MOSCOW. (RIA Novosti political commentator...

This amazing story is a drama of love and politics, involving Pope Paul II.

It was a difficult time for the entire Christian world: Muslim armies were attacking the eastern borders of Europe. Turkey destroyed the ancient Byzantine Empire and seized the holy city of Constantinople, which was renamed Istanbul. Greece was the next to bend. Eventually the army of the greatest Turkish ruler, the merciless Sultan Mohammed II, threatened Italy and the Vatican.

At that time the Pope had only one means of protection, the unfortunate family of Thomas Palaeologus, the Byzantine emperor's brother, who had fled to Rome from the fallen state.

Thomas had a young daughter, Princess Sophia. The Pope protected her and wanted to find her a husband who would strengthen Rome's position at such a hard time.

Finally, the Pope looked to Christian Moscow, where Grand Prince Ivan III had lost his wife shortly before.

He was the brightest genius in Russian history

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