She became the first wife of Vasily III. Vasily III Ivanovich




Predecessor:
Successor:	Ivan IV the Terrible
Religion:	Orthodoxy
Birth:

Buried:	Cathedral of the Archangel in Moscow
Dynasty:	Rurikovich

	Sofia Paleolog
	1) Solomonia Yuryevna Saburova 2) Elena Vasilievna Glinskaya
	Sons: Ivan IV and Yuri

Biography

Internal affairs

Unification of Russian lands

Foreign policy

Annexations

Marriages and children

Vasily III Ivanovich (March 25, 1479 - December 3, 1533) - Grand Duke of Moscow in 1505-1533, son of Ivan III the Great and Sophia Paleologus, father of Ivan IV the Terrible.

Biography

Vasily was the second son of Ivan III and the eldest son of Ivan's second wife Sophia Paleologus. Besides the eldest he had four younger brother:

Yuri Ivanovich, Prince of Dmitrov (1505-1536)
Dmitry Ivanovich Zhilka, Prince of Uglitsky (1505-1521)
Semyon Ivanovich, Prince of Kaluga (1505-1518)
Andrei Ivanovich, Prince of Staritsky and Volokolamsk (1519-1537)

Ivan III, pursuing a policy of centralization, took care of transferring all power through the line of his eldest son, while limiting the power of his younger sons. Therefore, already in 1470, he declared his eldest son from the first wife of Ivan the Young as his co-ruler. However, in 1490 he died of illness. Two parties were created at court: one grouped around the son of Ivan the Young, the grandson of Ivan III Dmitry Ivanovich and his mother, the widow of Ivan the Young, Elena Stefanovna, and the second around Vasily and his mother. At first, the first party gained the upper hand; Ivan III intended to crown his grandson as king. Under these conditions, a conspiracy matured in the circle of Vasily III, which was discovered, and its participants, including Vladimir Gusev, were executed. Vasily and his mother Sophia Paleologue fell into disgrace. However, the grandson's supporters came into conflict with Ivan III, which ended in the grandson's disgrace in 1502. On March 21, 1499, Vasily was declared Grand Duke of Novgorod and Pskov, and in April 1502, Grand Duke of Moscow and Vladimir and All Rus', autocrat, that is, he became co-ruler of Ivan III.

The first marriage was arranged by his father Ivan, who first tried to find him a bride in Europe, but ended up choosing from 1,500 girls presented to the court for this purpose from all over the country. The father of Vasily Solomonia's first wife, Yuri Saburov, was not even a boyar. The Saburov family descended from the Tatar Murza Chet.

Since the first marriage was barren, Vasily obtained a divorce in 1525, and at the beginning of the next (1526) year he married Elena Glinskaya, daughter Lithuanian prince Vasily Lvovich Glinsky. Initially new wife also could not get pregnant, but in the end, on August 15, 1530, they had a son, Ivan, the future Ivan the Terrible, and then a second son, Yuri.

Internal affairs

Vasily III believed that nothing should limit the power of the Grand Duke, which is why he enjoyed the active support of the Church in the fight against the feudal boyar opposition, harshly dealing with all those who were dissatisfied. In 1521, Metropolitan Varlaam was exiled due to his refusal to participate in Vasily’s fight against Prince Vasily Ivanovich Shemyachich, the Rurik princes Vasily Shuisky and Ivan Vorotynsky were expelled. Diplomat and statesman Ivan Bersen-Beklemishev was executed in 1525 because of criticism of Vasily’s policies, namely because of open rejection of Greek novelty, which came to Rus' with Sophia Paleologus. During the reign of Vasily III, the landed nobility increased, the authorities actively limited the immunity and privileges of the boyars - the state followed the path of centralization. However, the despotic features of government, which were fully manifested already under his father Ivan III and grandfather Vasily the Dark, only intensified even more in the era of Vasily.

In church politics, Vasily unconditionally supported the Josephites. Maxim the Greek, Vassian Patrikeev and other non-covetous people were sentenced at Church Councils to death penalty, who are to be imprisoned in monasteries.

During the reign of Vasily III, a new Code of Law was created, which, however, has not reached us.

As Herberstein reported, at the Moscow court it was believed that Vasily was superior in power to all the monarchs of the world and even the emperor. On the front side of his seal there was an inscription: “Great Sovereign Basil, by the grace of God, Tsar and Lord of All Rus'.” On back side it read: “Vladimir, Moscow, Novgorod, Pskov and Tver, and Yugorsk, and Perm, and many lands of the Sovereign.”

The reign of Vasily is the era of the construction boom in Rus', which began during the reign of his father. The Archangel Cathedral was erected in the Moscow Kremlin, and the Ascension Church was built in Kolomenskoye. Stone fortifications are being built in Tula, Nizhny Novgorod, Kolomna, and other cities. New settlements, forts, and fortresses are founded.

Unification of Russian lands

Vasily, in his policy towards other principalities, continued the policy of his father.

In 1509, while in Veliky Novgorod, Vasily ordered the Pskov mayor and other representatives of the city, including all the petitioners who were dissatisfied with them, to gather with him. Arriving to him at the beginning of 1510 on the feast of Epiphany, the Pskovites were accused of distrust of the Grand Duke and their governors were executed. The Pskovites were forced to ask Vasily to accept themselves into his patrimony. Vasily ordered to cancel the meeting. At the last meeting in the history of Pskov, it was decided not to resist and to fulfill Vasily’s demands. Was withdrawn on January 13 veche bell and was sent to Novgorod with tears. On January 24, Vasily arrived in Pskov and dealt with it in the same way as his father did with Novgorod in 1478. 300 of the most noble families of the city were resettled to Moscow lands, and their villages were given to Moscow service people.

It was the turn of Ryazan, which had long been in Moscow’s sphere of influence. In 1517, Vasily called to Moscow Ryazan prince Ivan Ivanovich, who tried to enter into an alliance with the Crimean Khan, ordered him to be put into custody (after Ivan was tonsured a monk and imprisoned in a monastery), and took his inheritance for himself. After Ryazan, the Starodub principality was annexed, in 1523 - Novgorod-Severskoye, whose prince Vasily Ivanovich Shemyachich was treated like the Ryazan principality - he was imprisoned in Moscow.

Foreign policy

At the beginning of his reign, Vasily had to start a war with Kazan. The campaign was unsuccessful, the Russian regiments commanded by Vasily’s brother, Prince of Uglitsky Dmitry Ivanovich Zhilka, were defeated, but the Kazan people asked for peace, which was concluded in 1508. At the same time, Vasily, taking advantage of the turmoil in Lithuania after the death of Prince Alexander, put forward his candidacy for the throne of Gediminas. In 1508, the rebellious Lithuanian boyar Mikhail Glinsky was received very cordially in Moscow. The war with Lithuania led to a rather favorable peace for the Moscow prince in 1509, according to which the Lithuanians recognized the capture of his father.

Began in 1512 new war with Lithuania. On December 19, Vasily Yuri Ivanovich and Dmitry Zhilka set out on a campaign. Smolensk was besieged, but it was not possible to take it, and the Russian army returned to Moscow in March 1513. On June 14, Vasily set out on a campaign again, but after sending the governor to Smolensk, he himself remained in Borovsk, waiting to see what would happen next. Smolensk was again besieged, and its governor, Yuri Sologub, was defeated in the open field. Only after that Vasily personally came to the troops. But this siege was also unsuccessful: the besieged managed to restore what was being destroyed. Having devastated the outskirts of the city, Vasily ordered a retreat and returned to Moscow in November.

On July 8, 1514, the army led by the Grand Duke again set out for Smolensk, this time his brothers Yuri and Semyon walked with Vasily. A new siege began on July 29. The artillery, led by gunner Stefan, inflicted heavy losses on the besieged. On the same day, Sologub and the clergy of the city came to Vasily and agreed to surrender the city. On July 31, the residents of Smolensk swore allegiance to the Grand Duke, and Vasily entered the city on August 1. Soon the surrounding cities were taken - Mstislavl, Krichev, Dubrovny. But Glinsky, to whom the Polish chronicles attributed the success of the third campaign, entered into relations with King Sigismund. He hoped to get Smolensk for himself, but Vasily kept it for himself. Very soon the conspiracy was exposed, and Glinsky himself was imprisoned in Moscow. Some time later, the Russian army, commanded by Ivan Chelyadinov, suffered a heavy defeat near Orsha, but the Lithuanians were never able to return Smolensk. Smolensk remained a disputed territory until the end of the reign of Vasily III. At the same time, residents of the Smolensk region were taken to the Moscow regions, and residents of the regions closest to Moscow were resettled to Smolensk.

In 1518, Shah Ali Khan, who was friendly towards Moscow, became the Khan of Kazan, but he did not rule for long: in 1521 he was overthrown by his Crimean protege Sahib Giray. In the same year, fulfilling allied obligations with Sigismund, the Crimean Khan Mehmed I Giray announced a raid on Moscow. Together with him, the Kazan Khan emerged from his lands, and near Kolomna, the Crimeans and Kazan people united their armies together. Russian army under the leadership of Prince Dmitry Belsky, it was defeated on the Oka River and was forced to retreat. The Tatars approached the walls of the capital. Vasily himself at that time left the capital for Volokolamsk to gather an army. Magmet-Girey did not intend to take the city: having devastated the area, he turned back to the south, fearing the Astrakhan people and collected by Vasily troops, however, taking a letter from the Grand Duke stating that he recognizes himself as a loyal tributary and vassal of the Crimea. On way back Having met the army of governor Khabar Simsky near Pereyaslavl of Ryazan, the khan began, on the basis of this letter, to demand the surrender of his army. But, having asked the Tatar ambassadors with this written commitment to come to his headquarters, Ivan Vasilyevich Obrazets-Dobrynsky (that was Khabar’s family name) withheld the letter, and Tatar army dispersed with guns.

In 1522, the Crimeans were again expected in Moscow; Vasily and his army even stood on the Oka River. Khan never came, but the danger from the steppe did not pass. Therefore, in the same 1522, Vasily concluded a truce, according to which Smolensk remained with Moscow. The Kazan people still did not calm down. In 1523, in connection with another massacre of Russian merchants in Kazan, Vasily declared new trip. Having ruined the Khanate, on the way back he founded the city of Vasilsursk on Sura, which was supposed to become a new reliable place of trade with the Kazan Tatars. In 1524, after the third campaign against Kazan, Sahib Giray, an ally of the Crimea, was overthrown, and Safa Giray was proclaimed khan in his place.

In 1527, the attack of Islam I Giray on Moscow was repelled. Having gathered in Kolomenskoye, Russian troops took up defensive positions 20 km from the Oka. The siege of Moscow and Kolomna lasted five days, after which the Moscow army crossed the Oka and defeated Crimean army on the Sturgeon River. The next steppe invasion was repulsed.

In 1531, at the request of the Kazan people, the Kasimov prince Jan-Ali Khan was proclaimed khan, but he did not last long - after the death of Vasily, he was overthrown by the local nobility.

Annexations

During his reign, Vasily annexed Pskov (1510), Smolensk (1514), Ryazan (1521), Novgorod-Seversky (1522) to Moscow.

Marriages and children

Wives:

Solomonia Yuryevna Saburova (from September 4, 1505 to November 1525).
Elena Vasilievna Glinskaya (from January 21, 1526).

Children (both from his second marriage): Ivan IV the Terrible (1530-1584) and Yuri (1532-1564). According to legend, from the first, after the tonsure of Solomonia, a son, George, was born.

The reign of Vasily 3 briefly became the end. Vasily 3 actually destroyed the remains appanage principalities and created single state. His son inherited an already powerful state.

In short, in the 1st half of the 16th century. Russia has experienced a great economic boom. Vasily’s father also began to conduct active policy in this direction. He made several trips towards Siberia and the Urals, and entered into an alliance with the Crimean Khanate. This policy made it possible to stabilize relations in southern borders ah and bring peace there.

Reign of Ivan 3 and Vasily 3

The reign of Ivan 3 and Vasily 3 made it possible to stabilize the situation within the country, and was able to defeat another state hostile to Muscovite Rus' - the Livonian Order. Livonian Order attacked Pskov. The rule of Pskov and Novgorod was similar, both territories were republics. However, the power of Novgorod was much greater. By the way, Pskov itself helped to annex Novgorod to the territory of the Russian state. But when the Order attacked Pskov, it had to rely only on the help of Moscow. His troops in large quantities he didn't have.

Pskov began to gradually turn into a territory where dual control was established:

Pskov Veche;
Prince sent from Moscow.

It is clear that the Moscow governor could not agree with the Veche on everything; conflicts arose. When Vasily 3 ascended the throne, he decided that it was no longer necessary to appoint a prince. He planned to abolish this system. Prince Repnya-Obolensky was sent to the city. He provoked a conflict with the Veche and Vasily began to prepare for the attack and conquest of Pskov.

In 1509, Vasily III and his army approached Novgorod. The inhabitants of Pskov found out about this, and hurried to the sovereign with their gifts. Vasily pretended to accept all the gifts. Everyone was ordered to appear at sovereign's court. There, residents of Pskov were taken into custody. The People's Council was abolished, about 300 families were evicted by order of the sovereign, and the lands were given over to service people from Moscow. In 1510, the Pskov Republic ceased to be independent.

It so happened that many perceive the reign of Vasily 3 until his death as the time between the two Ivans. IvanIII became the first sovereign, became the first to collect Russian lands.aka Grozny also made a great contribution to the history of Muscovite Rus'. But here is the reign of VasilyIII is somehow missed by many. But he ruled for almost 30 years. The period is quite impressive.

Beginning of the reign of Vasily 3

The beginning of the reign of Vasily 3 began with the annexation of Pskov. In general, it is worth saying that Vasily III began to continue the work of his eminent father, Emperor Ivan III. The main directions of his policy coincided with his father's. Officially, Vasily Ivanovich was on the throne for 28 years. The reign of Vasily 3 was 1505-1533, but he actually began to rule when Ivan III was still on the throne. Vasily was the official co-ruler.

Vasily Ivanovich knew exactly what fate awaited him. He was being prepared that perhaps soon he could lead Moscow State. But Vasily did not find out about this early years. The fact is that he had a son born in his first marriage - Ivan “Young”. He was the heir to the throne. Ivan Ivanovich had a son, Dmitry. The boy could also claim the throne in the event of his father's death. Of course, there was no clear decree that the throne would go to Ivan the Young. However, the young man actively participated in government affairs, many perceived him as the heir. In 1490, Ivan fell ill and soon died.

Thus, in different time There were three candidates for the throne:

Ivan Ivanovich “Young”;
Vasily Ivanovich III;
Dmitry Ivanovich is the grandson of Ivan III.

In 1505, Vasily Ivanovich was on the throne - the second eldest son Vasily, he was born in his second marriage with Byzantine princess Sophia Paleolog. As already mentioned, Vasily continued his father’s political course. He built new temples and stone houses. By 1508, a new palace was built, and Vasily III moved his family there.

It is interesting that many historians describe the character of VasilyIII as an arrogant and proud person. He believed in his exclusivity as the ruler of Russia, probably this vanity was instilled in him by his mother, Sophia Paleolog, and his father, IvanIII. He suppressed all resistance in Rus' very harshly, sometimes using cunning and ingenuity. However, there are very few people he has executed. His reign was not like a reign; there was no terror at all. BasilIII preferred to eliminate his opponents without execution.

The reign of Vasily 3

Based on their political views, Vasily sought to pursue a tough and clear policy. He sometimes consulted with his associates, but made most decisions on his own. But still, the Boyar Duma played an important role in governing the country. The reign of Vasily 3 did not become “disgraced” for the boyars. The Duma met regularly.

At different times, Vasily III's close associates were:

Vasily Kholmsky;
Prince of Denmark Puppy;
Dmitry Fedorovich Volsky;
Princes from the Penkov family;
Princes from the Shuisky family and others.

Main events of domestic and foreign policy:

The confrontation between Moscow and the Crimean Khanate, as a result, Khan Muhammad-Girey went over to the side of Lithuania;
Strengthening the southern borders, construction of Zaraysk, Tula and Kaluga;
1514 capture of Smolensk by the troops of Daniil Shchenya;
1518 invitation of a monk from Mount Athos to translate Greek books, Michael Trivolis (Maxim the Greek) arrived;
1522 Daniel became the new metropolitan (he replaced the previously removed
Varlaam);
Annexation of the Ryazan Principality (1522).

By creating and decorating churches, Vasily Ivanovich adhered to his interests in religion and art. He had excellent taste. In 1515, the Assumption Cathedral was completed on the territory of the Kremlin. When he first visited the cathedral, he noted that he felt great here. Vasily also showed big interest To Old Russian language, he studied it, could speak it quite well. And he loved his wife Elena (she was his second wife) and son very much. There are several letters that show how warmly he treated them.

Russia during the reign of Vasily 3

In September 1533, Vasily III visited the Trinity-Sergius Monastery with his wife and children, then he went hunting. Soon after his arrival, Vasily fell ill. A tear formed on the sovereign’s left thigh. The inflammation gradually became larger, and later doctors diagnosed “blood poisoning.” It became clear that the sovereign could no longer be saved. Vasily behaved very courageously in the face of impending death.

The last will of the ruler was:

Securing the throne to the heir - three years of age;
Take monastic vows.

No one doubted Ivan’s right to the throne, but many opposed Vasily’s tonsure. But Metropolitan Daniel managed to smooth out this situation, and at the beginning of December, when the sovereign was already very ill, he was tonsured. Then, on December 3, he already passed away.

The reign of Vasily III became important stage in the final unification of Russian lands and their centralization. Many historians speak of his reign as transitional, but this is far from true.

The reign of Vasily 3 briefly video

Vasily 3 (reigned 1505-1533) was marked by the final gathering of Russian lands around Moscow. It was under Vasily III that the process of unifying the lands around Moscow was completed and the process of creating the Russian state continued to take shape.

Most historians agree that Vasily 3, as a ruler and personality, was greatly inferior to his father, Ivan 3. It is difficult to say for sure whether this is true or not. The fact is that Vasily continued the business (and successfully) started by his father, but did not have time to start his own important business.

The end of the appanage system

Ivan 3 transferred all power to Vasily 3, and ordered his younger sons to obey their elder brother in everything. Vasily 3 inherited 66 cities (30 to his other sons), as well as the right to determine and conduct the country's foreign policy and mint coins. Specific system remained, but the power of the Grand Duke over others became increasingly stronger. The system of Rus' of that period was very accurately described by Joseph Volotsky (church leader), who called the reign of Vasily 3 the reign of the “Sovereign Sovereign of All Russian Lands.” Sovereign, Sovereign- that’s how it really was. There were sovereigns who owned appanages, but over them there was a single sovereign.

In the fight against the estates, Vasily 3 showed cunning - he forbade his brothers, the owners of the estates, to marry. Accordingly, they had no children and their power died away, and the lands became subordinate to Moscow. By 1533, only 2 estates were settled: Yuri Dmitrovsky and Andrei Staritsky.

Domestic policy

Land unification

The domestic policy of Vasily 3 continued the path of his father, Ivan 3: the unification of Russian lands around Moscow. The main initiatives in this regard were as follows:

Subjugation of independent principalities.
Strengthening the borders of the state.

In 1510, Vasily 3 subjugated Pskov. The Pskov prince Ivan Repnya-Obolensky, who was a cruel and unprincipled man, contributed greatly to this. The people of Pskov did not like him and staged riots. As a result, the prince was forced to turn to the main Sovereign, asking him to pacify the citizens. After this there are no exact sources. It is only known that Vasily 3 arrested the ambassadors who were sent to him from the townspeople, and offered them the only solution to the problem - submission to Moscow. That's what they decided on. To gain a foothold in this region, the Grand Duke sends 300 of the most influential families of Pskov to the central regions of the country.

In 1521, the Ryazan principality submitted to the authorities of Moscow, in 1523 the last southern principalities. Thus, the main task of the internal politics of the reign of Vasily 3 was solved - the country was united.

Map of the Russian state under Vasily 3

A map showing the last stages of the unification of Russian lands around Moscow. Most of These changes took place during the reign of Prince Vasily Ivanovich.

Foreign policy

Extension Russian state under Vasily 3 it also turned out to be quite extensive. The country managed to strengthen its influence, despite its fairly strong neighbors.

Western direction

War of 1507-1508

In 1507-1508 there was a war with Lithuania. The reason was that the border Lithuanian principalities began to swear allegiance to Rus'. The last to do this was Prince Mikhail Glinsky (before that the Odoevskys, Belskys, Vyazemskys and Vorotynskys). The reason for the reluctance of the princes to be part of Lithuania lies in religion. Lithuania banned Orthodoxy and forcibly introduced Catholicism to the local population.

In 1508, Russian troops besieged Minsk. The siege was successful and Sigismund 1 asked for peace. As a result, all the lands that Ivan 3 annexed were assigned to Russia. This was a big breakthrough and important step in foreign policy and in strengthening the Russian state.

War of 1513-1522

In 1513, Vasily 3 learned that Lithuania had reached an agreement with the Crimean Khanate and was preparing for a military campaign. The prince decided to take the lead and besieged Smolensk. The assault on the city was difficult and the city repelled two attacks, but ultimately, in 1514, Russian troops took the city. But this same year Grand Duke lost the battle of Orsha, which allowed the Lithuanian-Polish troops to approach Smolensk. It was not possible to take the city.

Minor battles continued until 1525, when peace was signed for 5 years. As a result of the peace, Russia retained Smolensk, and the border with Lithuania now ran along the Dnieper River.

Southern and eastern directions

Eastern and south direction The foreign policy of Prince Vasily Ivanovich should be considered in its entirety, since the Crimean Khan and the Kazan Khan acted together. Back in 1505, the Kazan Khan invaded Russian lands with plunder. In response, Vasily 3 sends an army to Kazan, forcing the enemy to again swear allegiance to Moscow, as was the case under Ivan 3.

1515-1516 - the Crimean army reaches Tula, devastating the lands along the way.

1521 - the Crimean and Kazan khans simultaneously began a military campaign against Moscow. Having reached Moscow, the Crimean Khan demanded that Moscow pay tribute, as it was before, and Vasily 3 agreed, since the enemy was numerous and strong. After this, the Khan's army went to Ryazan, but the city did not surrender, and they returned to their lands.

1524 – Crimean Khanate captures Astrakhan. All Russian merchants and the governor were killed in the city. Vasily 3 concludes a truce and sends an army to Kazan. Kazan ambassadors arrive in Moscow for negotiations. They dragged on for several years.

1527 - on the Oka River, the Russian army defeated the army of the Crimean Khan, thereby stopping constant raids from the south.

1530 - the Russian army is sent to Kazan and takes the city by storm. A ruler is installed in the city - a Moscow protege.

Key dates

1505-1533 – reign of Vasily 3
1510 – annexation of Pskov
1514 – annexation of Smolensk

The king's wives

In 1505, Vasily 3 decided to get married. A real show was organized for the prince - 500 noble girls from all over the country came to Moscow. The prince's choice settled on Solomnia Saburova. They lived together for 20 years, but the princess could not give birth to an heir. As a result, by the decision of the prince, Solomnia was tonsured as a nun and sent to the Suzdal convent of the Intercession.

In fact, Vasily 3 divorced Solomonia, violating all the laws of that time. Moreover, for this it was even necessary to remove Metropolitan Varlaam, who refused to arrange a divorce. Ultimately, after the change of metropolitan, Solomonia was accused of witchcraft, after which she was tonsured a nun.

In January 1526, Vasily 3 married Elena Glinskaya. The Glinsky family was not the most noble, but Elena was beautiful and young. In 1530 she gave birth to her first son, who was named Ivan ( future king Ivan groznyj). Soon another son was born - Yuri.

Maintain power at any cost

Board of Vasily 3 for a long time it seemed impossible, since his father wanted to pass the throne to his grandson from his first marriage, Dmitry. Moreover, in 1498, Ivan 3 crowned Dmitry as king, declaring him heir to the throne. The second wife of Ivan 3, Sophia (Zoya) Paleologus, together with Vasily, organize a conspiracy against Dmitry in order to get rid of a competitor for the inheritance of the throne. The plot was discovered and Vasily was arrested.

In 1499, Ivan 3 pardoned his son Vasily and released him from prison.
In 1502, Dmitry himself was accused and imprisoned, and Vasily was blessed to reign.

In light of the events of the struggle for the rule of Russia, Vasily 3 clearly understood that power at any cost is important, and anyone who interferes with this is an enemy. Here, for example, are the words in the chronicle:

I am king and lord by right of blood. I didn’t ask anyone for titles or buy them. There are no laws that require me to obey anyone. Believing in Christ, I reject any rights begged from others.
Prince Vasily 3 Ivanovich

Grand Duke of Moscow and All Rus' (1505-1533).

Basil III Ivanovich born March 25, 1479. He was the son of the Grand Duke (1440-1505) and. The father sought to transfer full power to his son from his first marriage, Ivan Ivanovich the Young, and back in 1470 he declared him his co-ruler, but he died in 1490.

The ensuing struggle to determine the future heir to the throne ended in the victory of Vasily Ivanovich. First, he was declared the Grand Duke of Novgorod and Pskov, and in 1502 - the Grand Duke of Moscow and Vladimir and All Rus', autocrat, that is, he became his father’s co-ruler.

After his death in October 1505, Vasily III Ivanovich unhinderedly ascended the throne, receiving, according to his father’s will, the Great Reign of Moscow, the right to manage the capital and all its income, the right to mint coins, 66 cities and the title of “Sovereign of All Rus'.”

Having become the head of state, Vasily III Ivanovich continued his father’s policy - “gathering lands,” strengthening the grand-ducal power and defending the interests of Orthodoxy in Western Rus'. From the very beginning, he energetically fought for the centralization of the state, under him the last semi-independent Russian lands were annexed - (1510), Volotsky inheritance (1513), (1514), Ryazan (1521), Starodub and Novgorod-Seversky (1522) principalities.

In foreign policy, Vasily III Ivanovich, in addition to the fight for Russian lands, also waged periodic wars with the Tatars of the Crimean and Kazan khanates, who raided. The Grand Duke's diplomatic method to protect himself from attacks was to invite Tatar princes to Moscow service, who received vast lands.

In relation to more distant countries, he pursued as friendly a policy as possible. Vasily III Ivanovich negotiated with Prussia, inviting it to an alliance against Lithuania and Livonia; received the ambassadors of Denmark, Sweden, Turkey, and the Hindu Sultan Babur. He discussed with the Pope the possibility of union and war against Turkey. Trade relations were connected with Italy, France and Austria.

In his domestic policy Vasily III Ivanovich, to strengthen the autocracy, fought against the noble boyars and feudal opposition. For speaking out against the policies of the Grand Duke in different years Many boyars and princes fell into disgrace, and even Metropolitan Varlaam. Vasily III Ivanovich took measures to remove the remnants of appanage rule to new places. The result of this policy was the rapid growth of local noble land ownership, the limitation of the immunity and privileges of the princely-boyar aristocracy.

Also, Vasily III Ivanovich pushed the boyars away from participating in solving state issues. “Councils” with the boyar duma during his reign were mainly of a formal nature: all matters were decided personally by the Grand Duke or in contact with a few trusted people. However, the strength of tradition was such that the tsar had to appoint representatives of the boyars to significant positions in the army and administration.

The reign of Vasily III Ivanovich was also marked by the rise of Russian culture and the spread of the Moscow style literary writing, who took leading place among other regional literatures. It happened then architectural appearance The Moscow Kremlin, which turned into a well-fortified fortress.

Vasily III Ivanovich was married twice. His first marriage took place back in 1505. Then she became his wife boyar's daughter Solomonia Saburova. Since this marriage was fruitless, Vasily III Ivanovich, despite the protests of the church, obtained a divorce in 1525. His second wife was the princess, whom he married in 1526. In this marriage, sons Ivan (future) and the feeble-minded Yuri were born.

Grand Duke Vasily III Ivanovich died on December 3, 1533. He was buried in the Archangel Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. The dying prince declared the three-year-old to be his heir under the regency of Elena Glinskaya.

The imperious Prince Vasily 3 ruled the Moscow state from 1505 to 1533 and was the son of Ivan 3 Vasilyevich and Sophia Paleologus. Historians call the Grand Duke also a collector of Russian lands, but unlike his father, he did not have his talents. What Vasily III did not complete was completed. Under his rule, several territories were annexed - among them the Ryazan and Novgorod-Seversk principalities.

In royal weddings, the wedding was scheduled after lunch. Neither the groom nor his chosen one ate anything that day. After the wedding, the newlyweds were served wine, everyone ate, drank and congratulated the newlyweds. Then the royal bed awaited the newlyweds, and the wedding party extended their fun. There was no music then: only surnas were blown, there were tambourines and nakroms. The next day, to the simple accompaniment of timpani and tambourines, the young people were led to the soap shops.

Wedding ceremony took several days. Everyone congratulated and gave gifts, and the king generously rewarded his subjects on these joyful days. For several days the clergy were treated, the tsar donated money, and sent letters of prayer to remote cities. He himself went with the young queen to pray in. The people around him believed that Vasily 3 loved and respected his wife.

Solomonia Suzdal

And everything would have been fine, but the tragedy was that they had no children. Years passed, but the princess still did not have a child. Documents have been preserved that tell how the queen looked for various healers and healers, whatever she ordered - and all in vain.

Vasily’s situation was complicated by the fact that he did not want to leave his elder brother Yuri, whom he could not stand and had conflicts with him. The relationship with the other brother was not bad, but there was no mutual love between them.

After 20 years, Vasily 3 looked after another betrothed - the young beauty Princess Elena Glinskaya. It was decided to divorce Solomonia.

A ritual was forcibly performed over Solomonia under the name of Sophia and the Nativity Monastery was sent to the Mother of God. She resisted being tonsured, then one of the boyars hit her with a whip because she was resisting the royal wave. Only then did the brave woman, putting on the robe of a nun, answer that God would punish the king.

But a more plausible version, nevertheless, is about the voluntary tonsure and sorrow of Vasily 3. This is described in a public chronicle, which was written not without the participation of the king. A date was chosen for the tonsure, which was celebrated as memorable in the Saburov family. The choice of Sophia’s name is also not accidental - it is the name of Vasily 3’s mother.

She did not stay in the Moscow monastery for long and was soon sent to the white-stone monastery of the Intercession of the Virgin Mary, which was located in Suzdal. Here Solomonia, known under the name Sophia, languished and died.

Soon a rumor spread that the princess was pregnant and gave birth to a baby in the monastic monastery. The king sent his associates to the monastery. The unfortunate woman tried to hide at the altar, but she was forcibly dragged out of the church and examined. The prince's noble representatives decided that the nun had never been pregnant.

But the woman herself claimed that she had a son, George, who was with reliable people. She said that the king was not worthy to see her child, and when he grew up, he would repay his mother’s humiliation.

The unsolved mystery of the disgraced princess

After much persuasion, the queen admitted that the child was born, but died immediately. The boyars were shown a small grave covered with a stone slab without an inscription. Everyone swore that this was the burial of the princess’s son.

They were afraid to open the burial because the baby died of smallpox, which was fatal disease. With this news, the boyars returned to Moscow, and of course, did not add joy to the childless

The people did not believe in the fairy tale about the voluntary imprisonment of the princess. Popularity Solomonia Saburova she was huge among the people, during her lifetime she was considered a martyr and when she died, she was worshiped as a saint. In 1934, they decided to liquidate the burial place under the Intercession Cathedral.

The turn came to the forgotten, nameless children's grave. Under the slab they found a dugout wooden block coated with lime. In the deck lay a rag doll, dressed in decayed, expensive clothes embroidered with pearls. There is only one explanation: someone, apparently, was obliged to make sure that a non-fictional child was buried.

The famous robber Kudeyar was considered the son of the queen, who was born secretly in a nunnery. Elena Glinskaya did not have children for a long time. A rumor spread throughout Rus' that it was not the Solomonids’ fault that their child was not born.

Only 4 years later, Glinskaya gave birth to Vasily 3 and two heirs: Ivan and Yuri. One of them, Ivan Vasilyevich became the future Tsar Ivan 4 the Terrible. He was neither in character nor in appearance like the king. Three years later, Vasily dies, leaving Ivan on the throne surrounded by boyars who did not like him and hated his mother.

Today tourists, when visiting the famous monastery, are often interested in Solomonia Saburova. "Who is she Grand Duchess? It turns out that we do not know such a queen, a Russian, holy woman.

Good luck everyone! See you again on the pages.