The real name of Sophia Palaeologus. What Sofia Palaeologus did to Moscow Russia
More
The last flower of Byzantium
10 facts about the Russian queen Sophia Palaeologus / World history
How the Byzantine princess deceived the Pope, and what she changed in the life of Russia. More about Third Rome
"Sofia". Shot from the series
1. Sofia Palaeologus was the daughter of the despot of Morea (now the Peloponnese peninsula) Thomas Palaeologus and niece of the last emperor of the Byzantine Empire Constantine XI.
2. At birth, Sofia was named Zoe... She was born two years after the Ottomans captured Constantinople in 1453, and the Byzantine Empire ceased to exist. Five years later, Morea was captured. Zoe's family was forced to flee, taking refuge in Rome. To receive the support of Pope Thomas, Palaiologos converted to Catholicism with his family. With a change of faith, Zoe became Sophia.
3. The immediate guardian of Sofia Palaeologus was appointed Cardinal Bessarion of Nicea, a supporter of union, that is, the union of Catholics and Orthodox under the rule of the Pope. The fate of Sophia was supposed to be decided by a profitable marriage. In 1466 she was offered as a bride to a Cypriot King Jacques II de Lusignan but he refused. In 1467 she was offered as a wife Prince Caracciolo, a noble Italian rich man. The prince agreed, after which a solemn betrothal took place.
4. Sophia's fate changed dramatically after it became known that Grand Duke of Moscow Ivan III widowed and looking for a new wife. Vissarion of Nicaea decided that if Sophia Palaeologus became the wife of Ivan III, the Russian lands could be subordinated to the influence of the Pope.
Sofia Paleologue. Reconstruction on the skull of S. Nikitin
5. On June 1, 1472, in the Basilica of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in Rome, the correspondence betrothal of Ivan III and Sophia Palaeologus took place. The deputy of the Grand Duke was a Russian Ambassador Ivan Fryazin... The wife was present as guests the ruler of Florence Lorenzo the Magnificent Clarice Orsini and the Queen of Bosnia Katarina.
6. The Pope's representatives were silent about the conversion of Sophia Palaeologus to Catholicism during the negotiations on the marriage. But they were also in for a surprise - immediately after crossing the Russian border, Sofia announced to Vissarion of Nicaea, who accompanied her, that she was returning to Orthodoxy and would not perform Catholic rituals. In fact, this was the end of the attempt to carry out the union project in Russia.
7. The wedding of Ivan III and Sophia Palaeologus in Russia took place on November 12, 1472. Their marriage lasted 30 years, Sofia gave birth to her husband 12 children, but the first four were girls. Born in March 1479, a boy named Vasily later became the Grand Duke of Moscow Basil III.
8. At the end of the 15th century, a fierce struggle for the rights to the succession to the throne unfolded in Moscow. The official heir was considered the son of Ivan III from his first marriage Ivan Young, who even had the status of a co-ruler. However, with the birth of his son Vasily, Sofia Paleologue joined the struggle for his right to the throne. The Moscow elite split into two warring parties. Both fell into disgrace, but in the end the victory remained with the supporters of Sofia Paleologus and her son.
9. Under Sofia Palaeologus, the practice of inviting foreign specialists to Russia became widespread: architects, jewelers, coin makers, gunsmiths, doctors. For the construction of the Assumption Cathedral from Italy was invited architect Aristotle Fioravanti... Other buildings on the territory of the Kremlin were also rebuilt. White stone was actively used at the construction site, which is why the expression "white-stone Moscow", which has survived for centuries, appeared.
10. In the Trinity-Sergius Monastery there is a silk shroud sewn by Sophia's hands in 1498; her name is embroidered on the shroud, and she calls herself not the Grand Duchess of Moscow, but "the princess of the Tsarevgorodskaya". With her submission, the Russian rulers began, first unofficially, and then at the official level, to call themselves tsars. In 1514, in an agreement with Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I the son of Sophia, Vasily III, for the first time in the history of Russia, was named the emperor of the Rus. This letter is then used by Peter I as proof of their coronation rights as emperor.
The wedding of Ivan III to Sophia Palaeologus in 1472. Engraving of the 19th century.
Sophia Paleologue
How a Byzantine princess built a new empire in Russia
The niece of the last ruler of Byzantium, having survived the collapse of one empire, decided to revive it in a new place. Mother of the "Third Rome"
At the end of the 15th century, in the Russian lands united around Moscow, the concept began to emerge, according to which the Russian state was the legal successor of the Byzantine Empire. Several decades later, the thesis "Moscow is the Third Rome" will become a symbol of the state ideology of the Russian state.
A large role in the formation of a new ideology and in the changes that took place at that time within Russia was destined to play a woman, whose name was heard by almost everyone who had ever come into contact with Russian history. Sophia Paleologue, wife of Grand Duke Ivan III, contributed to the development of Russian architecture, medicine, culture and many other spheres of life.
There is another view of her, according to which she was the "Russian Catherine de Medici", whose intrigues allowed the development of Russia along a completely different path and brought confusion into the life of the state.
The truth, as usual, is somewhere in between. Sophia Palaeologus did not choose Russia - Russia chose her, a girl from the last dynasty of Byzantine emperors, as a wife for the Grand Duke of Moscow.
Thomas Palaeologus, Sophia's father
Byzantine orphan at the papal court
Zoya Paleologina, the daughter of a despot (this is the name of the position) of Morea Thomas Palaeologus, was born in a tragic time. In 1453, the Byzantine Empire, the heiress of Ancient Rome, collapsed after a thousand years of existence under the blows of the Ottomans. The fall of Constantinople, in which Emperor Constantine XI, the brother of Thomas Palaeologus and uncle Zoya, died.
The Moray despotate, a province of Byzantium ruled by Thomas Palaeologus, held out until 1460. These years Zoya lived with her father and brothers in Mystra, the capital of Morea, a city located next to Ancient Sparta. After sultan Mehmed II captured Morea, Thomas Palaeologus went to the island of Corfu, and then to Rome, where he died.
Children from the royal family of the lost empire lived at the court of the Pope. Shortly before the death of Thomas Palaeologus, in order to receive support, he converted to Catholicism. His children also became Catholics. After being baptized according to the Roman rite, Zoya was named Sophia.
Bessarion of Nicea
A 10-year-old girl, taken into the care of the papal court, did not have the opportunity to decide anything on her own. Cardinal Bissarion of Nicea, one of the authors of the union, which was supposed to unite Catholics and Orthodox under the common authority of the Pope, was appointed her mentor.
Sophia's fate was going to be arranged by marriage. In 1466, she was offered as a bride to the Cypriot king Jacques II de Lusignan, but he refused. In 1467 she was offered as a wife to Prince Caracciolo, a noble Italian rich man. The prince agreed, after which a solemn betrothal took place.
The bride on the "icon"
But Sophia was not destined to become the wife of the Italian. In Rome it became known that the Grand Duke of Moscow Ivan III was widowed. The Russian prince was young, at the time of the death of his first wife he was only 27 years old, and it was expected that he would soon be looking for a new wife.
Cardinal Bissarion of Nicaea saw this as a chance to promote his idea of Uniatism in the Russian lands. From his submission in 1469 Pope Paul II sent a letter to Ivan III, in which he proposed 14-year-old Sophia Palaeologus as a bride. The letter referred to her as an "Orthodox Christian", without mentioning her conversion to Catholicism.
Ivan III was not devoid of ambition, which his wife would often play later on. Upon learning that the niece of the Byzantine emperor was proposed as a bride, he agreed.
Victor Muizhel. "Ambassador Ivan Fryazin presents Ivan III with a portrait of his bride Sophia Paleologue"
The negotiations, however, had just begun - it was necessary to discuss all the details. The Russian ambassador, sent to Rome, returned with a gift that shocked both the groom and his entourage. This fact was reflected in the annals with the words “bring the princess on the icon”.
The fact is that in Russia at that time secular painting did not exist at all, and the portrait of Sophia, sent to Ivan III, was perceived in Moscow as an “icon”.
Sophia Paleologue. Reconstruction on the skull of S. Nikitin
However, having figured out what's what, the Moscow prince was satisfied with the appearance of the bride. In the historical literature, there are various descriptions of Sophia Paleologue - from beauty to ugly. In the 1990s, studies were conducted on the remains of Ivan III's wife, during which her appearance was restored. Sophia was a short woman (about 160 cm), prone to overweight, with strong-willed facial features that can be called, if not beautiful, then rather pretty. Be that as it may, Ivan III liked it.
The failure of Bessarion of Nicea
The formalities were settled by the spring of 1472, when a new Russian embassy arrived in Rome, this time for the bride herself.
On June 1, 1472, an absentee betrothal took place in the Basilica of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. The deputy of the grand duke was the Russian ambassador Ivan Fryazin. The wife of the ruler of Florence Lorenzo the Magnificent Clarice Orsini and the Queen of Bosnia Katarina were also guests. The Pope, in addition to gifts, gave the bride a dowry of 6 thousand ducats.
Sophia Paleologue enters Moscow. Miniature of the Facial Chronicle Code
On June 24, 1472, a large train of Sophia Paleologos, together with the Russian ambassador, left Rome. The bride was accompanied by a Roman retinue led by Cardinal Bissarion of Nicea.
It was necessary to get to Moscow via Germany via the Baltic Sea, and then via the Baltic states, Pskov and Novgorod. Such a difficult route was caused by the fact that during this period Russia once again began to have political problems with Poland.
From time immemorial, the Byzantines were famous for their cunning and cunning. That these qualities Sophia Palaeologus inherited in full measure, Vissarion of Nicaea learned soon after the bride's train crossed the border of Russia. The 17-year-old girl announced that from now on she would no longer perform Catholic rites, but returned to the faith of her ancestors, that is, to Orthodoxy. All of the cardinal's ambitious plans collapsed. Attempts by Catholics to gain a foothold in Moscow and increase their influence failed.
On November 12, 1472, Sophia entered Moscow. There were also many here who were wary of her, seeing her as a “Roman agent”. According to some reports, Metropolitan Philip, dissatisfied with the bride, refused to hold the wedding ceremony, which is why the ceremony was held by Kolomensky Archpriest Hosea.
But, be that as it may, Sophia Paleologue became the wife of Ivan III.
Fedor Bronnikov. "Meeting of Princess Sophia Palaeologus by the Pskov mayor and boyars at the mouth of the Embach on Lake Peipsi"
How Sophia saved Russia from the yoke
Their marriage lasted 30 years, she gave birth to her husband 12 children, of whom five sons and four daughters survived to adulthood. Judging by the historical documents, the Grand Duke was attached to his wife and children, for which he even received reproaches from high-ranking ministers of the church, who believed that this was detrimental to state interests.
Sophia never forgot about her origin and behaved as, in her opinion, the emperor's niece was supposed to behave. Under her influence, the receptions at the Grand Duke, especially the receptions of ambassadors, were furnished with a complex and colorful ceremony, similar to the Byzantine one. Thanks to her, the Byzantine double-headed eagle migrated to Russian heraldry. Thanks to her influence, Grand Duke Ivan III began to call himself the "Russian Tsar". Under the son and grandson of Sophia Palaeologus, this naming of the Russian ruler will become official.
Judging by the actions and deeds of Sophia, she, having lost her native Byzantium, seriously set about building it in another Orthodox country. She was helped by the ambition of her husband, on whom she successfully played.
When the Horde Khan Akhmat was preparing an invasion of the Russian lands and in Moscow they discussed the question of the amount of tribute, with the help of which one could buy off the misfortune, Sophia intervened in the matter. Bursting into tears, she began to reproach her husband that the country was still forced to pay tribute and that it was time to end this shameful situation. Ivan III was not a warlike man, but his wife's reproaches touched him to the core. He decided to gather an army and march towards Akhmat.
At the same time, the Grand Duke sent his wife and children first to Dmitrov, and then to Beloozero, fearing a military failure.
But failure did not happen - on the Ugra River, where the troops of Akhmat and Ivan III met, the battle did not take place. After what is known as "standing on the Ugra", Akhmat retired without a fight, and his dependence on the Horde ended completely.
Reconstruction of the 15th century
Sophia inspired her husband that the sovereign of such a great power as he could not live in the capital with wooden temples and chambers. Under the influence of his wife, Ivan III began the restructuring of the Kremlin. The architect Aristotle Fioravanti was invited from Italy to build the Assumption Cathedral. White stone was actively used at the construction site, which is why the expression "white-stone Moscow", which has survived for centuries, appeared.
The invitation of foreign specialists in various fields has become a widespread phenomenon under Sophia Palaeologus. The Italians and Greeks, who occupied the posts of ambassadors under Ivan III, will begin to actively invite their fellow countrymen to Russia: architects, jewelers, coin makers and gunsmiths. There were a large number of professional doctors among the visitors.
Sophia arrived in Moscow with a large dowry, part of which was occupied by the library, which included Greek parchments, Latin chronographs, ancient Eastern manuscripts, among which were the poems of Homer, the works of Aristotle and Plato, and even books from the Library of Alexandria.
These books formed the basis of the legendary missing library of Ivan the Terrible, which enthusiasts are trying to search to this day. Skeptics, however, believe that such a library did not really exist.
Speaking about the hostile and wary attitude of the Russians towards Sophia, it must be said that they were embarrassed by her independent behavior, active interference in state affairs. Such behavior was uncharacteristic for Sophia's predecessors as grand duchesses, and just for Russian women.
Battle of the heirs
By the time of the second marriage of Ivan III, he already had a son from his first wife - Ivan Molodoy, who was declared the heir to the throne. But with the birth of children, Sophia's tensions began to build up. The Russian nobility split into two groups, one of which supported Ivan Molodoy, and the second - Sophia.
The relationship between the stepmother and the stepson did not work out, so much so that Ivan III himself had to admonish his son to behave decently.
Ivan Molodoy was only three years younger than Sophia and did not feel respect for her, apparently, considering his father's new marriage a betrayal of his deceased mother.
In 1479, Sophia, who had previously given birth only to girls, gave birth to a son, named Vasily. As a true representative of the Byzantine imperial family, she was ready to provide her son with the throne at any cost.
By this time, Ivan Molodoy was already mentioned in Russian documents as a co-ruler of his father. And in 1483 the heir married daughter of the ruler of Moldova Stephen the Great Elena Voloshanka.
The relationship between Sophia and Elena immediately became hostile. When in 1483 Elena gave birth to a son Dmitry, Vasily's prospects of inheriting the throne of his father became completely illusory.
Women's rivalry at the court of Ivan III was fierce. Both Elena and Sophia were eager to get rid of not only a competitor, but also her offspring.
In 1484, Ivan III decided to present his daughter-in-law with a pearl dowry left over from his first wife. But then it turned out that Sophia had already given it to her relative. The Grand Duke, enraged by the arbitrariness of his wife, forced her to return the gift, and the relative herself, together with her husband, had to flee the Russian lands for fear of punishment.
Death and burial of Grand Duchess Sophia Palaeologus
The loser loses everything
In 1490, the heir to the throne, Ivan Molodoy, fell ill with "aching legs." Especially for his treatment from Venice was called doctor Lebi Zhidovin, but he could not help, and on March 7, 1490, the heir died. The doctor was executed by order of Ivan III, and rumors circulated in Moscow that Ivan Molodoy died as a result of poisoning, which was the work of Sophia Paleologue.
There is no evidence of this, however. After the death of Ivan the Young, his son, known in Russian historiography as Dmitry Ivanovich Grandson.
Officially, Dmitry Vnuk was not proclaimed heir, and therefore Sophia Palaeologus continued to try to achieve the throne for Vasily.
In 1497, a conspiracy of supporters of Vasily and Sophia was discovered. The enraged Ivan III sent his participants to the chopping block, but did not touch his wife and son. However, they ended up in disgrace, in fact under house arrest. On February 4, 1498, Dmitry Vnuk was officially proclaimed heir to the throne.
The fight, however, was not over. Soon, Sophia's party managed to achieve revenge - this time the supporters of Dmitry and Elena Voloshanka were handed over to the executioners. The denouement came on April 11, 1502. He found new charges of conspiracy against Dmitry Vnuk and his mother Ivan III convincing, sending them under house arrest. A few days later, Vasily was proclaimed co-regent of his father and heir to the throne, and Dmitry Vnuk and his mother were imprisoned.
The birth of an empire
Sophia Paleologue, who actually elevated her son to the Russian throne, herself did not live up to this moment. She died on April 7, 1503 and was buried in a massive white-stone sarcophagus in the tomb of the Ascension Cathedral in the Kremlin next to the grave Maria Borisovna, the first wife of Ivan III.
The Grand Duke, widowed a second time, outlived his beloved Sophia for two years, passing away in October 1505. Elena Voloshanka died in prison.
Vasily III, ascending the throne, first of all toughened the conditions of detention for a competitor - Dmitry Vnuk was chained in iron shackles and placed in a small cell. In 1509, the 25-year-old noble prisoner died.
In 1514, in a treaty with the Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I, Vasily III for the first time in the history of Russia was named the Emperor of the Rus. This letter is then used by Peter I as proof of his coronation rights as emperor.
The efforts of Sophia Palaeologus, a proud Byzantine woman who set out to build a new empire to replace the lost one, were not in vain.
Sofia Paleologus, wife of Ivan 3: biography, personal life, historical facts. The series "Sofia", which is broadcasted by the Russia 1 TV channel, aroused great interest in the personality of this amazing woman, who, through love, was able to reverse the course of history and contributed to the emergence of Russian statehood. Most historians claim that Sophia (Zoya) Palaeologus played a huge role in the formation of the Muscovy. It is thanks to her that the "two-headed eagle" appeared, and it is she who is considered the author of the concept "Moscow - the third Rome". By the way, the double-headed eagle was at first the emblem of her dynasty. Then he migrated to the coat of arms of all Russian emperors and tsars.
Zoe Palaeologus was born in the Greek Peloponnese in 1455. She was the daughter of the Moray despot Thomas Palaeologus. The girl was born in a rather tragic time - the fall of the Byzantine Empire. After Constantinople was taken by the Turks and Emperor Constantine died, the Palaeologus family fled to Corfu, and from there to Rome. There Thomas forcibly converted to Catholicism. The parents of the girl and her two young brothers died early, and Zoe was raised by a Greek scientist who served as cardinal under Pope Sixtus the Fourth. In Rome, the girl was brought up in the Catholic faith.
Sofia Paleologus, wife of Ivan 3: biography, personal life, historical facts. When the girl was 17 years old, they tried to marry her to the king of Cyprus, but the clever Sofia herself contributed to the breakup of the engagement, since she did not want to marry a Gentile. After the death of her parents, the girl secretly communicated with Orthodox elders.
In 1467, the wife of Ivan III, Maria Borisovna, dies in Russia. And Pope Paul II, hoping for the spread of Catholicism in the territory of Russia, proposes to wife the widowed prince Sophia. They say that the Moscow Prince liked the girl for the portrait. She possessed amazing beauty: snow-white skin, beautiful expressive eyes. In 1472 the marriage took place.
The main achievement of Sophia is that she influenced her husband, who, as a result of this influence, refused to pay tribute to the Golden Horde. Local princes and people did not want war and were ready to pay tribute further. However, Ivan III was able to break the fear of the people, which he himself coped with with the help of a loving wife.
Sofia Paleologus, wife of Ivan 3: biography, personal life, historical facts. In a marriage with the Prince, Sofia had 5 sons and 4 daughters. Personal life was very successful. The only thing that darkened Sophia's life was her relationship with her husband's son from her first marriage, Ivan Molodoy. Sofia Paleologue became the grandmother of Tsar Ivan the Terrible. Sofia died in 1503. Her husband outlived his wife by only 2 years.
This woman was credited with many important state acts. What made Sophia Paleologue 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. Origin from the Byzantine imperial dynasty of the Palaeologus.
The Grand Duchess of Moscow, second wife of Ivan III, mother of Vasily III, grandmother of Ivan the Terrible.
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 Morey. By the way, this letter also said that Sophia Palaeologus (real name - Zoya, it was decided to replace him with Orthodox for diplomatic reasons) had already refused two crowned suitors who were wooing her. They were the Duke of Mediolan and the French king. The fact is that Sophia did not want to marry a Catholic. 
Sophia Paleologue (her photo, of course, cannot be found, but the 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, surprisingly beautiful eyes, as well as matte delicate skin, which was considered in Russia a sign of excellent health. In addition, the bride was distinguished by her article and a sharp mind.
Who is Sofia Fominichna Paleologue? 
Sofia Fominichna is the niece of Constantine XI Palaeologus, the last emperor of Byzantium. Since 1472 she was the wife of Ivan III Vasilievich. Her father was Thomas Palaeologus, who fled to Rome with his family in 1453 after the Turks captured Constantinople. Sophia Palaeologus 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 with consent. 
Sofia Paleologue 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, who was crowned king. Ivan III used his marriage with Sophia to strengthen Russia in the international arena. 
Icon "Blessed Sky" and the image of Michael III
Sophia Paleologue, the Grand Duchess of Moscow, brought several Orthodox icons. It is believed that among them was the "Blessed Sky" icon, a rare image of the Mother of God. She was in the Kremlin's 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 blessed for the marriage of Sofia Vitovtovna, the princess, when she married Vasily I, the Moscow prince. 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 today 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 Palaeologus 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 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. Palaeologus understood that for this it was necessary to present the prince with a gift that only she could make: to give him a son, who would become the heir to the throne. To the chagrin of Sofia, the daughter turned out to be the firstborn, who died almost immediately after birth. A year later, a girl was born again, who also died suddenly. Sophia Palaeologus cried, prayed to God to give her an heir, distributed handfuls of alms to the poor, donated to churches. After a while, the Mother of God heard her prayers - Sophia Paleologue 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 Basil of Pariysky. The boy was baptized by Vasiyan, the Rostov archbishop, in the Sergius Monastery.
What Sofia brought with her
Sophia managed to instill something that was dear to her herself, and that was appreciated and understood in Moscow. She brought with her the customs and traditions of the Byzantine court, pride in her own origin, as well as annoyance at the fact that she had to marry a Mongol-Tatars tributary. Sophia hardly liked the simplicity of the atmosphere in Moscow, as well as the unceremoniousness of the relations that reigned at that time at court. Ivan III himself was forced to listen to reproachful speeches from the obstinate boyars. However, in the capital and 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 everyone wanted. 
The prince's wife cannot be denied influence on the backstage life of the court and its decorative furnishings. She skillfully built personal relationships, she was excellent at court intrigues. However, Palaeologus could only respond to political suggestions 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 Moscow rulers the successors of the emperors of Byzantium with the interests of the Orthodox East, holding onto the latter. Therefore, Sophia Palaeologus was valued in the capital of the Russian state mainly as a Byzantine princess, and not as a great Moscow princess. She herself understood this. As Princess Sophia, 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, had transferred its sovereign rights to Moscow, which became the new Constantinople. Here she shares these rights with her spouse. 
Ivan, sensing his new position in the international arena, found the old Kremlin environment ugly and cramped. From Italy, following the princess, masters were discharged. They built on the site of the wooden choir the Faceted Chamber, the Assumption Cathedral (St. Basil's), as well as a new stone palace. 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 own palace, Ivan III began to act in external relations with a more solemn gait. Especially when the Tatar yoke without a fight, as if by itself, fell off the shoulders. And it gravitated for almost two centuries over the entire northeastern Russia (from 1238 to 1480). A new language, more solemn, appears at this time in government papers, especially diplomatic ones. A pompous terminology is taking shape. 
Sophia Palaeologus 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 disorders" (in the words of the boyar Bersen-Beklemishev). Sofia intervened not only in internal affairs, 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. Skillful advice of Paleologue, as evidenced by V.O. Klyuchevsky, always responded to the intentions of her husband. Therefore, he refused to pay tribute. Ivan III trampled on the khan's letter in Zamoskovrechye, in the Horde court. Later, the Transfiguration Church was built on this site. However, the people even then "spoke" about Palaeologus. Before Ivan III came out in 1480 to the great stand on the Ugra, he sent his wife and children to Beloozero. For this, the subjects attributed to the sovereign the intention to abandon power in the event that Moscow was taken by Khan Akhmat, and to flee with his wife.
"Duma" and change in the treatment of subordinates
Ivan III, freed from the yoke, finally felt himself to be a sovereign sovereign. Palace etiquette through the efforts of Sofia began to resemble Byzantine. The prince made a "gift" to his wife: Ivan III allowed Sophia to gather her own "duma" from the members of the retinue and arrange "diplomatic receptions" in his half. The princess received foreign ambassadors and talked to them politely. This was an unprecedented innovation for Russia. The appeal at the court of the sovereign also changed.
Sofia Palaeologus brought her husband sovereign rights, as well as the right to the Byzantine throne. The boyars had to reckon with this. Ivan III previously loved disputes and objections, but under Sophia, he radically changed the treatment of his courtiers. Ivan began to behave unapproachably, easily fell into anger, often imposed disgrace, demanded special respect for himself. Rumor also attributed all these misfortunes to the influence of Sophia Palaeologus.
Fight for the throne
She was also accused of violating the succession to the throne. In 1497, the enemies told the prince that Sophia Palaeologus had planned to poison his grandson in order to put her own son on the throne, that sorcerers who were preparing a poisonous potion secretly visited her, that Vasily himself was involved in this conspiracy. Ivan III took the side of his grandson in this matter. He ordered the wizards to be drowned in the Moscow River, arrested Vasily, and removed his wife from himself, demonstratively executing several members of the Paleologue "Duma". In 1498, Ivan III married Dmitry in the Assumption Cathedral as heir to the throne.
However, Sophia had the ability to court intrigue in her blood. She accused Elena Voloshanka of adherence to heresy and was able to bring about her downfall. The Grand Duke laid disgrace on his grandson and daughter-in-law and in 1500 named Basil the legitimate heir to the throne. 
The marriage of Sophia Palaeologus and Ivan III undoubtedly strengthened the Muscovite state. He helped transform it into the Third Rome. Sofia Paleologue has lived in Russia for over 30 years, having given birth to 12 children to her husband. However, she did not manage to fully understand a foreign country, its laws and traditions. Even in the 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 equal in grandeur and beauty to the capitals of Europe. This contributed to the strengthening of the prestige of the Moscow sovereign, emphasized the continuity of the Russian capital to the Second Rome.
Death of Sophia 
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 from the surviving skull of Sophia (pictured above). Now we can at least approximately imagine what Sophia Paleologue looked like.
They say that every city founded in antiquity 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 was embedded in its DNA. Having learned the "password" of the city, the enemy could easily seize it.
"Secret name"
According to the ancient urban 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: “... his death is at the end of a needle, that needle in an egg, then an egg in a duck, that duck in a hare, that hare in a chest, and the chest stands on a tall oak tree, and that Koschey tree protects his eye like ".
Interestingly, ancient and medieval city planners always left clues. Many professional guilds were fond of puzzles. Some Masons are worth something. Before the profanation of heraldry in the Age of Enlightenment, the role of these puzzles 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 to encrypt the essence of the city, its secret name, in the coat of arms or some other symbol. For example, 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 Russia, the starting point for the construction of the city was a temple. He 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. At the same time, the relics were usually placed under the altar (sometimes also on one side of the altar or at the entrance to the temple). It was the relics that represented the “heart of the city”. The name of the saint, apparently, was that "secret name." In other words, if the “foundation stone” of Moscow was the Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed, then the “secret name” of the city would be “Vasilyev” or “Vasilyev-grad”.
However, we do not know whose relics lie at the foundation of the Assumption Cathedral. There is not a single mention of this in the annals. 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, the Moscow prince Daniil Alexandrovich built the first Assumption Cathedral on this site. However, for unknown reasons, after 25 years, Ivan Kalita is building a new cathedral on this site. It is interesting that 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?
Restructuring
The sample temple in Yuryev-Polsky was built in 1234 by Prince Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich on the site on the foundation of the white-stone church of George, which was built in 1152 when the city was founded by Yury Dolgoruky. Apparently, this place received some kind of increased attention. And the construction of the same church 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 for a stone temple is not God knows how long. The temple was dismantled, and in its place in 1472 the construction of a new cathedral began. However, on May 20, 1474, an earthquake struck 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 the construction, but those, for mysterious reasons, categorically refuse to build.
Aristotle Fioravanti
Then Ivan III, at the insistence of his second wife Sofia Palaeologus, 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". It looks absolutely fantastic, because for the first time in the history of Russia, 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 - a heretic. Why the Italian was invited, who had never seen a single Orthodox church in his eyes, remains a mystery. Maybe because not a single Russian architect wanted to deal with this project.
The construction of the temple under the leadership of Aristotle Fioravanti began in 1475 and ended in 1479. It is interesting that 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, the former authority of Vladimir could hardly have any image value.
Perhaps this was due to 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 the Russian architects did not get down to business, and the Italian architect was invited, is connected with the personality of the second wife of John III, the Byzantine Sophia Paleologus. More on this in more detail.
Sophia and the "Latin Faith"
As you know, the Greek princess was actively promoted to the wife of Ivan III by Pope Paul II. In 1465, her father, Thomas Palaeologus, brought 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 with information that Sophia converted to the "Latin faith", but it is unlikely that the Paleologues 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 Sophia switched to Orthodoxy before the wedding. The wedding took place in November 1472. In theory, it was supposed to take place in the Assumption Cathedral. However, shortly before this, the temple was dismantled to the foundation in order to start new construction. This looks very strange, since about a year before that 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.
What happened?
Let's return all the same to the refusal of the Pskov architects to restore the destroyed Assumption Cathedral. One of the Moscow chronicles says that the Pskovites allegedly did not take up the work due to its complexity. However, it is hard to believe that Russian architects could refuse Ivan III, a rather harsh man, on this occasion. The reason for the categorical refusal had to be very weighty. This was probably due to some kind of heresy. A heresy that only a Catholic could endure - Fioravanti. What could it be?
The Assumption Cathedral, built by an Italian architect, does not have any "seditious" deviations from the Russian tradition of architecture. The only thing that could cause a categorical refusal was the holy relics.
Perhaps, the relics of a non-Orthodox saint could have become a "mortgage" relic. As you know, Sofia brought many relics as dowry, including Orthodox icons and a library. But, probably, we do not know about all relics. It is no coincidence that Pope Paul II lobbied this marriage so.
If during the reconstruction of the temple there was a change of relics, then, according to the Russian tradition of urban planning, the "secret name" was 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 there was the Grand Duchy of Moscow.
Sophia Paleologue and Ivan III the Third: a love story, interesting biography facts. The recently released TV series "Sophia" touched upon the subject of the personality of Prince Ivan the Great and his wife Sophia Paleologue, which had not been previously covered on the wide screen. Zoya Palaeologus came from a noble Byzantine family. After the capture of Constantinople by the Turks, she and her brothers fled to Rome, where they found the protection of the Roman throne. She converted to Catholicism, but remained faithful to Orthodoxy.
Sophia Paleologue and Ivan III the Third: a love story, interesting biography facts. At this time, Ivan the Third was widowed in Moscow. The wife of the prince died, leaving behind a young heir, Ivan Ivanovich. The Pope's ambassadors went to Muscovy to propose the candidacy of Zoe Palaeologus to the sovereign. The marriage took place only three years later. At the time of marriage, Sophia, who adopted a new name and Orthodoxy in Russia, was 17 years old. The husband was 15 years older than his wife. But, despite such a young age, Sophia already knew how to show character and completely broke off relations with the Catholic Church, which disappointed the Pope, who was striving to gain influence in Russia.
Sophia Paleologue and Ivan III the Third: a love story, interesting biography facts. In Moscow, the Latin woman was received very hostilely, the royal court was against this marriage, but the prince did not heed their persuasion. Historians describe Sophia as a very attractive woman, she liked the king as soon as he saw her portrait, brought by the ambassadors. Contemporaries describe Ivan as a handsome man, but the prince had one weakness inherent in many rulers in Russia. Ivan the Third loved to drink and often fell asleep right during the feast, the boyars calmed down at that moment and waited for the prince-father to wake up.
Sophia Paleologue and Ivan III the Third: a love story, interesting biography facts. The relationship between the spouses was always very close, which did not like the boyars, who saw a great threat in Sofia. It was said at court that the prince was ruling the country "from the bedchamber", hinting at the omnipresence of his wife. The sovereign often consulted with his wife, and her advice was beneficial to the state. Only Sofia supported, and somewhere directed, Ivan's decision to stop paying tribute to the Horde. Sofia contributed to the spread of enlightenment among the nobility, the princess's library could be compared with the collection of books of European rulers. She supervised the construction of the Kremlin's Assumption Cathedral; at her request, foreign architects came to Moscow.
Sophia Paleologue and Ivan III the Third: a love story, interesting biography facts. But the personality of the princess caused conflicting emotions among her contemporaries, opponents often called her a witch, for her passion for drugs and herbs. And many were sure that it was she who contributed to the departure of the eldest son of Ivan the Third, the direct heir to the throne, who was supposedly poisoned by a doctor who was invited by Sophia. And after his death, she got rid of his son and daughter-in-law, the Moldavian princess Elena Voloshanka. After that, her son Vasily the Third, the father of Ivan the Terrible, ascended the throne. How true this could be is anyone's guess; in the Middle Ages, this method of fighting for the throne was very common. The historical results of Ivan III were colossal. The prince managed to collect and increase the Russian lands, tripling the area of the state. According to the significance of his deeds, historians often compare Ivan III to Peter. His wife Sophia also played a significant role in this.