From Ivan 3 to 4. Why Ivan III wanted to make an alliance with the Pope

The eldest son of Vasily II Vasilyevich the Dark took part in the internecine war of 1452. Due to the blindness of his father by Vasily Kosym, Ivan III was early involved in the process of governing the state (since 1456). Grand Duke of Moscow since 1462. Continuing the policy of expanding the territories of the Moscow principality, Ivan III, with fire and sword, and sometimes through diplomatic negotiations, subjugated the principalities: Yaroslavl (1463), Rostov (1474), Tver (1485), Vyatka land (1489), etc. In 1471 made a trip to Novgorod and defeated opponents in the Battle of Shelon, and then in 1478 finally destroyed the independence of the Novgorod Republic, subordinating it to Moscow. During his reign, Kazan also became loyal to the Moscow prince, which was an important achievement of his foreign policy.

Ivan III, having entered the great reign, for the first time since the time of the Batu invasion, refused to go to the Horde to receive a label. In an attempt to re-subjugate Russia, which had not paid tribute since 1476, Khan Akhmat in 1480 moved a large army against the Moscow principality. At this moment, the forces of Moscow were weakened by the war with the Livonian Order and the feudal rebellion of the younger brothers of the Grand Duke. In addition, Akhmat enlisted the support of the Polish-Lithuanian king Casimir. However, the forces of the Poles were neutralized thanks to the peace treaty between Ivan III and the Crimean Khan Mengli Giray. After Akhmat's attempt to force the river. Ugra in October 1480, accompanied by a 4-day battle, "standing on the Ugra" began. "Ugorshchina", during which the forces of the parties were located on different banks of the Oka tributary, ended on November 9-11, 1480 with the flight of the enemy. Thus, the victory on the river. Ugra marked the end of the 240-year Mongol-Tatar yoke.

No less important was the success in the wars with the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (1487-1494; 1500-1503), thanks to which many western lands went to Russia.

As a result of victories over external enemies, Ivan III was able to destroy most of the destinies and thereby greatly strengthen the central power and the role of Moscow.

Moscow, as the capital of a new large state, was greatly transformed during the reign of Ivan III: a new Assumption Cathedral was erected and a new Archangel Cathedral was laid, the construction of a new Kremlin, the Faceted Chamber, and the Annunciation Cathedral began. An important role in the construction of the renovated capital was played by Italian foreign craftsmen. For example, Aleviz Novy, Aristotle Fioravanti.

The new large state, which became the Moscow principality under Ivan III, needed a new ideology. Moscow as a new center of Christianity was presented in Metropolitan Zosima's Narration of Paschalia (1492). The monk Philotheus proposed the formula "Moscow is the third Rome" (already after the death of Ivan III). The basis of this theory was the fact that the Muscovite state (after the capture of Constantinople by the Turks in 1453) remained the only independent Orthodox state in the world, and the sovereign who headed it was the only intercessor of all Orthodox Christians on earth. Ivan III also had formal reasons to consider himself the heir of Byzantium, since he was married by a second marriage to the niece of the last Byzantine emperor, Sophia (Zoya) Paleolog.

The strengthening of the central government made it necessary to create new organs of state administration - orders. At the same time, the legislative code of united Russia appeared - the Sudebnik of 1497, which, unfortunately, has come down to us in only one copy. In order to enlist the support of service people, the Grand Duke guaranteed their economic well-being by regulating the transfer of peasants from one owner to another: the peasants received the right to transfer only once a year - a week before the autumn St. George's Day (November 26) and a week after.

The reign of Ivan III is also associated by modern historians with the beginning of the Europeanization process, which ensured the country's defense capability and economic prosperity.

March 28, 1462 Ivan III became the ruler of the Grand Duchy of Moscow. The activities of the Sovereign of All Russia carried a truly "revolutionary" character for the development of Russia. The activities of the Sovereign of all Russia.

Collected lands

It is no coincidence that Ivan III was given the nickname "The Great". It was he who managed to gather around Moscow the scattered principalities of northeastern Russia. During his lifetime, the Yaroslavl and Rostov principalities, Vyatka, Great Perm, Tver, Novgorod and other lands became part of a single state.

Ivan III was the first of the Russian princes to take the title "Sovereign of All Russia" and coined the term "Russia". The Grand Duke gave his son a territory several times larger than he himself inherited. Ivan III took a decisive step towards overcoming feudal fragmentation and liquidating the specific system, laid the economic, political, legal and administrative foundations of a single state.

Liberated Russia

Another hundred years after the Battle of Kulikovo, Russian princes continued to pay tribute to the Golden Horde. The role of the liberator from the Tatar-Mongol yoke fell to Ivan III. Standing on the Ugra River, which happened in 1480, marked the final victory of Russia in the struggle for its independence. The Horde did not dare to cross the river and engage in battle with the Russian troops. Tribute payments ceased, the Horde was mired in civil strife, and by the beginning of the 16th century it had ceased to exist. Moscow once again established itself as the center of the emerging Russian state.

Adopted Sudebnik

Adopted in 1497, the Sudebnik of Ivan III laid the legal foundations for overcoming feudal fragmentation. The code of laws established uniform legal norms for all Russian lands, thereby securing the leading role of the central government in regulating the life of the state. The code of laws covered a wide range of vital issues and affected all segments of the population. Article 57 limited the right of peasants to move from one feudal lord to another a week before and a week after St. George's Day. Thus, the beginning of the enslavement of the peasants was laid. The Sudebnik had a progressive character for its time: at the end of the 15th century, not every European country could boast of uniform legislation. The Ambassador of the Holy Roman Empire, Sigismund von Herberstein, translated into Latin a significant part of the Sudebnik. These records were also studied by German lawyers, who drew up an all-German code of laws (“Caroline”) only in 1532.

Began the path to empire

The unification of the country required a new state ideology and its foundations appeared: Ivan III approved the double-headed eagle as the symbol of the country, which was used in the state symbols of Byzantium and the Holy Roman Empire. The marriage of Sophia Paleologus, the niece of the last Byzantine emperor, gave additional grounds for the emergence of the idea of the succession of grand ducal power from the Byzantine imperial dynasty. The origin of the Russian princes was also conducted from the Roman Emperor Augustus. Already after the death of Ivan III, the theory "Moscow - the Third Rome" grew out of these ideas. But it's not just about ideology. Under Ivan III, the active assertion of Russia in the European arena began. The series of wars he fought with Livonia and Sweden for dominance in the Baltic marked the first stage in Russia's path to the empire proclaimed by Peter I two and a half centuries later.

Instigated an architecture boom

The unification of lands under the rule of the Moscow principality gave ground for the flourishing of Russian culture. Throughout the country, intensive construction of fortresses, churches and monasteries was carried out. It was then that the red wall of the Moscow Kremlin was erected, and it turned into the strongest fortress of its time. During the life of Ivan III, the main part of the architectural ensemble of the Kremlin, which we can observe today, was created. The best Italian masters were invited to Russia. Under the leadership of Aristotle Fiorovanti, the five-domed Assumption Cathedral was erected. Italian architects erected the Faceted Chamber, which became one of the symbols of royal greatness. Pskov craftsmen built the Cathedral of the Annunciation. Under Ivan III, about 25 churches were built in Moscow alone. The flourishing of Russian architecture convincingly reflected the process of creating a new, unified state.

Created a loyal elite

The formation of a single state could not take place without the creation of an elite loyal to the sovereign. The local system has become an effective solution to this problem. Under Ivan III, an increased recruitment of people was carried out, both for military and civil service. That is why exact rules for the distribution of state lands were created (they were transferred to temporary personal possession as a reward for service). Thus, a class of service people was formed, who were personally dependent on the sovereign and owe their well-being to public service.

Introduced orders

The largest state, which was developing around the Moscow principality, required a unified system of government. She became orders. The main state functions were concentrated in two institutions: the Palace and the Treasury. The palace was in charge of the personal lands of the Grand Duke (that is, state lands), the Treasury was at once the Ministry of Finance, the office, and the archive. Appointment to positions took place on the principle of locality, that is, depending on the nobility of the family. However, the very creation of a centralized apparatus of state administration was extremely progressive. The order system founded by Ivan III finally took shape during the reign of Ivan the Terrible, and lasted until the beginning of the 18th century, when it was replaced by Peter's colleges.

Neither Sophia nor Vasily was going to be silently satisfied with partial success, and the struggle for power in the grand duke's palace did not subside. Circumstances were now undoubtedly against Dmitri. He was still very young (born in 1483). After the fall of the Patrikeyevs and the execution of Ryapolovsky, Fyodor Kuritsyn remained his only potential patron among senior officials. However, Kuritsyn, being a clerk, was completely dependent on the location of the Grand Duke and did not have the opportunity to object to Ivan III. If he had dared to defend Dmitry openly, he could have been immediately removed from his post. The last time in the sources available to us the name of Kuritsyn is mentioned in 1500. He probably died before 1503.

Shortly after Vasily was awarded the title of Grand Duke of Novgorod and Pskov, Ivan III began to ignore Dmitry. An impossible situation arose at the court, which could not but embarrass both the boyars and the whole people. In the end, on April 11, 1502, Ivan III deprived Dmitry and his mother Elena Moldavskaya of mercy: both were put under house arrest. Three days later, having received the blessing of Metropolitan Simon, Ivan III "planted" Vasily "to the Grand Duchy of Volodimersk and Moscow and All Russia as an autocrat"

In Great Russia, the news was undoubtedly greeted with mixed feelings. It caused considerable anxiety abroad and gave rise to all sorts of rumors. The disgrace of Elena Moldavskaya and her son aggravated relations between Moscow and Moldova. Voivode Stefan, Elena's father, complained bitterly to his (and Ivan III's) ally, the Khan of Crimea, Mengli Giray. Through an envoy, Ivan III tried to explain to the khan his attitude towards Dmitry with the following circumstances: “I, Ivan, at first favored my grandson Dmitry, but he became rude to me. All favor him who serves well and tries to please his benefactor; there is no point in favoring a person who is rude to you.” Ivan's ambassador to Lithuania was instructed to give detailed explanations to anyone who would ask questions about the events in Moscow. In addition, the ambassador had to emphasize that Vasily, now, together with Ivan III, is the overlord of all Russian states.

After that, in some documents, Ivan III was addressed as the "great sovereign." Perhaps for this reason Herberstein called him "The Great". Indeed, it can be assumed that Ivan III, although having all the external signs of power, was forced to transfer a significant part of real power to Vasily (Sofya died on April 7, 1503). Obviously, Vasily established close contact with the leaders of the conservative group of Russian clergy. They, in turn, hoped that Basil would support the fight against heresy, and also help them repel future attempts to secularize church lands.

Under the influence of Vasily, Ivan III agreed to accept the leader of the conservative clergy, rector Joseph Sanin Volotsky. Ivan III had three conversations with Joseph during the Easter week of 1503. We know about these meetings from Joseph's letters to Archimandrite Mitrofan, who was Ivan III's confessor in the last years of his life. Joseph wrote to Mitrofan in April 1504 - that is, about a year after meeting with Ivan III. Joseph, in all likelihood, at that time still perfectly remembered the main content of his conversations, but we cannot be sure that all his statements are true in detail. As Joseph writes, at the first meeting, Ivan admitted that he had talked with heretics and asked Joseph to forgive him. Ivan III added that the Metropolitan and the bishops absolved him of this sin. Joseph replied that God would forgive Ivan III if from now on he would fight against heresy. In the second conversation, Ivan III explained to Joseph which heresy was led by Archpriest Alexy, and which one was Fedor Kuritsyn. Ivan also admitted that his daughter-in-law Elena had been converted to heresy by Ivan Maximov. Ivan then allegedly promised to take harsh action against heresy. However, at the third meeting, Ivan III asked Joseph if it would not be a sin to punish heretics. When Joseph began to speak in favor of punishment, Ivan abruptly interrupted the conversation.

In August and September 1503, a cathedral (church council) was convened in Moscow. Josephus and his followers hoped, in all probability, that this council would permit the suppression of heresy. Ivan III, however, did not include the issue of heresy on the agenda of the council, which, under the chairmanship of Ivan III, considered some minor reforms in church administration. One of them concerned the fees that the bishops demanded from candidates for clergy at the time of ordination. This, by the way, was one of the objects of criticism of the heretics. The Council decided to abolish these fees. When the session of the council was drawing to a close, the representative of the Trans-Volga elders, Nil Sorsky, brought a new problem to the attention of the council, saying that the monasteries should be deprived of the right to own land. It is unlikely that the Nile took this step without the consent of Ivan III.

The proposal met with fierce opposition. Metropolitan Simon, who had blessed the seizure of church lands in Novgorod three years ago, now protested against the possibility of applying such measures to all of Russia. As we know, until the end of 1503, Simon never dared to openly contradict Ivan III. Now, however, he could count on Basil's protection. Neil's opponents did everything to reject his proposal. Iosif Sanin, who had left Moscow the day before Nil's speech, was hastily demanded back. Most of the cathedral was in opposition to the Nile. Ivan III tried three times to convince the council, but was eventually forced to retreat after Joseph and other defenders of the existing order bombarded him with quotations from the Church Fathers and Byzantine church codes confirming their position.

The refusal of the cathedral to allow further secularization of church lands was a serious blow to the plans of Ivan III to increase the fund of local land, and through it the noble militia. Since Vasily supported the decision of the council, Ivan III could not do anything. He soon had the opportunity to strike back at one of the heretics' most active enemies, Archbishop Gennady of Novgorod. Gennady signed the council's decision abolishing payment to bishops for ordination of priests; but on his return to Novgorod he was unable to convince his secretary to stop these exactions. Complaints were immediately received in Moscow. Under other circumstances, Gennady, most likely, would have managed to get out, or at least receive only a small punishment or reprimand. Now Ivan III demanded immediate action from Metropolitan Simon, and Gennady was immediately removed from the diocese.

After the removal of Gennady, Iosif Sanin took over the leadership of the fight against heresy. In the above-mentioned letter dated April 1504 to Ivan III's confessor Mitrofan, Joseph encourages Mitrofan to use all means to convince Ivan III of the need to suppress the heresy. Joseph claims that if Mitrofan fails to cope with the task, God will punish both him (Mitrofan) and Ivan III. Basil, in turn, no doubt pushed his father to convene a new church council to stigmatize heresy. Finally Ivan III surrendered. It is worth noting that around this time (no later than June 16, 1504) Ivan III wrote a will in which he “blessed” Vasily with “all Russian grand principalities.” Vasily's younger brothers were instructed to consider Vasily "their father" and obey him in everything. Dmitry is not mentioned at all in the will. The signature was witnessed by four people: the confessor of Ivan III, Archimandrite Mitrofan; Chairman of the Boyar Duma, Prince Ivan Kholmsky; Prince Danila Vasilyevich Shchenya; and boyar Yakov Zakharyevich Koshkin.

A council against heretics met in Moscow in December 1505. This time, together with Ivan III, Vasily nominally presided, but in fact there was one chairman. The leaders of the heresy were sentenced to be burned at the stake. Three, including brother Fyodor Kuritsyn and Ivan Maksimov, were burned in Moscow on December 27. Shortly thereafter, several other heretics were executed in Novgorod. Elena of Moldavia died in prison on January 18, 1505.

The refusal of the council of 1503 to approve the secularization of church lands and the cruel punishment of heretics, appointed by the council of 1504, painfully hurt the feelings of Ivan III. Despair and melancholy overwhelmed him: he, apparently, repented of his last mistakes. However, it was now too late to change anything. Automatically, he continued to perform the duties of the Grand Duke. His vassal, the Khan of Kazan, Mohammed-Emin, rose up against Ivan III and brutally killed many Russian merchants who lived in Kazan. In September, the Kazan Tatars attacked Nizhny Novgorod, but were repulsed. As for family matters, on September 4, 1505, Vasily married Solomonia Saburova, the daughter of a Moscow boyar. The rite was performed by Metropolitan Simon. Ivan III was present at the wedding.

Did Ivan III think about Dmitry's return to power? Rumors about this circulated around Moscow as early as 1517, during Herberstein's first visit to Moscow. Herberstein says that when Ivan III was dying, “he ordered Dmitry to be brought to him and said, “Dear grandson, I have sinned against God and you by imprisoning them and disinheriting them. Therefore, I beg you for forgiveness. Go and own it.” what belongs to you by right". Dmitry was touched by this speech, and he easily forgave his grandfather all the evil. Once when he left, he was seized on the orders of his uncle Gabriel (that is, Vasily) and thrown into prison. Ivan died on October 27, 1505.

Years of life: January 22, 1440 - October 27, 1505
Reign: 1462-1505

From the Rurik dynasty.

The son of the Moscow prince and Maria Yaroslavna, daughter of Prince Yaroslav Borovsky, granddaughter of the hero of the Battle of Kulikovo V.A. Serpukhov.
Also known as Ivan the Great Ivan Saint.

Grand Duke of Moscow from 1462 to 1505.

Biography of Ivan the Great

He was born on the day of memory of the apostle Timothy, so in his honor he received a name at baptism - Timothy. But thanks to the next church holiday - the transfer of the relics of St. John Chrysostom, the prince received the name by which he is best known.

From a young age, the prince became an assistant to his blind father. He took an active part in the fight against Dmitry Shemyaka, went on campaigns. In order to legitimize the new order of succession to the throne, Vasily II, during his lifetime, called the heir the Grand Duke. All letters were written on behalf of 2 Grand Dukes. In 1446, at the age of 7, the prince became engaged to Maria, the daughter of Prince Boris Alexandrovich of Tver. This future marriage was to become a symbol of the reconciliation of eternal rivals - Tver and Moscow.

Military campaigns play an important role in the upbringing of the heir to the throne. In 1452, the young prince was already sent as the nominal head of the army on a campaign against the Ustyug fortress of Kokshenga, which was successfully completed. Returning from a campaign with a victory, he married his bride, Maria Borisovna (June 4, 1452). Soon Dmitry Shemyaka was poisoned, and the bloody civil strife that had lasted for a quarter of a century began to wane.

In 1455, young Ivan Vasilyevich made a victorious campaign against the Tatars, who had invaded Russia. In August 1460, he became the head of the Russian army, which blocked the way to Moscow for the advancing Tatars of Khan Akhmat.

Grand Duke of Moscow Ivan III Vasilyevich

By 1462, when the Dark One died, the 22-year-old heir was already a man of many who has seen, ready to solve various state issues. He was distinguished by prudence, lust for power and the ability to steadily go towards the goal. Ivan Vasilyevich marked the beginning of his reign by issuing gold coins with the minted names of Ivan III and his son, heir to the throne. Having received the right to a great reign according to his father’s spiritual diploma, for the first time since the invasion of Batu, the Moscow prince did not go to the Horde to receive a label, and became the ruler of a territory of about 430 thousand square meters. km.
During the entire reign, the main goal of the country's foreign policy was the unification of northeastern Russia into a single Muscovite state.

So, by diplomatic agreements, cunning maneuvers and force, he annexed Yaroslavl (1463), Dimitrov (1472), Rostov (1474) principalities, Novgorod land, Tver principality (1485), Belozersky principality (1486), Vyatka (1489), part of Ryazan, Chernigov, Seversk, Bryansk and Gomel lands.

The ruler of Moscow mercilessly fought against the princely-boyar opposition, setting the rates of taxes that were collected from the population in favor of the governors. The noble army and the nobility began to play an important role. In the interests of the noble landlords, a restriction was introduced on the transfer of peasants from one master to another. The peasants received the right to move only once a year - a week before the autumn St. George's Day (November 26) and a week after St. George's Day. Under him, artillery appeared as an integral part of the army.

Victory of Ivan III Vasilyevich the Great

In 1467 - 1469. military operations against Kazan were successfully carried out, as a result, they achieved its vassal dependence. In 1471, he made a trip to Novgorod and, thanks to a blow to the city in several directions, carried out by professional soldiers, during the battle on Shelon on July 14, 1471, he won the last feudal war in Russia, including the Novgorod lands in the Russian state.

After the wars with the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (1487 - 1494; 1500 - 1503), many Western Russian cities and lands went to Russia. According to the Annunciation Truce of 1503, the Russian state included: Chernigov, Novgorod-Seversky, Starodub, Gomel, Bryansk, Toropets, Mtsensk, Dorogobuzh.

Successes in the expansion of the country also contributed to the growth of international relations with European countries. In particular, an alliance was concluded with the Crimean Khanate, with Khan Mengli-Girey, while the agreement directly named the enemies against whom the parties had to act together - Khan of the Great Horde Akhmat and the Grand Duke of Lithuania. In subsequent years, the Russian-Crimean alliance showed its effectiveness. During the Russian-Lithuanian war of 1500-1503. Crimea remained an ally of Russia.

In 1476, the ruler of Moscow stopped paying tribute to the Khan of the Great Horde, which should have led to a clash between two old opponents. October 26, 1480 "standing on the river Ugra" ended with the actual victory of the Russian state, having received the desired independence from the Horde. For the overthrow of the Golden Horde yoke in 1480, Ivan Vasilyevich received the nickname Saint among the people.

The unification of the previously fragmented Russian lands into a single state urgently demanded the unity of the legal system. In September 1497, the Sudebnik was put into effect - a single legislative code, which reflected the norms of such documents as: Russian Pravda, Statutory letters (Dvina and Belozerskaya), Pskov judicial letter, a number of decrees and orders.

The reign of Ivan Vasilyevich was also characterized by large-scale construction, the construction of temples, the development of architecture, and the flourishing of chronicles. Thus, the Assumption Cathedral (1479), the Faceted Chamber (1491), the Annunciation Cathedral (1489) were erected, 25 churches were built, and the intensive construction of the Moscow and Novgorod Kremlin. The fortresses Ivangorod (1492), in Beloozero (1486), in Velikiye Luki (1493) were built.

The appearance of the double-headed eagle as the state symbol of the Moscow state on the seal of one of the letters issued in 1497 Ivan III Vasilyevich symbolized the equality of the ranks of the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire and the Grand Duke of Moscow.

Was married twice:
1) from 1452 on Maria Borisovna, daughter of the Tver prince Boris Alexandrovich (she died at the age of 30, according to rumors - she was poisoned): son Ivan Molodoy
2) from 1472 on the Byzantine princess Sophia Fominichna Paleolog, niece of the last emperor of Byzantium, Constantine XI

sons: Vasily, Yuri, Dmitry, Semyon, Andrey
daughters: Elena, Feodosia, Elena and Evdokia

Marriages of Ivan Vasilyevich

The marriage of the Moscow sovereign with the Greek princess was an important event in Russian history. He opened the way for the relations of Muscovite Rus with the West. Soon after that, he was the first to receive the nickname Terrible, because he was a monarch for the princes of the squad, demanding unquestioning obedience and severely punishing disobedience. At the first instruction of the Terrible, the heads of objectionable princes and boyars lay on the chopping block. After his marriage, he took the title "Sovereign of All Russia".

Over time, the 2nd marriage of Ivan Vasilyevich became one of the sources of tension at court. There were 2 groups of court nobility, one of which supported the heir to the throne - Young (son from the 1st marriage), and the second - the new Grand Duchess Sophia Paleolog and Vasily (son from the second marriage). This family strife, during which hostile political parties clashed, was also intertwined with the church question - about measures against the Judaizers.

Death of Tsar Ivan III Vasilyevich

At first, Grozny, after the death of his son Young (he died of gout), crowned his son, and his grandson, Dmitry, on February 4, 1498 in the Assumption Cathedral. But soon, thanks to skillful intrigue on the part of Sophia and Vasily, he took their side. On January 18, 1505, Elena Stefanovna, Dmitry's mother, died in prison, and in 1509 Dmitry himself died in prison.

In the summer of 1503, the Moscow ruler became seriously ill, he was blind in one eye; partial paralysis of one arm and one leg. Leaving business, he went on a trip to the monasteries.

On October 27, 1505, Ivan the Great died. Before his death, he named his son Vasily as his heir.
The sovereign of all Russia was buried in the Archangel Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin.

Historians agree that this reign was extremely successful, it was under him that the Russian state, by the beginning of the 16th century, occupied an honorable international position, standing out with new ideas, cultural and political growth.

The reign of Ivan the Great left a serious mark on the history of Russia. He managed to unite the lands around Moscow, liberate the fatherland from the hateful Tatar-Mongol yoke, expand trade and diplomatic ties and promote the formation of a new independent state - Russia.

Ascension to the throne

Ivan 3 Vasilyevich - Grand Duke of Moscow, son of Grand Duke Vasily II Vasilyevich the Dark and his wife Maria Yaroslavna. Born January 22, 1440.

Already at an early age, he took an active part in government. The fact is that his father at one time was blinded by cruel enemies, and his minor son became the eyes of the Grand Duke. So the boy, imperceptibly for himself, was able to master the difficult literacy of government.

Before his death, Vasily II managed to proclaim his son the Grand Duke of Moscow, who ruled the state from 1462 to 1505.

Rice. 1. Ivan Vasilyevich.

Of great interest is the seal of Ivan the Third. On one side it depicts a rider piercing a snake with a sharp spear - a traditional symbol of Moscow. On the other side of the seal is a symbol of the state - a double-headed crowned eagle. The seal of Ivan 3 is considered to be the first Russian coat of arms.

Liberation from the Tatar-Mongol yoke

For many years, the predecessors of Ivan the Third paid tribute to the Horde khans so that they would not disturb the Russian lands. At the same time, the Russian rulers had to show their respect: go out to meet with the khan's ambassadors on foot, bow, kneel and listen to the khan's instructions in this position.

Unification of Russian lands

During the 43 years that Ivan Vasilyevich was in power, he managed to do a lot for his state:

Accession to Moscow in 1478 Novgorod. This important event was followed by the annexation of other Russian cities, as a result of which the largest state in Europe was formed, which was called Russia.
Strengthening the positions of the Russian state in the international arena.
Strengthening and development of trade relations.
Adoption of a code of state laws, which was called "Sudebnik".
The first of the Moscow princes, Ivan Vasilyevich began to be called "tsar".

Ivan the Third put a lot of effort into the construction and strengthening of the Kremlin. New walls were erected of red brick, new towers were built. The main Kremlin tower was the Spasskaya Tower, on which the coat of arms of Moscow was hung - the image of St. George the Victorious.

Rice. 3. Strengthening the Kremlin.

What have we learned?

When studying an article on the topic “Ivan the Great” under the 4th grade program of the world around us, we learned how Ivan Vasilyevich ascended the Russian throne. We found out that during his reign he did many important things, in particular, the liberation of Russian lands from the Tatar-Mongolian lands and the formation of a strong state - Russia. This material can be used to write a report or report for a class lesson.

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