Ivan III the Great of Moscow ^{1 2 3}

   Another name for Ivan was Ivan III Rurik.

  General Notes:

Ivan III Vasilevich (January 22, 1440 - October 27, 1505) also known as Ivan the Great ruled from 1462 - 1505; oldest son of Vasili II Vasiliyevich.

Ivan III has been referred to as the "gatherer of the Russian lands". He subjugated a number of Russian territories, turned back the incursion of Lithuania into Russian lands and broke free Muscovy from the control of the Golden Horde. During his rule Muscovy subjugated Yaroslavl (1463), Novgorod (1478), Tver (1485), Vyatka, Perm, and some other cities and territories.

In 1472 Ivan married his second wife Sophia, niece of Constantine XI, the last Byzantine Emperor. She brought customs of the Byzantine court and more openness to European culture. The new political and religious position of Muscovy gave rise to the idea of Moscow as the Third Rome (Rome and Constantinople being the first and second). Under Ivan III, a code of law, Sudebnik, was compiled in 1497 and the title "Veliki Kniaz (Grand Duke) of the Whole Rus'" was established. The use of the double-headed imperial eagle, adapted from the Byzantine imperial eagle, dates from this period.

  Noted events in his life were:

• He was a Prince of Moscow. Prince of Novgorod 1478, Prince of Tver 1485, Bulgaria 1487, Yugorien 1499.

Ivan married Maria of Tver, daughter of Boris Rurik and Unknown. (Maria of Tver was born in 1442 and died in 1467.)

Ivan next married Sophia Paleologue, daughter of Thomas Palaeologus and Unknown, on 12 Nov 1472 in Dormition Cathedral, Moscow. (Sophia Paleologue was born in 1448 and died on 7 Apr 1503.)

  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.
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