Abu Bakr vs Ivan III the Great

Abu Bakr launched military campaigns against Arabian tribes that renounced Islam or refused to pay zakat after Muhammad's death. The wars, led by generals like Khalid ibn al-Walid, reestablished Muslim control over Arabia and consolidated the caliphate.

After the death of Muhammad, Abu Bakr was elected as the first caliph (successor) at Saqifah. His election unified the Muslim community, though it caused controversy among some supporters of Ali. He became the leader of the nascent Islamic state.

Abu Bakr ordered the compilation of the Quran into a single written manuscript after many memorizers died in the Ridda Wars. Zayd ibn Thabit collected verses from various sources, creating the first official codex, which later served as the basis for Uthman's standard text.

Abu Bakr died after a brief illness, having designated Umar as his successor. His caliphate lasted only two years but established the foundations of the Islamic state, including the expansion beyond Arabia and the preservation of the Quran.

Ivan III married Sophia (Zoe) Palaiologina, niece of the last Byzantine emperor. This marriage allowed Ivan to claim succession to the Byzantine Empire, adopt the double-headed eagle as a symbol, and promote Moscow as the Third Rome.

Ivan III conquered the Novgorod Republic after a series of campaigns. He abolished the veche (assembly) and removed the veche bell, incorporating Novgorod's vast territories into the Grand Principality of Moscow.

Ivan III faced the Mongol army of Khan Akhmat across the Ugra River. After weeks of stalemate, the Mongols withdrew without battle. This event ended 240 years of Mongol suzerainty over Russia.

Ivan III promulgated a new legal code, the Sudebnik, which standardized laws across the Russian lands. It restricted peasant mobility by limiting the time for transfer between landowners, a step toward serfdom.

Ivan III launched a war against Lithuania, capturing the cities of Bryansk, Dorogobuzh, and Putivl. The war ended with the Truce of 1503, which ceded significant territories to Moscow.