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Dec 4, 1533
Vasily III died
Ivan's father, Vasily III died and Ivan became the new grand prince of Moscow at the age of three with his mother ruling in his stead -
1538
Ivan's mother died
Yelena Glinskaya dies allegedly by poison, this shows the struggle of power and control of the young prince from factions of nobles.
The death of both of his parents had a big impact on Ivan -
Period: 1538 to 1547
Period of Struggle
Boyars fought and struggled for the reigns of the government, this lead to Ivan having a lifelong dislike to boyars. -
1542
Influence
The young czar was greatly influenced by the views of the Moscow metropolitan, which was to create a Christian state based on justice -
1547
Ivan marries
Ivan married Anastasiya Romanovna, great aunt of a future first czar of the Romanov dynasty -
Jan 16, 1547
Ivan becomes Czar
At the age of 16, Ivan was crowned czar and absolute ruler of all of Russia -
1560
Ivan's first wife dies
Anastasiya dies with only two male heirs surviving, this devastates Ivan. With sadness and rage filling up inside, he accuses boyars of his wife's death, as they've never done anything good -
1565
The Oprichniki is formed
A police force of thousands of troops with the sole purpose of murdering traitors, or more specifically, boyars that have crossed him in any way -
1570
Ivan remarries
Ivan marries five wives in nine years, frustrated that none of the marriages worked out, he took it out on his son -
1581
Murders his eldest son
Ivan, in a fit of rage, murders his oldest and most capable son, Ivan.
