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Ivan Chetvyorty Vasilyevich was born in the Grand Duchy of Muscovy, Russia to Basil III and Elena Glinskaya.
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Ivan's father died while Ivan was 3 years old. Ivan's mother became regent.
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At the age of 16 Ivan claimed the thrown and became king.
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Ivan married Anastasia Romanova who came from a powerful noble family.
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Ivan appointed a council of advisors that helped institue his reforms and helped him introduce self-government.
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Ivan defeated the Tartar Khanates of Kazan and Astrakhan which expanded his rule to the Caspian Sea in the south and to the Urals in the east.
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Ivan's first wife dies and Ivan suspected that the nobles killed her. Ivan becomes more suspicious and his behavior becomes more erratic. This is the beginning of his reign of terror.
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Due to his depression and deep paranioa, Ivan left Moscow and threatened to abdicate the throne. Due to the people being left leaderless, they begged him to come back and he did on the condition that he recieved absolute rule.
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Ivan used the secret police to punish, kill and torture anyone that he felt that opposed him in anyway.
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Due to Ivan thinking that his daughter-in-law was imodestly dressed, he beat her. When Ivan's son defended his wife Ivan killed his son by striking him on the head with a pointed staff.
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Ivan died of a sudden stroke which left his weak (physically and mentally) son in charge of the throne.