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Aug 25, 1530
Ivan is born
The grandson of Ivan the Great, Ivan the Terrible was born Ivan Chetvyorty Vasilyevich on August 25, 1530, in the Grand Duchy of Muscovy, Russia, to members of the Rurik dynasty. -
Period: Aug 1, 1533 to
Ruled as Grand Prince of Moscow
Ivan IV was the Grand Prince of Moscow from 1533–1584 -
Jan 3, 1547
Ivan was crowned tasr of Muscovy
In 1547, Ivan IV was crowned tsar of Muscovy. Ivan ruled as its first czar, the Russian significant word for caesar (emperor) -
Aug 1, 1549
Ivan appointed a council of advisers
In 1549, Ivan appointed a council of advisers, a consensus-building assembly who helped institute his reforms -
Period: Aug 1, 1552 to Aug 1, 1556
Ivan armies crushed Tartar khanates
In 1552 and 1556, Ivan's armies crushed the Tartar khanates of Kazan and Astrakhan, respectively. -
Dec 6, 1560
1560 fear of treason
In 1560, fearing treason, Ivan summarily got rid of the "selected council" and embarked upon a regime of political terror that has become the subject of legend, literature, art, opera and film. The czar tortured and killed thousands. He kept a list of his victims with 4,000 survials and donated money to churches to pray for their souls. Ivan was married at least five times, perhaps seven; his wives either died (Ivan claimed they were poisoned) -
Sep 12, 1581
Ivan the Terrible kills his son
In 1581, during a fit of rage, he struck his son and heir, Ivan V, killing him. -
Ivan passes away
In 1584, with his health failing, Ivan the Terrible did not want to die so he called upon witches and soothsayers to help him, but it was not successful. The end came on March 18, 1584, when Ivan died of a stroke.