Vassili III Ivanovitch , in Russian Ru Василий III Иванович , (March 25th 1479 - December 3rd 1533), large prince of Vladimir and Moscow of 1505 with 1533.

Wire of Ivan III (1440 - 1505) and of Zoe (Sophie Paleologist). He married Solomonia Iourievna Sabourova the September 4th 1505 but after 20 years of marriage without birth, it was considered that Solomonia was sterile. The couple called upon foreign doctors but without success. Conscious owing to the fact that if he would die without heirs his/her brothers would inherit the throne, Vassili imprisoned his/her brothers and prohibits to them to marry before he has a son. This decision brought, on the long run, the extinction of the dynasty of the Riourikides and the crisis of succession known under the name of Temps of the disorders. In spite of its beauty, its softness and its exemplary morality, the failure of Salomonia to give rise to a heir weighed on the relations within the couple and the death of two brothers of Vassili reinforced the need for having a heir. In 1525, Vassili III decided to divorce, with the agreement of the Métropolite of Moscow Daniel and of the Boyard S and in spite of the dissension of certain eclesiastic authorities which regarded the divorce as illegal. The marriage was cancelled in November 1525 and Solomonia took the veil. Vassili III then married Héléna Glinska (1506/1507- 1538) which gave him two wire: Ivan IV the Terrible one (1530 - 1584), which was pointed out for its brutality, and Iouri (1533 - 1563), which was deaf-mute.

The policy of this prince was with few things close the same one as that of his/her father: the concentration of the capacity enters the hands of the sovereign and the gathering of the Russian grounds. In 1510, it attaches the republic of Pskov to the Grand Duchy of Moscow. Three hundred families of the city, presumedly hostile in Vassili are then driven out their houses and are off-set in the Ural. It is the same policy that Ivan III had adopted towards Novgorod during its fastening in Moscovie in 1478. In 1517, the town of Riazan is attached to its turn.

The reign of Vassili is marked by two wars against the Union polono-Lithuanian. In 1507, Vassili III breaks the truce founded by Ivan III in 1503. The Lithuanian lord, Michel Glinski, revolted against the new king Sigismond Ier and asked for the assistance of the Russian sovereign. Sigismond however manages to push back the Muscovite troops and to drive out Glinski. A " peace éternelle" is signed in 1508.

The war takes again in November 1512 and, this time, it has like principal ground of operations the area of Smolensk. By three times, Vassili will besiege the city which goes in July 1514. The army polono-Lithuanian obtains a great victory with Orsza in September of the same year, but Smolensk is not taken again. A five years truce is signed in 1522 on the basis of territory acquired on both sides. It is prolonged for six years in 1526 and 1532 per one year. The Muscovite large-duke dies in the day before to take again the war.

During the reign of Ivan III, the Grand Duchy of Moscow was combined with the khanat the Crimea. With the advent of Vassili III, the khan Mengli Giray breaks alliance because of their competition for the possession of Kazan, annexed by Russia in 1487. The Crimea is combined with Lithuania. Tatars organize raids in Russia and Vassili III is obliged to reinforce its southern border by the sending of regiments of monitoring and the construction of military fortresses: Zaraïsk, Toula, Kalouga.

Vassili III continues, like his/her father, to reinforce the capacity of the sovereign. The boyards which dare to complain about its policy are decapitated. The métropolite Féodor Jareny, which dared to express its dissatisfaction, is deposed of its titles and envoy in a monastery. Its successor, Daniel, are subjected. When after twenty years of marriage, Vassili III decides to divorce his first wife due to sterility, it authorizes it to him in spite of the laws of the Church. He marries then Héléna Glinska, niece of Michel Glinski, who was the mother of Ivan the Terrible.