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.

John decides to release his brothers from captivity, and they decide to move to Novgorod, a freedom-loving city which is openly against Moscow. They want to begin a war to get what they are entitled to after the death of Prince George. Gathered in the Novgorod council, under the leadership of the ruling Novgorod widow Marfy Boretskoy, they begin killing all those who stand in defense of John.

The Horde comes to Moscow, but John refuses to pay them and cuts off one of the hands. Returning to Khan, he reports that Moscow will no longer pay tributes to The Horde. An outraged Khan decides to go to war. John is ready for war but realizes that fighting The Horde could cost him his life. Sophia supports her husband and believes that he will be able to conquer any army.

Winter is coming. Ahmad Khan sends ambassadors to John with an offer to surrender and pay tribute to The Horde. John refuses and is ready to go to war. Facing the river, John guarantees Khan that he will get nothing. Ahmad is utterly offended and swears that he will kill the Prince of Moscow.

After defeating Ahmad Khan and The Horde, John returns to Moscow. Due to his accomplishments, he begins to receive letters from foreign monarchs. They offer their daughters in marriage to the son of John. The choice falls on the daughter of Stephen, ruler of Moldavia. Sophia does not like the proud and self-willed girl. Stephen hopes that this alliance will strengthen the relations between Moscow.

The city of Novgorod finally obeys Moscow. John stops to pay tribute to The Horde and thus expanding further the boundaries of the Moscow Principality. Believing that Sophia killed his eldest son, John decides to send her to prison, but continues to doubt himself on whether he made a correct accusation.

Sophia is sent into exile. The Prince begins drinking and having nightmares and doubting Sophia's exile. A plan to murder Sophia conspires. Giambattista moves forward to kill the princess, but she manages to escape back to John in Moscow. John orders the execution of all those who participated in the conspiracy, but Sophia persuades her husband not to kill. Ivan Grozny receives the crown.