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Aug 25, 1530
Ivan is born
Ivan is born on August 15th 1530 to Vasili III and Elena Glinskaya in Moscow. -
1533
Ivan becomes Ill
Ivan fell fatally ill and had the boyars swear loyalty to his son who was just an infant. Many refused which angered Ivan and made his hate for them grow even further. -
Dec 3, 1533
Ivan takes power at age 3
After his father's death, Ivan is left as ruler. His mother acts as regent until he is able to rule himself. -
1534
Ivan has one of the Boyars beaten to death
At 13, he orders one of his mentors to be beaten to death. -
Apr 4, 1538
Ivan's mother dies
At age 8, his mother is presumably killed by the Boyars wanting power for themselves through Ivan. They fought to control him, and it started his hatred for them later in life. -
Period: 1547 to 1550
Ivan does good
During the early part of his rule, he revised the law code known as the sudebnik, created new government systems, and relations with England, the Netherlands, and Belgium were established. -
Jan 16, 1547
Ivan is crowned as Tsar
At age 16, he is crowned the first Tsar of Russia with Monomakh's Cap at the Cathedral of Domination. -
Feb 16, 1547
Ivan is Married
About a month after being crowned, he marries his wife of 13 years Anastasia Romanov whom he holds more dearly than any before. -
1550
Ivan attempts to opens a trade port
A port is created on the Narva River allowing for more goods to come in and out of Russia, however it is ignored by German merchants who instead deliver to Livonian ports. -
1552
Ivan makes Russia transcontinental
Ivan annexes Kazan Khanate and Astrakhan Khanate making Russia a transcontinental state that it still is today. -
Period: 1558 to 1582
The Livonian War
Russia goes to war over resources and access to sea ports, this lasts for 24 years until Russia finally wins. -
Aug 7, 1560
Anastasia Dies
His wife Anastasia dies which completely broke Ivan. He blamed the boyars for her death and had them and their families individually executed or exiled. -
1564
Ivan becomes a dictator
After threatening to resign with no heir, Ivan is granted full dictatorial power as requested. -
1565
Ivan creates the Oprichniks
They are a personal police force for Ivan, and acted as thug doing whatever murdering Ivan wanted. They later kill an estimated 40,000 people between the towns of Moscow and Novgorod. -
Nov 16, 1581
Ivan kills his son
Ivan killed his son after beating his pregnant daughter-in-law (son's wife) for immodest attire, causing a miscarriage. -
Ivan dies
He dies while playing chess. It is assumed he was poisoned as high traces of mercury were found in his body in the 1960's.
