New archaeological evidence from the Novodevichy Convent in Moscow has challenged centuries of historical narrative regarding the death of Princess Ulyania of Uglich. Scientists from the Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences examined a white-stone sarcophagus discovered in the basement of the Smolensk Cathedral, identifying the remains through an inscription naming her 'Nun Alexandra.'
Contrary to the 19th-century claims that she died violently during the reign of Ivan the Terrible in 1569, the archaeological and epigraphic data confirm she died of natural causes in 1574. The study reveals that the princess lived significantly longer than previously thought and was buried with high honors, providing a more accurate understanding of the internal dynamics and religious life of the Rurikid dynasty during the 16th century.
