ivan the terrible

birth

Aug 25, 1530

Ivan IV Vasilyevich was born on August 25th, 1530 in Kolomenskoye, Moscow, Russia. His mother and father both died when he was of a younger age. His father died when he was only three and his mother when he was five - and due to Ivan being the oldest of his father’s death he was crowned Grand Prince at only the age of three. His childhood was quite rough, in simple terms.

grand prince

1533

At the age of three Ivan ascended to the throne as Ivan lV. Though he was young, the Muscovy watched him mature and decided his reign - slimming down how much power the nobility really had in the end. And by that he had his kholopy do what he wants, wishes, and needs done done for him. With all he had he made Russia impressionable, his reign never being forgotten once in the later rulers time. (Grey/p.91)

boyars pt. 1

1547

The Muscovy were dominated by boyars (powerful ones). The Shuisky treated Ivan with contempt (like he was nothing almost, really not a good upbringing for a czar. Or anyone for that matter. Ivan feared they would have him thrown into prison, kill him, or cast him from Russia. Or harm his younger brother or take him from him. By the age of 13 Ivan had the arrest of Prince Andrei Shuisky, supposedly thrown to a pack of hounds. This got Ivan a sense of recognition in the empire. -

boyars pt. 2

1547

he boyars began to fear him, dreading the day he would finally come into true full power of the throne. He had his coronation in 1547. At 16 he decided to get married, and his court officers brought him 1,500 of the fairest maidens from his land. Which lead him to meeting his first wife Anastasia. Though her origins were not completely Russian, he loved her dearly and was gentle with her. Even once they had divorced she would forever be inside his mind and heart. (Grey/p.92)

first tsar

1547

Ivan was Russia’s first actual tsar, all the rulers before were grand princes. Though he did name himself the tsar, usually they were named emperor or ruler by God, the people went with it. This title gave Russia a spot in the European monarchs eyes, so much that Queen Elizabeth I seemingly had recognized as emperor. Some say that legends wrote of him even asking for her hand. (Yegorov/Russia-Beyond)

red square confessions

Feb 27, 1549

His subjects gathered in the Red Square and Ivan confessed his sins to all the people present. And even proclaiming a new era of “Christian love and justice” all because of the czar being told stories like we are today. Fables that children of today are also told to be good people and such, Ivan was told the same and worried. Which only really ended with more police being ratified and the boyars having soon a meeting of discussing the czar. Saying how he has found a sense of nobility.(Grey/p93)

war against Livonia pt.1

Period: 1558 to 1569

Ivan attempted to win a war over Livonia and take their land, to earn russia more land. Though at first they proved victorious - Lithuania became part of Poland and became aid for Russia’s enemies in 1569. But soon by 1571, they had urged into Russia onwards and burned down Moscow. As the war ravaged on a new king of Poland came in and established his armies in a better format than ever before. Though Ivan asked the pope of what to do and what was to happen - the war ended with Russia -

war against Livonia pt.2

Period: 1558 to 1569

the war ended with Russia losing all aid in Livonia in 1583. (Andreyev/Britannica)

Anastasia's death

1560

His first wife died which caused him to fall into a great depression and his paranoia levels rose. He thought the boyars had murdered her - so he threatened to leave the throne by storming from Russia. Ivan would only come back when his people called for him, they were leaderless and needed a leader. His rules for coming back was he got all power over Moscow and surrounding it, and got to punish traitors and law breakers of needed and pleased. (biography,com)

reign of terror

Period: 1560 to 1584

His reign of terror was this time. With his wishes being granted for punishment and absolute rule he was in power. Destroying boyars and their families without remorse, he was nicknamed “Grozny”. Which translates to “formidable or sparking terror or fear” and that is what he was turning into. During this time he beat his pregnant daughter in law which caused a miscarriage. Along with killed his own son in a fit of rage, blinded by an architect. (biography,com)

oprichnina pt.1

1565

After the Elected Rada came the oprichnina, an era of cruel repressions, which may have been another reason to which he got his name ‘Ivan the Terrible’. Where the boyars still kept their rule up until they were usually killed by Ivan himself by his own hands or army with him standing by. As seen by many times in his history after being said tsar - Ivan despised the boyars. So when he was old enough and had the funds and army for it, he aimed to kill and take revenge upon as many as possible.-

oprichnina pt.2

1565

So when he was old enough and had the funds and army for it, he aimed to kill and take revenge upon as many as possible. And so he did. (Yegorov/Russia-Beyond)

more boyars dead

1570

Ivan, under the Oprichnina, personally lead his oprichniki troops into and against Novgorod. Many Boyars were the ones who fell during this time of Ivan’s murder spree. He set out to take down and out so many as possible - after all they had done to him in his brutally jarring childhood. (Andreyev/Britannica)

bad personal life

1581

His oldest child had died, just adding to the many wrong and displeasing adding up in his personal life. Through his lifetime he had gone through six wives, none really ever comparing to his first wife Anastasia who made him the happiest he had ever been. Ending his life on a bad note almost - Ivan the terrible had an awful personal life away from Russia’s problems. (Yegorov/Russia-Beyond)

death

1584

On March 28th, 1584, Ivan the terrible died. In the grand capital of Russia called Moscow, their first tsar finally met his last day in his country alive. He died from a stroke whilst playing a game of chess. It was not the worst death but also may just be a fun one, though the bad part coming from it was that his successor was childless which issued the time of troubles.