Learn about Ivan the Great, his background, and his accomplishments. Read about Ivan III of Russia's ascendance to the throne and his expansion of Russia.
Updated: 11/21/2023
Ivan the Great | Biography, Reign & Accomplishments
Table of Contents
- Who Was Ivan the Great?
- Ivan the Third: Background and Context
- Early Life
- Reign and Late Life
- Major Accomplishments of Ivan the Great
- Lesson Summary
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Ivan the Great unify Russia?
Ivan III unified Russia through a variety of means. He was a conqueror on the battlefield, and a shrewd diplomat who maneuvered into strategically advantageous alliances. He even married into power twice.
Who ruled Russia after Ivan III?
Ivan III was succeeded by Vasily III Ivanovich. Vasily was the oldest son Ivan had by his second wife, Sofia.
What religion did Ivan III practice?
Ivan III was an Eastern Orthodox Christian. He defied the Pope's attempts to turn Russia toward western teachings and sheltered the growth of Eastern Orthodoxy.
Why was Ivan III named Ivan the Great?
Ivan III was called 'Ivan the Great' because of his contributions to the growth of Russia. This includes both the land conquered and gained by diplomatic means as well as the cultural and artistic growth experienced by Russia under his rule.
Table of Contents
- Who Was Ivan the Great?
- Ivan the Third: Background and Context
- Early Life
- Reign and Late Life
- Major Accomplishments of Ivan the Great
- Lesson Summary
Born Ivan III Vasilyevich, Ivan III of Russia (also called Ivan the Great and Ivan the Third) would ascend to the title of Grand Prince of Moscow in 1462 and rule until 1505 as the second longest-reigning ruler in Russia's history.
Ivan III established the first autocratic rule of Russia, leading to a centralization of power that would become a hallmark of Russian politics in the future. By expelling the Khanate of the Golden Horde and establishing Russia as a preeminent power in eastern Europe, Ivan III forced the world to recognize Russia's power as an individual state.
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Ivan the Third lived at a critical time in both Russian and world history. With the Mongol Empire in rapid decline and Russia developing as an individual nation state, Ivan III was able to influence the future of all politics in the region.
Taking power from his father at a young age, and warring against rival states both foreign and domestic, he sought to establish Russia as a political power — not in the form of many individual principalities, but as a single Russian nation.
The Continued Decline of the Mongol Empire
A few centuries before Ivan III's birth, Genghis Khan united much of Asia and eastern Europe beneath his Mongol Empire. However, he and his sons did not consolidate their power as a bureaucratic state, so their massive land holdings fractured and split away.
As the successor states to the Mongol Empire broke apart and the Khanates (smaller portions of the Mongol Empire that had broken away through wars of succession) separated, some even continuing to war with one another, their grip on western Asia and eastern Europe slackened. Muscovy, the predecessor state to Russia, was soon to find itself ripe for financial and political growth.
The Development of Russia
Muscovy, or the Grand Principality of Moscow, predated Russia and was located at a defendable intersection of many trade routes. In 1326, it became the permanent location of the Orthodox church, and in the following years, the Muscovite princes were able to leverage the importance of their location into power, securing prestige and influence by collecting large revenues from pilgrims and foreign officials traveling through their city.
All of the Muscovite princes attempted to expand Russian territory, starting at the earliest age what would become a signature of Russian foreign policy for the duration of its lifetime. By the end of Ivan III's rule, all of the Muscovite principalities had been united under one banner, and by ~1485, Russia had succeeded Muscovy and was considered a singular state ruled over by the prince of Moscow.
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Born January 22, 1440, in Moscow, Ivan III was the son of Ivan II, Grand Prince of Moscow. They were part of the Rurik Dynasty, the legendary founders of Russia. His mother was descended from Yaroslav Vladimirovich, Prince of Maloyaroslavets.
Ivan III had many siblings, and when he became Grand Prince of Moscow, he was forced to deal with their claims to the throne. Over years of conquests and gathering many lands, as it was known to the Russians, Ivan III did not share his spoils.
After dealing with his resentful family, putting down numerous attempts at revolution, and finally securing his grip on the local lands, Ivan III eventually forced his brothers to admit to his rightful rule.
Solidifying his hold on Russian territory and establishing a centralized, authoritarian rule was his goal, and winning the wars over his brothers and various nearby principalities only served to prove his rightful rule.
Education and Influences
Known to be prudent and wise, Ivan III was heavily influenced by Italian history, specifically Rome and Byzantine's. Whether art, architecture, or governmental style, Ivan III saw great value in the Byzantine Empire, which many considered to be the third Rome.
By 1497, he had officially adopted the two-headed eagle as Russia's emblem, and with Italian painters and architects moving into Moscow and the Kremlin to redesign the city in a more modern, Roman image, it was clear what direction his influences leaned.
As an Eastern Orthodox Christian, he took pride in ruling over the seat of the church, which was established in Moscow in 1326. He believed the Catholic kings in Europe were heretics. Ivan III was approached by the Pope at one point in an attempt to sway Russia toward the westernized church, but these attempts were thwarted, and Ivan III remained a stoic supporter and champion of Eastern Orthodox until his death.
Marriage
Ivan III's first wife, Maria, died in 1467. They were married in 1452 as part of a political alliance by his father to expand and solidify their holds on certain Russian lands, and they'd had one son together, Ivan Ivanovich. On November 12, 1472, he married Zoe Paleologue (who took the Orthodox name Sophia after their marriage), the niece of the last Byzantine emperor, Constantine XI.
Though his first marriage was solely for political purposes, Ivan III's second marriage proved influential to his reign and the future of Russia as a whole. Sophia brought European culture, growth, and ideals with her to Russia, and Ivan III allowed her the use of Italian architects, artists, and politicians to shape the future of their young nation.
Their children were Anna, Elena, Feodosia, Helena, Vasily III, Yury Ivanovich, Dmitry Ivanovich, Eudoxia Ivanovna, Elena Ivanovna, Feodosia Ivanovna, Simeon Ivanovich, and Andrey of Staritsa.
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Ivan III ruled from 1465 to 1502. He was the first Russian ruler to use the title of Tsar, and he entrenched himself as the solitary prince of all Russia. Most notably, he conquered the Novgorod Republic in 1478, and the Tver in 1485, which represent the most powerful and final of the other Muscovite principalities.
His reign ended in the guttering failure of a lifelong campaign against Lithuania, but his successes, additions to the foundling nation, and contributions to law and state policy cannot be overstated.
Ascendance to the Throne
Ivan III was crowned Prince of Moscow at the age of six, and he would ascend to the throne after the death of his father, when he was 22 years old. Ivan III was officially crowned the first Tsar of Russia on April 14, 1502.
The Late Reign and Death of Ivan the Great
After the death of his oldest son, there was concern over who was entitled to the throne upon the death or abdication of Ivan III. His oldest son's son, Dmitry, was eventually chosen as his heir.
Sophia was outraged, even going so far as to plan a coup to instill her oldest son, Vasily, on the throne. Eventually, unable to continue a war with his son and Lithuania, Ivan III capitulated, raising Vasily as his heir.
Ivan died in the autumn of 1505, two years after Sophia, and left behind a united, powerful empire that had only begun to flourish on a world stage.
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Ivan III conquered the other Muscovite princes, reclaiming the principalities his forefathers had ruled over and uniting the Russian people for the first time. He defied the Khanate, to whom his nation had been a vassal state for centuries, overthrowing Mongol rule. Finally, under Ivan III's guidance, Russia established its first universal rule of law and the reign of the Tsars.
The Expansion of Russia Under Ivan the Great
In 1470, when Ivan III attacked the Novgorod Republic, he aimed to secure his holding on lands as far north as modern Finland, and as far west as Poland. By 1485, when he acquired the final principality of Tver by marriage, he had expanded his empire from only a few hundred square miles to nearly fifteen thousand. Modern Russia began to see its outline in Ivan III's holdings.
Increased Power for the Monarchy
Ivan III used his singular power not only to propel Russia forward, but also to secure the strength of his established monarchy. Traditionally, power passed from feudal lords to their sons, and a hierarchy of ruling class elites had developed in the time before Ivan III's ascension.
His government, however, transferred the rights and lands of all lords not to their sons, but directly to the throne. This allowed Ivan himself to control the distribution of power, or consolidation of it, while simultaneously sapping power from the former lords who might possibly gather the strength to revolt against him.
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Ivan III's time as the first titled Tsar of Russia would go on to establish a long reign of autocratic, imperialistic rule. After being crowned prince at the age of six, Ivan the Great learned how to govern from his father, eventually marrying his first wife to secure more lands and power for his own principality.
Rising to Grand Prince of Moscow in 1462, he would go on to oust Mongol rule in Muscovy, allowing the princes of Russia to accumulate wealth and power. He went on to bring European culture and growth to Russia through the marriage of his second wife, Sophia. Finally, he established autocratic rule and provided the bedrock for Russian independence.
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Video Transcript
Introducing Ivan III
Ivan the Great, also known as Ivan III, was both the first titled Tsar and an expansionist who expanded the influence of Moscow over a great deal of territory. Growing up, he served a long apprenticeship as co-ruler that prepared him to be a very productive and efficient leader. Wars, threats, influence, diplomacy - whatever he needed to do, he was well versed. One of his greatest accomplishments was to rid Russia of any Mongol control. Ivan's marriage to Byzantine princess Zoe Paleologa allowed Moscow to grow culturally to what some considered to be a third Rome. Keep watching to examine the life and accomplishments of Ivan the Great.
Born in Moscow in 1440, Ivan III was of noble blood, the product of generations of grand dukes of Moscow. Ivan III was the son of Vasily II and Maria of Borovsk. Vasily the II was also known as 'Vasily the Dark,' because of an injury during his involvement in the civil war; his cousin, Dmitry Shemyaka, attempted to take over, exiling Vasily, but not before blinding him. Despite the injury, Vasily won out - Dmitry returned him from exile due to the upset of Vasily's many supporters. Vasily then assumed his son's succession to control by naming Ivan co-ruler. At the unripened age of six, Ivan III was in power.
Age 12: Co-Ruler and Husband
Being a ruler at age six, marriage was not far off. At age twelve, Ivan married Maria Princess of Tver. The marriage was arranged as part of a land acquisition by Ivan's family. With the princess came Moscow's future annexation of Tver, a long-time rival. For his first ten years as co-ruler, Ivan followed his father around and learned the craft of leadership. This apprenticeship taught him a great deal and served him well as a ruler. He took the throne at age 22. Although little happened in his early years of rule, when complicated matters arose or a firm hand was needed, he was ready.
Ambition and Expansion
Ivan III was a very ambitious ruler. He expanded the size of Russia more than three-fold from what it was when he took rule. The first to fall to his ambition was Novgorod. From 1470 to 1478, the war raged on, but in the end, northern Russia was established from what is now Finland (then Lapland) all the way to the Ural Mountain range.
When war was not necessary, Ivan III used his wit to gain a tremendous amount of land from weaker rulers. His promise of alliance carried a great amount of influence with his less confident neighbors. The King of Poland (also Grand Duke of Lithuania), Alexander I, was forced to surrender several towns to Russia as a result of two wars.
During the Russian expansion, Ivan III's first wife died in 1467. He then married Zoe Paleologa, who was a Byzantine princess. This proved to be a great move for Russia. Zoe took the orthodox name of Sophia. She brought an openness to Russia that had seldom been seen in history. Some even thought Moscow could become the third Rome behind Constantinople and, of course, Rome itself. Italian architects were brought to design buildings in Moscow. The double-headed eagle became the symbol of Moscow, the same as in Constantinople. The title of Tsar, which is believed to have come from Caesar, was now the title of the ruler in Russia. Sudebnik was introduced as a code of law for the people - the first set of written laws in Moscow's history.
Mongol Threat Gone
While all this was going on, Moscow was expanding. Technically, Moscow was still a part of the Mongol-Tatar Empire. For an excess of 200 years, the people of Russia were paying a tribute to the Golden Horde Mongols. Ivan III felt that the Mongols were not what they used to be in terms of power and, in 1480, he refused to pay the taxes owed the empire. Ivan III made the right move. The Khan Ahmed sent an army to the Ugra River to collect the tribute from Ivan III. The two armies stood on different sides of the river, but no battle took place. The Russians and the Mongols both retreated, and the Russians were free of tax.
Ivan III died Oct. 27, 1505 of what was believed to have been a stroke he suffered two years previously. Ivan was succeeded at the helm of Moscow by Vasily III. To this day Ivan III holds a large status in Russia. There is even a bell tower in Moscow's Kremlin that is named after him, as you can see here.
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Timeline of Ivan the Great
- 1440: Ivan III born to Vasily II and Maria of Borovsk
- 1446: Ivan III named co-ruler of Moscow with his father Vasily II
- 1452: First Marriage to Maria of Tver (led to an annexation of Tver)
- 1462: Vasily II dies and Ivan III becomes ruler of Moscow at age 22
- 1467: Maria of Tver, first wife of Ivan III, dies
- 1468: Ivan III married Zoe Palaeologa, who was a Byzantine princess. Known as Sophia, she brings new culture to Moscow.
- 1470-1478: War with Novgorod led to gaining of most of modern-day western Russia
- 1492: War with King of Poland led to gaining of many towns and cities
- 1480: End of Mongol reign and influence in Russia
- 1497: Sudebnik, first laws in Moscow, written down
- 1500: War with Lithuania
- 1505: Ivan III dies. He is succeeded by Vasily III.
Lesson Summary
Ivan the Great, also known as Ivan III, was the first titled Tsar and one who expanded the territory and influence of Moscow, earning him his title. Using any means necessary and skills taught to him by his father, Vasily II, during his apprenticeship as co-ruler of Russia, Ivan III became very effective at using influence, diplomacy and war. But expansion of Russian territory was truly at the forefront of Ivan's and his family's minds. Even his first marriage at the age of 12 to Maria Princess of Tver was part of a deal in land acquisition.
After Ivan III grew up and lost his first wife, he deigned to make Moscow bigger; he made it better. Ivan and his second wife, Sophia, earned the honor of Moscow being mentioned in the same breath as Rome and Constantinople. Along with ridding the area of the Mongol threat, Ivan earned his place in Russian history as 'the Great.'
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Ivan the Great | Biography, Reign & Accomplishments
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