Maria of Borovsk
Russian royal consort
About Maria of Borovsk
Lived 1418 – 1484 (aged 65–66). Maria of Borovsk was a Russian.
Maria Yaroslavna of Borovsk (; – 4 July 1485), was the grand princess of Moscow during her marriage to Vasily II of Moscow. She was a granddaughter of Feodor Koshka, She was also a granddaughter of Feodor Koshka.
Maria became the grand princess of Moscow in 1433 after her marriage to Vasily II of Moscow. Two years later the sons of Yury of Zvenigorod, Vasily Kosoy and Dmitry Shemyaka, usurped the throne and she was exiled to Galich. With great difficulty, she managed to return to Moscow.
On 12 February 1446, Dmitry Shemyaka with Ioann of Mozhaysk and Boris of Tver attacked Moscow. Maria was captured and put into prison. On 16 February 1446, she was sent into exile to Uglich, together with her husband.
In later years, together with her mother-in-law Sophia of Lithuania, Maria played a significant role in the principality. In order to ingratiate herself with the church, in 1450 she exempted the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius from taxes, and the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery in 1471.
After her husband's death she inherited Rostov and Poshekhonye, and some other lands. In 1480, she blessed her son Ivan III of Russia to fight against Khan Ahmed. The fasti mention her as a wise, reasonable woman, and that even as adults, her children sought her advice.
Maria took the veil under the name Marfa in 1482, and died in 1485. At first, she was buried in Starodevichy Convent of the Moscow Kremlin. In 1929, her remains were moved to the Cathedral of the Archangel.
Children Maria Yaroslavna had 10 children: Yury Bolshoy (; 1437–1441) Ivan III (1440–1505), grand prince of Moscow and all Russia from 1462 to 1505 Yury (1441–1472), prince of Dmitrov, Mozhaysk, and Serpukhov Andrey Bolshoy (; 1446–1493), prince of Uglich, Zvenigorod, and Mozhaysk Simeon (1447–1449) Boris (1449–1494), prince of Volokolamsk and Ruza Anna (died before 1501) Andrey Menshoy (; 1452–1481), prince of Vologda Dmitry (1455 – before 1461) Maria (died 1465)
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Important facts
Family & relationships
People in Maria of Borovsk's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Maria of Borovsk's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Maria of Borovsk?
Russian royal consort
When was Maria of Borovsk born?
Maria of Borovsk was born in 1418.
When did Maria of Borovsk die?
Maria of Borovsk died in 1484 in Moscow.
What nationality was Maria of Borovsk?
Maria of Borovsk was Russian.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Maria of Borovsk. https://biography.guide/maria-of-borovsk/
MLA: "Maria of Borovsk." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/maria-of-borovsk/.
Chicago: "Maria of Borovsk." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/maria-of-borovsk/.
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