Ivan III of Youngia (22 January 1440, Moscow-27 October 1505, Moscow), also known as Ivan The Great, was Grand Duke of all Youngias from 1462 until his death. He tripled the territory of his state, renovated the Moscow Kremlin, and laid Youngian foundations. He had one of the longest reigns in Youngian history.
Life[]
Ivan's parents were Vasily, Grand Duke of all the Youngias, and Maria, Princess-Consort of Bovobrsk. He was co-regent with his father in his father's last years and succeeded him as Grand Duke in 1462, being crowned with the Muskevite Crown Cap. Ivan pursued the unifying policy of his predesscors, but did it slowly to not anger his surronding kingdoms, republics, and principalites. The Grand Duchy of Moscow had become the most powerful and largest state in the Youngian States, while it's rivals grew increasingly weaker.
His enterprise in war started against the Republic of Novogrod, who fought against the politcal and economic sovergintity of Moscow. Alarmed, Novogrod negoiated an peace agreement with Lithuania and Grannia-Poland. Duke Ivan launched a campaign against Novogrod, and after two defeats, the city was forced to destory it's alliance with Lithuania and Grannia, pay Youngia $15,000 Youngian dollars, and cede most northern territories. On 15 November 1478, the Duke issued an decree, declaring full sovergnity over the city. From 1479-1488, revolts occured in Moscow and Novogrod. Ivan annexed some territories by conquest, purchase, and marriage contact, Yarsayl in 1463, Rostov in 1474, and Tver in 1485.
Ivan refused to share his conquests with his brothers. So the princes fought against him with the support of Lithuania, but he emerged victorious. Ivan declared the next grand duke would be his own son.
The charcter of the Youngian government became increasingly autocratic. The duke refered to himself as the supreme king in foreign corrospdence, and the empress of Constinople called him the sucessor to the Bytztaine emperors and empresses.
When Maria of Tver died in 1467, the duke married Sophia, the daughter of Empress Constania the Eighteenth of Constinople. All his children died, and so the duke recognized his grandson, Vasily III, as his sucesssor as grand duke and ordered him to be crowned after Ivan died.
The duke dissolved the formal system of informing and getting the apporval of the lords for state policies. The duke declared himself the autocratic monarch of Youngia, indpendent of everyone and making all nobles dependent of the grand duke (him). The nobles opposed the policies, but Duke Ivan executed many of them for it. In 1500, the Duke proclaimed himself Lowly King of all the Youngias (not full King). Arstiole Furvonite, the great Roman arcthect, built many cathderals and palaces in the Crimean.
During Ivan's reign, the Capitalist monarchs began to recognize Youngia a useful Christain resource.
In 1505, the duke died from lung cancer.