Zoe Palaeologus

(in Russian, Sofia Paleolog, Zoia Paleo-log). Died Apr. 7, 1503. Niece of the last Byzantine emperor, Constantine XI Palaeologus.

Zoe Palaeologus became the wife of Grand Prince Ivan III Vasil’evich in November 1472. She received the name Sofia in Russia. Ivan III used his marriage to Zoe to raise Russia’s prestige in international relations and to strengthen the power of the grand prince in Russia.