Borisovna. This cathedral was destroyed in 1929 by the new government. But the remains of the women of the royal house survived. They now rest in the underground chamber of the Archangel Cathedral.
Such was the life of Sophia Paleolog. Virtue and villainy, genius and meanness, the decoration of Moscow and the destruction of competitors - everything was in her difficult, but very bright biography.
Who she is - the embodiment of evil and intrigue or the creator of the new Muscovy - you decide, reader. In any case, her name is inscribed in the annals of history, and part of her family coat of arms - the double-headed eagle - we see today on Russian heraldry.
One thing is certain - she made a huge contribution to the history of the Moscow principality. May he rest in peace! The mere fact that she did not allow Moscow to become a Catholic state is priceless for us Orthodox!
The main photo is the meeting of Princess Sophia Paleolog by the Pskov posadniks and boyars at the mouth of the Embakh on Lake Peipsi. Bronnikov F.A.
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Sofia was the niece of the last emperor of Byzantium Constantine Palaiologos. His younger brother Thomas escaped tragic fate Constantine who died defending Constantinople from the invading Turks. And between 1443-1449, Thomas and his wife Helena a daughter was born, named Zoey. Her teachers were Athos monks, who did not like the "Franks" and condemned the Union of Florence, according to which the Orthodox world had to submit to the authority of the Pope.
But when the Turks reached the Morea (modern Peloponnese), it was Pope Pontiff Pius II sheltered Thomas and his family. The upbringing of children was entrusted to the cardinal Laskari, a former Orthodox bishop who became a zealous Catholic. On the further fate of the Byzantine Zoe the Catholic Church had its own political plans. Planning to marry her to a Moscow prince Ivan Vasilyevich, Rome expected to strengthen its religious influence on Muscovy. And enlist help in the fight against the Turks.
But the heads of Moscow Orthodoxy actively opposed the marriage. Only in 1472 did the parties come to an agreement. And, according to the traditions of those times, the engagement was held in Rome. Byzantine Zoya renamed in the Slavic manner, calling Sofia. And so a convoy set off from Rome to Muscovy. In the train were gifts, dresses, jewelry, a magnificent collection of books. And, of course, two dozen Catholic priests.
Having reached Pskov, the priests unfurled the Catholic cross. Upon learning of this, the metropolitan said to the prince:
“If you allow in blessed Moscow to carry the cross before the Latin Bishop, then he will enter the single gate, and I, your father, will go out of the city differently. To honor an alien Faith is to humiliate one's own."
The prince was forced to send a messenger with an order to remove the cross.
The Catholics opposed, but were forced to hide the cross.
“The princess herself behaved as befits the future ruler of Russia. Having entered the Pskov land, she first of all visited an Orthodox church, where she kissed the icons. The papal representative Anthony had to obey here too: follow her to the church, and there bow to the holy icons and venerate the image of the Mother of God.
She was not at all going to be an obedient puppet of the Pope. Perhaps the upbringing of Athos monks had an effect.
So the Byzantine princess entered Russia. First thing Sofia Paleolog suggested Ivan adopt the Byzantine coat of arms, the double-headed eagle. And then she set about strengthening his authority among the boyars. From now on, no one could appear in the prince's chambers without a report and a deep bow. Instead of the former, simple and "home" title "Grand Duke Ivan Vasilievich "Ivan III assumes the pompous title John, by the grace of God Sovereign of All Russia and Grand Duke Vladimir and Moscow and Novgorod and Pskov and Tver and Yugra and Perm and Bulgarian and others. From this moment on, the sovereign moves away from his subjects to an unattainable height.
But most of all Sofia Paleolog outraged by the behavior of the envoys of the Horde Khan. The Moscow prince went out to meet them long before entering the city. And he had to listen to them standing, while the ambassadors were sitting. Experienced in the art of intrigue, the princess repeated Ivan, "that she married a slave of the Tatars". And she pushed him to break the Khan's letter-message. War was inevitable. But the Horde no longer had the former strength and centralized power.
According to the legend given not only by Russian chronicles, but also by the English poet John Milton, in 1477, Sophia was able to outwit the Tatar Khan, announcing that she had a sign from above about the construction of a church to St. Nicholas in the place in the Kremlin where the house of the Khan's governors stood, who controlled the gathering of yasak and the actions of the Kremlin (“she put them out of the Kremlin, demolished the house, although temple was not built.
In 1480, the Horde came to Russia Khan Ahmed. He reached the mouth of the Ugra River, the left tributary of the Oka, where he was stopped by the Russian army. If the Horde cavalry crossed the river, then after three or four crossings the army Ahmata could approach the capital. Russian commanders blocked the fords and river crossings for the Tatars. For several days there were battles for the crossing over the Ugra, and when all the attacks were repulsed, the "standing on the Ugra" began.
And so, when in November the prince Ivan III ordered the withdrawal of Russian forces from the Ugra to Borovsk, Khan Akhmat, deciding that they were giving way to the coast for a decisive battle, got scared and began a quick retreat.
Strengthening her influence over her husband, Sofia was able to convince him that the best architects are Italians. Soon the Italians arrived in Moscow and started building Orthodox churches. And in 1485, the Italians, led by Aristotle Fioravanti, begin to build the Moscow Kremlin.
Sofia tried to influence foreign policy, together with her husband receiving foreign ambassadors and even sitting in the Boyar Duma. Which at that time was unusual not only for Russia, but even for Europe. However, its role in public policy was limited to behind-the-scenes influence on John.
Sofia actively contributed to the influx of foreigners, merchants, builders, scientists, doctors. That caused discontent of the local nobility. Rumors and even accusations of witchcraft were actively spread about the princess.
In 1497, scammers accused the princess of trying to poison the heir. Dmitry, grandson John. And Sophia had a chance to experience the power of princely anger. The queen's entourage was scattered throughout the prisons. And the healers surrounding her were drowned in the Moscow River.
But the persecution did not touch the princess personally. Saving a life Sofia soon regained power. This was facilitated by palace intrigues on religious grounds. Skillfully manipulating the spouse, Sofia not only approached him, but also eliminated her rival in the face of her daughter-in-law John — Helena(Esther).
This intrigue was one of the last. In 1503 Sofia died. For 30 years of ruling in her new homeland, she never managed to get rid of the labels of a Latin woman, a sorceress and a heretic.
The death of his wife seemed to have deprived the Grand Duke of his last strength. Leaving business, he spent days and nights sitting in his chambers. And more and more power passed to the son Sophia Vasily. In 1505 John passed away and Vasily III ascended the throne.
Despite the ambiguous role in the history of our state, which was played by Sofia, she undoubtedly plays a significant role in the liberation from the Horde yoke. And in the formation of Russia as a power. Sofia and Ivan III buried in the Archangel Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin.
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 a matte soft skin, which was considered in Russia a sign excellent health. In addition, the bride was distinguished by her article and a 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 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.
Sophia 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 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, 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 backstage 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 the Tatar yoke without a fight, as if by itself, fell off the shoulders. And it weighed almost two centuries over the entire north-eastern Russia (from 1238 to 1480). 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. The Grand Duke placed his grandson and daughter-in-law in disgrace 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 contributed to strengthening 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.
