Sophie Paleologist

Sophie Paleologist (initially Zoe Paleologist ) (towards 1455 - April 7th 1503), sovereign of Moscow, was the niece of the last Byzantine emperor, Constantin XI, and the second woman of Ivan III of Russia.

His/her father, Thomas Paleologist, was despotic of Morée. After the conquest of Morée by Mehmet II, in 1460, it takes the road of Rome with his/her older brothers André and Handbook. It is placed under the supervision of the Bessarion cardinal who was during the council of Ferrare-Florence one of the burning partisans of the Union of the Churches under the supervision of Rome.

In 1469, the pope Paul II offers Sophie in marriage to the large-prince Ivan III, while thus hoping to see entering the large-principality of orthodoxe Moscow the catholic bosom. The cardinal Antoine Bonumbre is used to him as escort during the voyage, but sees himself prohibiting his entry in Moscow. The marriage takes place all the same in the Cathédrale of Dormition, with the the Kremlin, the November 12th 1472. Zoe converts with orthodoxy and takes the first name of Sophie.

The influence of the Byzantine marriage is overestimated: no source mentions any influences of Sophie Paléologue on Ivan III. There is no certificate of the adoption of ritual aulic the Byzantines by the Muscovite sovereign.

Of Maria de Tver, his first wife, Ivan III had had a fore-mentioned son him-also Ivan. This Ivan died before his/her father, but his/her son, Dimitri Ivanovitch, were to inherit the crown of Russia. However, Sophie Paléologue intrigued so that it is a son of its line which succeeds Ivan III. In 1505, Vassili III, oldest son of Ivan III and Sophie, becomes indeed the new sovereign of Russia.

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