On 16th January 1547, 17 year old Ivan IV, was crowned the first Tsar of Russia, at the Cathedral of the Dormition in Moscow. The grandson of Ivan the Great, Ivan was born Ivan Chetvyorty Vasilyevich on 25th August 1530, in the Grand Duchy of Muscovy, Russia. His father, Basil III, died when he was 3 years old. His mother, Elena Glinskaya, ruled as regent until her death in 1538, when Ivan was 8.
The court intrigue and constant danger
that Ivan was exposed to while growing up, molded much of his ruthless and
suspicious nature.
Evidence indicates that Ivan was a
sensitive, intelligent boy, neglected and occasionally scorned by members of
the nobility, who looked after him after his parents' death.
The environment nurtured his hatred for
the boyar class, whom he suspected of being involved in his mother's death.
Ivan IV, had a complex personality.
Intelligent yet prone to outbreaks of
uncontrollable rage, Ivan's tragic background contributed to his infamous
behavior.
The same year Ivan became Tsar, he
married Anastasia Romanovna, the first of his six wives.
It is widely believed that Anastasia had
a calming influence on Ivan's volatile character.
Anastasia had six children with Ivan, but
only two survived to adulthood, both sons — Ivan Ivanovich and Feodor.
In the summer of 1560, Anastasia fell ill
to a lingering illness and died on 7th August.
In consequence, Ivan suffered a severe
emotional collapse, suspecting that his wife had been a victim of malicious
actions, and poisoned by the boyars.
Although he had no evidence of such
crimes, he had a number of boyars tortured and exEcuted.
The examination of Anastasia's remains in
the 1990's and at the beginning of the 21st century, provided evidence that
could sustain her husband's claim.
Further research confirmed the acute
mercury poisoning of Anastasia.
While mercury was also used as a cure for
various ailments, this lead to some debate over whether Anastasia was poisoned.
However, the levels of mercury found were
too high, so the poisoning verdict
remains the most accepted one today.
Over the next 24 years, Ivan IV conducted
a reign of terror, displacing and destroying the major boyar families in the
region.
It was during this period that Ivan
killed his son in a subsequent fit of rage, and blinded the architect of St.
Basil's Cathedral.
It was also during this time that he
created the Oprichniki, the first official secret Russian police force.
In 1584, with his health failing, Ivan
became obsessed with death, calling upon witches and soothsayers to help him live
longer.
The end came on 18th March 1584, when
Ivan died of an apparent stroke, while playing chess.
He left the kingdom to his unfit son
Feodor, whose rule spiraled Russia into the catastrophic 'Time of Troubles'
This would lead to the establishment of
the Romanov Dynasty.
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