Sophia Paleologue ^{1 2}

   Other names for Sophia were Zoe Palaiologina and Sophia Paleolgus.

  General Notes:

Sophia Paleologue (? - 1503), Grand Duchess of Moscow, the second wife of Ivan III, the niece of the last Byzantine emperor Constantine XI. Together with her brothers, she was taken to Rome after the fall of Constantinople. In Rome, her Greek name Zoe was changed to Sophia. In 1469, the Pope offered Ivan III to marry her in order to unite the Orthodox and Catholic Churches. Ivan III married Sophia in 1472, but the cardinal, sent by the Pope, didn't succeed in his mission. Sophia had a big influence on Ivan III: she introduced never before seen splendor to the court and strict etiquette. She died in 1503, leaving five sons.

Sophia married Ivan III the Great of Moscow, son of Basil II the Blind of Moscow and Mary of Maloyaroslav, on 12 Nov 1472 in Dormition Cathedral, Moscow. (Ivan III the Great of Moscow was born on 22 Jan 1440 and died on 27 Oct 1505.)

  Marriage Notes:

The widowed Russian prince Ivan married unattractive and haughty Sophia.

Their children were:
- Helen Rurik, b. 1476, d. 1513
- Basil III Rurik , Grand Duke of Moscow, b. 1479, d. 1533;
- Yuri Rurik , Duke of Dmitrov, b. 1480, d. 1536;
- Dimitrov Rurik , Duke of Uglich, b. 1481, d. 1521;
- Simeon Rurik , Duke of Kaluga, b. 1487, d. 1518;
- Andrew Rurik , Duke of Staritsa, b. 1490, d. 1536;
- Eudoxia Rurik, b. 1492, d. 1513.
^{1 2}