Being the northernmost territory of the Byzantine Empire, Crimean Cherson for centuries served as an outpost at the discomposed yet vitally significant border. Except for the military and diplomatic importance, Cherson was also a lively centre of trade. In the turbulent history of the northern Pontic area Cherson often played a crucial role both in…
Genealogical construction and the emphasis on sacred bloodlines—particularly through ties to older or prestigious dynasties—were common strategies of dynastic legitimation across medieval and early modern Europe. This tradition also found expression in Muscovy, where it was shaped not only by domestic ambitions but notably by the interventions of external actors. While Muscovite genealogical narratives became…