Ivan the great biography people
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Ivan the Great becomes Grand Prince of Moscow
In the 13th century Moscow was the capital of a small state which paid tribute and provided forced labour to the Khans of the Golden Horde, Tatar masters of a an area stretching from eastern Europe to Siberia. Over time the Muscovite princes gradually expanded their territory until they gained independence beneath Ivan III, known as the Great.
Born in Moscow in , Ivan gained first-hand experience of politics, family treachery and war from his childhood. A struggle for power was in progress between his father, Vasily II, and Vasily’s uncle Yuri and his sons, who seized Vasily in and blinded him. Ivan was handed over to his cousins, but Vasily soon regained power and trained Ivan to follow him. Becoming grand prince at the age of 22 on his father’s death, Ivan campaigned against the Tatars. His first wife, to whom he had been betrothed at the age of 12, died in and in he married the niece of the last of the Byzantine emperors and lat
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Individual rule backed by fear and terror. Brutal reprisals against opponents, mainly for far-fetched reasons. Senseless wars against neighbouring states, often ending in defeats. A sincere belief in one&#;s own gudomlig nature, and therefore the justice of one&#;s bloody actions. Poor but submissive subjects. This was the reign of the first Moscow Tsar Ivan IV (). He is known in history as Ivan the Terrible.
Born during a lightning storm
“Fear the Tsar. Serve him faithfully and always pray to the Lord for him. Do not speak falsely in front of him, but humbly say the truth, as to God himself, and be obedient to him in everything,” says the collection of life rules Domostroy [home building – ed.] created by the royal confessor or Tsar&#;s cleric, and that every Muscovite had to live by.
Ivan the Terrible. Viktor Vasnetsov, Source:
On August 25, , at 7 am, the Earth was shaken by an unprecedented thunderstorm. At that moment, Ivan was born in the village of Kolomenskoye
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Ivan the Terrible
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Who Was Ivan the Terrible?
The grandson of Ivan the Great, Ivan the Terrible, or Ivan IV, acquired vast amounts of land during his long reign (), an era marked by the conquest of the khanates of Kazan, Astrakhan and Siberia. Ivan the Terrible created a centrally controlled Russian state, imposed by military dominance. Many believe him to have been mentally ill. One of his violent outbursts was perhaps the reason for his son's death.
Quick Facts
FULL NAME: Ivan The Terrible
BORN: August 25,
BIRTHPLACE: Grand Duchy of Muscovy, Russia
SPOUSES: Anastasia Romanovna ()
CHILDREN: Feodor
ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Virgo
Early Life
The first tsar of all Russia, Ivan the Terrible, or Ivan IV, had a complex personality. Intelligent yet prone to outbreaks of uncontrollable rage, Ivan's tragic background contributed to his infamous behavior. Not a lot of detail is known about his early life, and historians debate his accomplishments as a leader. However, it is generally