Grandfather Ivan
Grandfather Ivan () is a folklore image of Russia in the minds of Bulgarians from the times of the Bulgarian National Revival, portraying Russia as a benevolent, protective force.

Ivan is a Slavic form of the biblical name Joan (John). The apparition of the myth of "Grandfather Ivan" is associated with the marriage of Ivan III to the niece of the last Byzantine emperor, Sophia Palaiologina, in 1472. Through this marriage, Ivan III was formally entitled to ascend to the throne of the already nonexisting Byzantine Empire and also received the moral obligation to liberate the Balkan Orthodox peoples from the Ottoman invaders. "Grandfather Ivan" was accepted as an "old clever patron". This vision was applied not only to the Tsar but also to the Russian people. Sometime in the 18th century, during the Bulgarian National Awakening, the Bulgarians came to the conclusion that "Grandfather Ivan" should come to set them free from the Ottoman rule.
Q36192
folklore
Concept
Q34266
Russia
LOC
Q133255
Bulgarians
Concept
Q1004004
Bulgarian National Revival
TIME
Q23526
Slavic
Concept
Q1845
biblical
Concept
Q1484457
Joan
UNK
Q12827256
myth
Concept
Q171185
Ivan III
PER
Q37142
last Byzantine emperor
PER
Q234944
Sophia Palaiologina
PER
Q12544
Byzantine Empire
LOC
Q184002
Balkan Orthodox peoples
MEDIA
Q12560
Ottoman
LOC
Q186096
Tsar
LOC
Q49542
Russian people
ORG
Q12292150
Bulgarian National Awakening
UNK
Q2451496
Ottoman rule
TIME
Q25387083
Grandfather Ivan
PER
Q25387083
Grandfather Ivan
PER
Q25387083
Grandfather Ivan
PER
Q25387083
Grandfather Ivan
PER
1472-01-01T00:00:00Z^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime
1472
DATE
+18^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#decimal
18
NUMBER
ethnic group
spouse
spouse