New electronic collection of Presidential Library dedicated to "collector of Russian lands" Ivan III

A new electronic collection was dedicated to Grand Duke of Moscow and the Sovereign of All Russia Ivan III Vasilyevich, who was born 585 years ago, on January 22, 1440. This collection is available on the Presidential Library's portal and it includes rare materials about his life and work.

The materials tell about his domestic and foreign policy, legislative initiatives, cultural development during his reign, and relations with the church.

Ivan III was born into the family of Vasily II the Dark, Grand Duke of Moscow and Vladimir, and Princess Maria Yaroslavna. He was the grandson of Prince Vladimir Serpukhov, who was a famous participant in the Battle of Kulikovo.

Ivan ascended the throne on March 27, 1462 and ruled until his death on October 27 (November 7), 1505.

His reign determined the future development of Russia for many years, creating a centralized state by annexing the Novgorod lands and Tver, Moscow's eternal rival, which stretched from the Baltic Sea to the Arctic Ocean.

Ivan brought Russia back to the international stage by restoring ties with the Holy Roman Empire, Hungary, and Italy, which were severed in the 13th century. Under Ivan III, in 1480 after the famous stand on the Ugra River, the Moscow state gained independence from the Golden Horde, earning the Grand Duke the popular nickname "Ivan the Saint". By the end of the 15th century, Russia was the only independent Orthodox country left.

During the reign of Ivan III, the symbol of the state with the double-headed eagle was established, which represented the equality of ranks between the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire and the Grand Duke of Moscow. This unification of previously fragmented Russian lands into a single state required the establishment of a unified legal system. In 1497, the Judicial Code was implemented as the unified legislative code.

Under Ivan III's rule, there was a period of cultural flourishing. In 1499, Archbishop Gennady of Novgorod led the first complete translation of the Bible into Slavic. The Presidential Library's electronic collection Ivan III Vasilyevich (1440-1505) includes his first edition of the Ostrog Bible, printed by Ivan Fedorov in 1581.

The reign of Ivan III was marked by large-scale construction projects, including the construction of temples and the development of architecture. During this time, the Assumption Cathedral, Faceted Chamber, and Annunciation Cathedral were all built in Moscow, as well as more than 20 other churches. Under Ivan's leadership, the walls and towers of the Moscow Kremlin were also constructed, as was the fortress at Ivangorod.

The crises of the late 16th century, particularly the Time of Troubles, devastated many of the accomplishments of that era and caused them to be forgotten. It was not until the renowned Russian historian, writer, and publicist, Nikolay Karamzin, that Ivan III was rediscovered for the general public.

In the electronic collection, Ivan III Vasilyevich (1440-1505) one can explore rare editions of historical dictionaries, such as the Historical Dictionary of Russian Sovereigns, Princes, Tsars, Emperors, and Empresses, which details their deeds, deaths, burial places, and names of their spouses and children (published in 1793).

Additionally, you can access the Complete Collection of Russian Chronicles, published by the Supreme Command of the Archaeological Commission (1853), as well as The Conquest of Constantinople by the Turks and the Marriage of Grand Duke of Moscow, Ivan III, with Sophia Palaiologos (1877), among many other works.