The Grand Duke Ivan III comes to Rome with the Byzantine ambassadors. They take notice of a young girl and Pope Paul offers her for marriage to the Prince. The people see the union as a cunning plan of the Vatican to unite the Orthodox and Catholic Churches. John III sees this marriage as an advantage for strengthening the state. Also, currently begins the confrontation of The Horde.

Shortly after the wedding, Sophia becomes pregnant. Her pregnancy brings drama, and her closest servant makes a deal with the Catholic Church to poison the princess. A terrible earthquake comes and destroys all wooden Moscow. After George's death, the brothers begin to divide the remaining land of their inheritance, but Ivan decides that all Russian lands should be managed from Moscow.