Vasili III of Russia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Vasili III |
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Vasili III Ivanovich, an engraving by a contemporary European artist.
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| Grand Prince of Moscow | |||||
| Reign | 6 November 1505 – 3 December 1533 | ||||
| Coronation | 14 April 1502 | ||||
| Predecessor | Ivan III | ||||
| Successor | Ivan IV | ||||
| Born | 25 March 1479 | ||||
| Died | 3 December 1533 (aged 54) Moscow, Grand Duchy of Moscow |
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| Burial | Archangel Cathedral | ||||
| Consort | Solomonia Saburova Elena Glinskaya |
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| Issue | George Vasilevich (Rumoured) Ivan the Terrible Yuri Vasilevich |
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| Dynasty | Rurik | ||||
| Father | Ivan III of Russia | ||||
| Mother | Sophia Paleologue | ||||
| Religion | Eastern Orthodox | ||||
Vasili III Ivanovich (Russian: Василий III Иванович) was the Grand Prince of Moscow from 1505 to 1533. He was born on March 25, 1479, and passed away on December 3, 1533.
Vasili was the son of Ivan III and Sophia Paleologue. He was given the Christian name Gavriil. He had several brothers and sisters. Some people jokingly called him "Vasili the Adequate." This was because his rule happened between two very famous rulers: his father, Ivan the Great, and his son, Ivan the Terrible. His time as ruler was seen as less dramatic compared to theirs.
Russia's Growth and Neighbors
Vasili III continued the work of his father, Ivan III. He spent most of his time making sure Russia was strong and united. He added the last independent areas to Moscow's control. These included Pskov in 1510, Volokolamsk in 1513, Ryazan in 1521, and Novgorod-Seversky in 1522.
Vasili also took advantage of a difficult time for Sigismund of Poland. He managed to capture Smolensk, a very important fortress in Lithuania. This happened after a long siege from 1512 to 1514. A rebel Lithuanian prince, Mikhail Glinski, helped Vasili with cannons and engineers. Losing Smolensk was a big blow to Lithuania during the Russo-Lithuanian Wars.
In 1521, Vasili welcomed a messenger from the Safavid Empire in Iran. The Safavid Shah, Ismail I, wanted to form an alliance with Russia. Their goal was to work together against their common enemy, the Ottoman Empire.
Vasili also had success against the Crimean Khanate. In 1519, he had to pay the Crimean leader, Mehmed I Giray, to stop an attack on Moscow. However, by the end of his rule, Russia had a strong influence along the Volga River. In 1531–32, he helped place a new leader, Cangali khan, on the throne of the Khanate of Kazan.
Vasili was the first Grand Prince of Moscow to use the title of tsar. He also adopted the double-headed eagle symbol, which came from the Byzantine Empire.
Life at Home
In his own country, Vasili III had the support of the Russian Orthodox Church. This helped him deal with powerful noble families who sometimes opposed him. For example, in 1521, the church leader Varlaam was sent away. This happened because he refused to support Vasili against a prince named Vasili Ivanovich Shemyachich. Other important nobles were also sent into exile.
A diplomat named Ivan Bersen-Beklemishev was executed in 1525. He was punished for criticizing Vasili's decisions. Other important figures, like Maximus the Greek and Vassian Patrikeyev, also faced punishment for similar reasons. During Vasili III's reign, the amount of land owned by the gentry (a class of nobles) grew. At the same time, the government tried to limit the special rights and freedoms of the powerful boyars and other nobles.
Family Life
By 1526, Vasili was 47 years old. He had been married to Solomonia Saburova for over 20 years, but they had no children to inherit the throne. Solomonia tried many things, like visiting holy places, to have a child. When nothing worked, Vasili talked to his nobles. He told them he didn't trust his brothers to rule Russia after him.
The nobles suggested that he marry a new wife. Even though many church leaders disagreed, Vasili divorced Solomonia. He then married Princess Elena Glinskaya. She was the daughter of a Serbian princess and the niece of his friend Michael Glinski. Many nobles did not approve of Elena because she had been raised Catholic. Vasili was so in love that he even trimmed his beard, which was unusual for Russian men at that time, to look younger.
After their wedding, it seemed that Elena might also not be able to have children. People in Russia started to think this was a sign that God did not approve of the marriage. However, to everyone's great joy, Elena gave birth to a son. This son would later become Ivan IV. Three years later, they had a second son, Yuri. There is a story that Solomonia Saburova also had a son in the convent where she was sent, just a few months after the divorce.
His Passing
While hunting on horseback near Volokolamsk, Vasili felt a sharp pain in his right hip. This was caused by an infection. He was taken to a village called Kolp, where two German doctors tried to help him. But they could not stop the infection.
Believing he did not have much time left, Vasili asked to be taken back to Moscow. On his way, he stayed in the Saint Joseph Cathedral. By November 25, 1533, Vasili reached Moscow. Before he died, he asked to become a monk. Taking the name Varlaam, Vasili passed away at midnight on December 3, 1533.
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See also
In Spanish: Basilio III de Moscú para niños
