called tsar...who are crowned with the crown of chastity and draped in the purple
robe of justice.”Eulogies to grand princes in chronicles throughout the Rus’lands
praise them for their piety, patronage, of the Church and compassion to the poor,
for their defense of the realm and their loyalty to their men. They are not praised for
Figure 6.1 TheIlluminated Chronicleof mid-sixteenth century depicts Grand Prince Ivan
III praying to the revered Vladimir Mother of God icon in the Kremlin’s Dormition
Cathedral. With permission of AKTEON Publishers.
134 The Russian Empire 1450– 1801