Ivan the Terrible

By s-zwightman
  • Aug 25, 1530

    Born into Power

    Ivan Vasilyevich was born 25 August, 1530, into the Russian royal family. His father died 3 years after he was born, this causing him to grow up without a proper father figure. His mother lived until a little later.
  • Jan 16, 1547

    Tsar Ivan

    On the 16 of January, 1547, at age sixteen, Ivan was crowned with the Monomakh's Cap. The Cap was the crown of the Russian Royal Family. He was the first monarch to be crowned "Tsar of All Russias"
    On 16 January 1547,
  • Period: Jan 16, 1547 to Aug 7, 1560

    Russian Reform

    Ivan's reign was a peaceful one in the early years. He revised the laws, and created the first Russian parliament called the Zemsky Sobor. He created a council of nobles and "boyars", the wealthy people of Russia.
  • Feb 3, 1547

    Ivan and Anastasia

    Ivan and Anastasia
    On the 3rd of February, 1547, Ivan married Anastasia Romanovna. This made him feel powerful, and gave him a higher purpose to rule. Ivan crowned her "Tsaritsa", literally meaning "Tsar's Wife". The image is Anastasia.
  • Feb 10, 1547

    Caesar

    By being crowned the Tsar, Ivan was showing to the rest of the world that him, and him alone, is the ruler of Russia, and the Slavic States.
  • Period: 1552 to 1580

    Waring Period

    Ivan was a part of 5 large battles and wars while on the Russian throne. The Conquest of Kazan and Astrakhan, Russo-Turkish War, Livonian War, Crimean Raids, and the Conquest of Siberia.
  • Aug 7, 1560

    Tragedy for Ivan

    Anastasia, Ivan's wife dies of apparent poisoning. Ivan snaps, and becomes incredibly mentally unstable.
  • Dec 3, 1564

    Absolute Power

    On the 3rd of December, 1564, Ivan fled Moscow, and sent letters back to the Zemsky Sobor stating that he fled because of the suspected embezzlement, corruption, and treason of the aristocracy. The boyars begged him to come back, in return he would get unwavering loyalty and power from them.
  • 1565

    Oprichnina and Oprichniki

    Oprichnina and Oprichniki
    The Oprichnina was a private estate that Ivan had created for himself. Ivan created a special police force, the Oprichniki, and tasked them to hunt down boyars and execute them and their families.
  • Nov 19, 1581

    Another Tragedy for Ivan

    Another Tragedy for Ivan
    On the 19th of November, 1581, Ivan's son, also called Ivan, engaged in an argument with his father, resulting in Ivan's striking his son in the head with his pointed staff, fatally wounding him. This caused Ivan's final spiral into severe madness.