annielefroy: Adopted by the Papacy after her father’s death together with her brothers, her Gr
annielefroy:Adopted by the Papacy after her father’s death together with herbrothers, her Greek name Zoe was changed to Sophia. Born into the Orthodox religion, it’s possible that she was raised as a Catholic inRome. She spent the next years in the court of PopeSixtus IV. The care of the Imperial childrenwas assigned to a famous scientist, Greek Cardinal BasiliosBessarion. The marriage between Sophia and Ivan IIIwas proposed by Pope Paul II in 1469, probably with the hope of strengtheningthe influence of the Catholic Church in Russia, or the unification of the Orthodox and Catholic as was stipulated in the Councilof Florence. Ivan III’s motives for pursuing thisunion were probably connected with the status and rights of the Greek princessover Constantinople. The idea of this marriage perhaps was born in the mind ofCardinal Bessarion. -- source link
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