Biography of Sophia Paleologists briefly

The history of the development of the Moscow kingdom is difficult to imagine without Sophia Paleolog, representatives of the Byzantine imperial dynasty of paleologists. The princely environment belonged to her differently. Some honored the Grand Duchess, bowed before her mind, others saw in her a proud woman who did not care about the problems of others, and the others held the opinion that with her appearance the Prince of Moscow “sneaked” all the old customs from the state.

Childhood is the exact date of birth of Zoe Paleologist is unknown, scientists suggest that this happened in the year, in Master. For Byzantium, not the best of times came, the empire was on the verge of decay. After he settled in Rome, forcedly became a Catholic. Thomas was gone in May. Paleologist's wife died a few months earlier. Zoya and his brothers - five -year -old Manuel and Semini Andrei settled in Rome after the parents died.

Plastic reconstruction of Sophia Paleologian, raising orphaned children lay on the shoulders of the Greek scientist, the Uniata of Vissarion of Nicaean, the cardinal under Papa Sikst IV, he ordered the famous Sistine chapel at one time. The Greek Princess Zoya and her brothers were brought up in accordance with the Catholic faith. Thanks to the care of the cardinal, they received decent content and decent education.

Dad allowed Vissarion to Nicaean to pay the yard to young paleologists, consisting of a servant, a doctor, translators, a priest, two professors in the Greek language and Latin. At that time, Sophia was a fairly educated girl. The reign of Princess Sophia was an adult, it was time to think about the search for her worthy husband. The first candidate for the hand and heart of a noble girl was to be the king of Cyprus - Jacques II de Luzignan.

But he did not dare to conclude this marriage, too much the risk of conflict with the Ottoman Empire was too big. The ceremony of betrothal was carried out very solemn, but the marriage was canceled. For what reason this union was upset, history is silent. There is an opinion that Athos elders were included in Sophia's communication circle, meetings with whom were secret.

The girl adhered to Orthodox. She really did not want to have a forever husband, and the Byzantine beauty tried under any pretext to upset the unions offered to her. Paul II made a lot of efforts so that Catholicism would spread everywhere, he hoped that the marriage of the widowed sovereign of all Rus' and Sophia Paleologists would help him promote the Catholic faith in Moscow.

Negotiations lasted for three years. Ivan III did not dare to connect his fate with the Greek princess, he turned to his mother, boyars, Metropolitan Philip for advice, while finally agreed to marriage. Pope representatives were silent about the fact that Sophia accepted the Catholic faith, moreover, they assured Ivan, that the Paleologue was an Orthodox Christian.

They could not even suggest that it really was. Soon after, the convoy with the bride went to Moscow. Sophia rode accompanied by her permanent mentor - Cardinal Vissarion. Her growth did not exceed cm, the girl was quite dense, but not thick. There is evidence that Sophia Paleologist brought with him as a dowry not only clothes and jewelry, but also many unique books that became the basis of the library of her grandson - Ivan the Terrible.

The library mysteriously disappeared, and with it the poems of Homer, the treatises of Aristotle and Plato unknown to anyone.

The route of the bride was incredibly long, Germany and Poland were left behind. Beasy girls from Rome soon realized that no rapprochement between Catholicism and Orthodoxy would happen. Sophia only left Rome, and already made it clear to everyone that she had a desire to return the faith of the ancestors - Christianity. The main merit of Sophia, which brought the great relief of Russia, is that she managed to persuade her husband to refuse to pay Dani the Golden Horde.

Thanks to her support, the Russian sovereign finally decided on a bold act, and refused to pay the fragment of the Tatar-Mongol ISU, which lasted centuries. The princes and the local elite were afraid that this decision of the king would lead to cruel bloodshed, and insisted on further paying tribute. They may be familiar.