Solomonia Saburova
Encyclopedia
Saint Solomonia Yuryevna Saburova (c. 1490 – 18 December 1542) was the first wife of Grand Prince
Vasili III of Muscovy. She was canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church as Saint Sofia of Suzdal.
Solomonia was descended from the Tatar khans. Her father was Yury Konstantinovich Saburov, a nobleman who was elevated to boyar
upon his daughter's marriage to the monarch. One of her relatives later became the wife of Ivan IV's son and heir, Ivan Ivanovich, and another lady of the Saburov-Godunov clan was Irina Feodorovna, the wife of the last Rurikid tsar, Feodor I. One other relative Boris Godunov
reigned as Tsar Boris I of Russia.
The wedding of Solomonia and Vasily III took place on 4 September 1505, in presence of the groom's father, Ivan III
. Metropolitan Simon
blessed the newlyweds at the Cathedral of the Dormition
in the Moscow Kremlin
. After twenty years, it became apparent that Solomonia was barren. Vasili perfectly understood that if he died childless his brothers would inherit the throne. In order to preclude this scenario, they were incarcerated or forbidden to marry until his own son is born. In the long term, this led to the extinction of the Rurikid dynasty and to the succession crisis known as the Time of Troubles
.
Despite her shining beauty, exemplary morals and mild character, Solomonia's failure to beget an heir must have weighed upon Vasili's relations with his wife, who turned to foreign doctors for help. In 1525, the grand prince decided to divorce Solomonia with the approval of Metropolitan Daniel
and the boyars, although Vassian Patrikeyev
, Maksim Grek, and some other ecclesiastical authorities declared the divorce unlawful.
In November of 1525, the marriage was annulled and Solomonia was forced to take the veil under the name of Sophia at the Nativity Monastery of Moscow. She was then moved to the Intercession Monastery in Suzdal
, one of the many votive churches commissioned by Vasily and his wife in supplication for the birth of an heir.
Sigismund von Herberstein
asserts in his Notes on Muscovite Affairs
that she was forcefully taken to the convent, whereas the Russian chronicles tend to underline Solomonia's submission to the sovereign's will. There were rumors that Solomonia had given birth to a child named George
within the walls of the monastery. She died in Suzdal in 1542.
Grand Prince
The title grand prince or great prince ranked in honour below emperor and tsar and above a sovereign prince .Grand duke is the usual and established, though not literal, translation of these terms in English and Romance languages, which do not normally use separate words for a "prince" who reigns...
Vasili III of Muscovy. She was canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church as Saint Sofia of Suzdal.
Solomonia was descended from the Tatar khans. Her father was Yury Konstantinovich Saburov, a nobleman who was elevated to boyar
Boyar
A boyar, or bolyar , was a member of the highest rank of the feudal Moscovian, Kievan Rus'ian, Bulgarian, Wallachian, and Moldavian aristocracies, second only to the ruling princes , from the 10th century through the 17th century....
upon his daughter's marriage to the monarch. One of her relatives later became the wife of Ivan IV's son and heir, Ivan Ivanovich, and another lady of the Saburov-Godunov clan was Irina Feodorovna, the wife of the last Rurikid tsar, Feodor I. One other relative Boris Godunov
Boris Godunov
Boris Fyodorovich Godunov was de facto regent of Russia from c. 1585 to 1598 and then the first non-Rurikid tsar from 1598 to 1605. The end of his reign saw Russia descend into the Time of Troubles.-Early years:...
reigned as Tsar Boris I of Russia.
The wedding of Solomonia and Vasily III took place on 4 September 1505, in presence of the groom's father, Ivan III
Ivan III of Russia
Ivan III Vasilyevich , also known as Ivan the Great, was a Grand Prince of Moscow and "Grand Prince of all Rus"...
. Metropolitan Simon
Simon, Metropolitan of Moscow
Simon was the Metropolitan of Moscow between 1495 and 1511.Simon was a hegumen at the Troitse-Sergiyeva Lavra. In 1495, he was elected Metropolitan of Moscow after the removal of Zosimus on charges of heresy. Simon soon won the respect of Ivan III...
blessed the newlyweds at the Cathedral of the Dormition
Cathedral of the Dormition
The Cathedral of the Dormition is a Russian Orthodox church dedicated to the Dormition of the Theotokos. It is located on the north side of Cathedral Square of the Moscow Kremlin in Russia, where a narrow alley separates the north from the Patriarch's Palace with the Twelve Apostles Church....
in the Moscow Kremlin
Moscow Kremlin
The Moscow Kremlin , sometimes referred to as simply The Kremlin, is a historic fortified complex at the heart of Moscow, overlooking the Moskva River , Saint Basil's Cathedral and Red Square and the Alexander Garden...
. After twenty years, it became apparent that Solomonia was barren. Vasili perfectly understood that if he died childless his brothers would inherit the throne. In order to preclude this scenario, they were incarcerated or forbidden to marry until his own son is born. In the long term, this led to the extinction of the Rurikid dynasty and to the succession crisis known as the Time of Troubles
Time of Troubles
The Time of Troubles was a period of Russian history comprising the years of interregnum between the death of the last Russian Tsar of the Rurik Dynasty, Feodor Ivanovich, in 1598, and the establishment of the Romanov Dynasty in 1613. In 1601-1603, Russia suffered a famine that killed one-third...
.
Despite her shining beauty, exemplary morals and mild character, Solomonia's failure to beget an heir must have weighed upon Vasili's relations with his wife, who turned to foreign doctors for help. In 1525, the grand prince decided to divorce Solomonia with the approval of Metropolitan Daniel
Daniel, Metropolitan of Moscow
Daniel was Metropolitan of Moscow and all Russia in 1522–1539 and representative of the belligerent ecclesiastic circles interested in alliance with the princely authority....
and the boyars, although Vassian Patrikeyev
Vassian Patrikeyev
Vassian Patrikeyev, also known as Vassian Kosoy was a Russian ecclesiastic and political figure and writer...
, Maksim Grek, and some other ecclesiastical authorities declared the divorce unlawful.
In November of 1525, the marriage was annulled and Solomonia was forced to take the veil under the name of Sophia at the Nativity Monastery of Moscow. She was then moved to the Intercession Monastery in Suzdal
Suzdal
Suzdal is a town in Vladimir Oblast, Russia, situated northeast of Moscow, from the city of Vladimir, on the Kamenka River. Population: -History:...
, one of the many votive churches commissioned by Vasily and his wife in supplication for the birth of an heir.
Sigismund von Herberstein
Sigismund von Herberstein
Siegmund Freiherr von Herberstein, , was an Carniolan diplomat, writer, historian and member of the Holy Roman Empire Imperial Council...
asserts in his Notes on Muscovite Affairs
Notes on Muscovite Affairs
Notes on Muscovite Affairs was a Latin book by Baron Sigismund von Herberstein on the geography, history and customs of Muscovy...
that she was forcefully taken to the convent, whereas the Russian chronicles tend to underline Solomonia's submission to the sovereign's will. There were rumors that Solomonia had given birth to a child named George
Kudeyar
Kudeyar is a Russian legendary folk hero whose story is told in Nikolay Kostomarov's 1875 novel of the same name.According to this legend, Kudeyar was the elder brother of Ivan the Terrible. His mother purportedly was Solomonida Saburova, whom Vasily III divorced on account of her barrenness and...
within the walls of the monastery. She died in Suzdal in 1542.