Sophia Paleologue

Zoe Palaiologina (Greek ??? ???????????, ? - April 7, 1503), Grand Duchess of Moscow, was a niece of the last Byzantine emperor Constantine XI and second wife of Ivan the Great.

Related Topics:
Greek - April 7 - 1503 - Moscow - Byzantine emperor - Constantine XI - Ivan the Great

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Zoe's father was Thomas Palaeologus, the despot of Morea. Together with her brothers, she was taken to Rome after Turkish conquest of Morea in 1460. In Rome, her Greek name Zoe was changed to Sophia. In 1469, the Pope offered the Russian monarch to marry her in order to unite the Orthodox and Catholic churches. The widowed Russian prince married unattractive and haughty Sophia at the Dormition Cathedral on November 12, 1472. The cardinal Bessarion, sent by the Pope to Moscow, however, didn?t succeed in his mission.

Related Topics:
Thomas Palaeologus - Morea - Rome - Sophia - 1469 - Pope - Orthodox - Catholic - Dormition Cathedral - November 12 - 1472 - Bessarion

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Over the years, Sophia started to wield great influence on her aged husband. It is thought that she was the first to introduce the Kremlin to grand Byzantine ceremonies and meticulous etiquette. The idea of Moscow as the Third Rome evidently pleased her. Shortly before her death she persuaded her husband to pass the throne to her son Basil, rather than to Ivan's grandson Dmitry, as had been planned earlier. Apart from Basil, only her fifth son, Andrey of Staritsa, left issue.

Related Topics:
Kremlin - Etiquette - Third Rome - Basil - Dmitry - Andrey of Staritsa

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