-
1530
Early Life
Ivan spent the first years of his life near Moscow, Russia with his parents Vasilly III and Yelena Glinskaya. -
1533
Father's Death
Vasily III dies, leaving the throne to three year old Ivan -
1538
Mother's Death
Yelena dies when Ivan is eight from what may have been poisoning -
1547
Czar of Russia
Ivan is crowned Czar of Russia at 16 years old, being the first ruler to have that title -
1547
Married
Ivan married Anastasia Romanovna -
1552
Kazan
Ivan destroys the Tatar stronghold of Kazan and later Astrakhan -
1553
Ivan's Illness
Ivan suffers from a near-fatal illness -
Period: 1555 to 1561
St. Basil's Cathedral
Ivan orders the construction of St. Basil's Cathedral to commemorate his victory in Kazan and Astrakhan. -
1560
Death of Anastasia
Ivan's wife, Anastasia Romanovna, dies -
1560
Killing Spree
Out of fear for treason, Ivan killed and tortured thousands of his people -
1564
Abdicate
Ivan and his family left Moscow to Aleksandrovskaia Sloboda after sharing he wanted to abdicate. He is later convinced by the people of Russia to come back as Czar. However, Ivan rules under his own terms. -
1565
Oprichnina
Ivan creates a system called Oprichnina (a royal domain under Ivan's control). It is ran by oprichniki who are Ivan's secret police who are dressed in black and ride black horses. They killed all who Ivan did not like. -
1570
Massacre of Novgorod
Ivan led his oprichniki to kill thousands in Novgorod because he suspected them of treason -
1574
Prince of Moscow
Ivan was assumed Prince of Moscow -
1581
Death of Ivan's Son
Ivan struck his oldest son with a staff during a dispute between the two, killing him.
