Russian chronicles continued to give the young Ivan the title of grand prince after his father returned following his victory over Novgorod in July 1471 all the way up to his death.

[7] Ivan's father empowered him to deal with most administrative and military affairs of the state in order to make ordinary Russian people think of him as their future ruler.

Ivan the Young refused to obey his father, however, who then ordered his assistant, Prince Kholmsky, to bring him back to the capital.

When the river froze up, Ivan moved north at the request of his father and went to Borovsk, where the grand prince held a defensive position.

[1] Ivan left a son named Dmitry Ivanovich from his marriage to Elena,[1] daughter of the great Stephen III of Moldavia.