Sophia is Ivan's biggest supporter
As the second wife of Grand Prince Ivan III, Zoe Palaiologina, later known as Sophia Palaiologina, was a Byzantine princess and a member of the Royal Palaiologos Moscow dynasty. In particular, When Maria of Tver, Ivan's first wife passed away in 1467, he wed Sophia Palaiologina.
Pope Paul II suggested the union of Sophia and Ivan III in 1469, perhaps in an effort to increase the Catholic Church's power in Russia and, ultimately, bring about the union of the Orthodox and Catholic churches as required by the Council of Florence. The reasons Ivan III pursued this union was likely connected to Sophia's position and her claim to Constantinople. The marriage scheme may have been created by Cardinal Bessarion, a devoted supporter of reunification.
Sophia is Ivan's biggest supporter. The marriage of Sophia and Ivan was blissful. Sophia was a smart, well-educated woman. She introduced a lot of fresh concepts into Rus' life. She frequently gave her husband advice on how to further his interests in Russia. An intriguing truth about Ivan the Great is that she was the one who suggested Ivan discontinue giving the great Khan Ahmed the traditional homage.
She brought with her Byzantine court practices and greater receptivity to European culture. Moscow's increased political standing gave birth to the notion that it was the Third Rome (Rome and Constantinople being first and second). Ivan was greatly influenced by Sofia. He adopted the double-headed eagle, a Byzantine emblem, as Russia's coat of arms in 1497 and agreed to Sofia's request that Italian architects reconstruct Moscow.
