Russia: Ivan the Terrible to Peter the Great

  • Aug 25, 1530

    The (Doubtful) Birth of Ivan

    During the night of Ivan's birth, he was seen born "as a monster", let alone during a terrible storm. This was seen as a bad sign for him in the future, despite him being the Prince of Moscow.
  • Period: Aug 25, 1530 to

    Ivan the Terrible

  • Jan 16, 1547

    Ivan Becomes Czar of All Russias

    At age 16, he gains this title, being the first of his kind.
  • Jan 1, 1553

    Ivan Begins Relations with England

    Around this time, Russia and the Tsar had wanted to form relations with England to become a stronger nation with their help, as well as vice versa. Though Ivan thought more militarilly, Queen Elizabeth wanted to look more into commerce and trades.
  • Jul 12, 1561

    St. Basil's Catherdral Built

    Upon the finishing of the building, Ivan looked at it and saw it as such a beautiful building that he blinded the architect of the building and told him that he should not be able to build such beauty again.
  • Oct 2, 1561

    Kazan Captured by the Russians

    The city of Kazan, which was being fought against for 3 months, had been captured by Russian soldiers under the rule of Ivan. Around sixty-to one-hundred-thousand captured Russians were freed from them, and the Tsar celebrated, one way being the buidling of the St. Basil's Cathedral.
  • Dec 3, 1564

    Ivan Departs from Moscow

    On this date and for a few weeks after, news of Ivan's fleeing came to people, and many of the people began revolt against Ivan's governmental advisors. On the agreement that Ivan came back, he called for himself to be an absolute ruler.
  • Jan 1, 1565

    Ivan Creates the Oprichnina/Oprichniki

    Around this time, Ivan created the Oprichnina, which was a land that was ruled entirely by him, and Oprichniki, a personal guard to the czar, starting off with 1000 men.
  • Jan 1, 1571

    The Crimean Raids Begin

    The Crimean Raids included the Tatars, Crimean and Turkish people, raiding many places, including well-known Moscow, and destroying them.
  • Jan 1, 1580

    Siberia Being Overtaken

    During Ivan's Reign, he and his Cossack leader Yermak Timofeyevich used force to take over Siberia and their lands, which had been in conflict for the last 25 years.
  • Death of Ivan the Terrible

    Ivan had died of a stroke in the middle of a chess game, and doing so left his son, Feodor, in the new ruling position.
  • Period: to

    The Time of Troubles

    During this time, many people had been in an impoverished state with little food, and a lot of worry due to False Dmitirs (false claimers of the throne) and the poor crop harvests.
  • Birth of Peter the Great

    Being born on this date, he had two half-brothers and a half-sister that were older than them. Despite many of them actually being next in reign, he becomes the Divine Ruler of Russia sooner than one might think.
  • Period: to

    Peter the Great

  • Spohia Begins Rebellion

    Around this date, Sophia, Peter's older sister, begins rumors and tries to get the Crimeans to start attacks against Russia for her, so that she may become the ruler alongside with them. She fails twice, and over time begins to lose her popularity...
  • Peter Becomes the Grand Tsar

    At age 10, he gains this position, but is in a co-rulership with Ivan V. He also lost many of his family members, his parents and some brothers to death, and the others as stated with Sophia's rumors.
  • Ivan Becomes Sole Ruler of Russia

    Peter's co-ruler Ivan V dies on this date, making him the sole ruler. In responce, he goes to England for foreign affairs.
  • Ivan Banishes Sophia

    After coming back to his kingdom, he finds out of the misdeeds that have been caused by Sophia not only when he was gone, but over the last years as well. The people then choose sides of the argument, the majority on Peter's side, and banishes Sophia to a life of nunnery.
  • Peter Makes Style Reforms

    During this rough time period, Peter had called for a reform in the way everybody was meant to look: Two things for men were short, European-style clothing, as well as the cutting of long beards.
  • Taganrog, Navy Ship-Building Place, is Made

    On this date, with the help of Peter, the first navy ship-building place is born, with 30 ships made for battle against the Ottomans.
  • The Great Northern War Begins

    For the next 20 years, Russia went into war with Sweden and other Norwegian countries, attempting to mainly hold defense, but not succeding until later, where they captured most of FInland and won overall. The Treaty of Nystad ended the war.
  • Peter Tortures His Eldest Son

    On this date, Alexei, the eldest son of Peter, was tortured to death by him specifically because he had disobeyed his orders and policies.
  • Death of Peter the Great

    Peter the Great, at age 52, died of a urinary infection. with a good legacy to continue on. Catherine I was to become his successor.