Ivan iv vasilyevich biography for kids

These families tried to control the young prince for their own benefit. By assuming the title he tried to send a message to all dissenters that he was now the sole ruler of all the territories. A large part of the city was destroyed by the fire. In his early years as the ruler of Russia, Ivan followed the agenda of reformation and modernization.

These early years were peaceful as well. During these years, Ivan revised the code of law and introduced Sudebnik of Ivan, a new code of laws.

Ivan iv vasilyevich biography for kids

Ivan launched a military campaign to take control of Livonia present-day Latvia and Estonia in He was tall and athletically built, with broad shoulders and narrow waist. In , the graves of Ivan and his sons were excavated and examined by Soviet scientists. Chemical and structural analysis of his remains disproved earlier suggestions that Ivan was poisoned by arsenic.

At the time of his death he was cm tall and weighed 85—90 kg. His body was rather asymmetrical and had a large amount of osteophytes uncharacteristic of his age; it also contained excessive concentration of mercury. Researchers concluded that while Ivan was athletically built in his youth, in his last years he had developed various bone diseases and could barely move.

They attributed the high mercury content in his body to the use of ointments for joints healing. Ivan completely altered Russia's governmental structure, establishing the character of modern Russian political organisation. Ivan's creation of the Oprichnina , answerable only to him, not only afforded him personal protection but curtailed the traditional powers and rights of the boyars.

Henceforth, Tsarist autocracy and despotism would lie at the heart of the Russian state. Ivan bypassed the Mestnichestvo system and offered positions of power to his supporters among the minor gentry. The Empire's local administration combined both locally and centrally appointed officials; the system proved durable and practical, and sufficiently flexible to tolerate later modification.

Ivan's expedition against Poland failed at a military level, but it helped extend Russia's trade, political and cultural links with Europe; Peter the Great built on these connections in his bid to make Russia a major European power. Unfortunately, most of his children never made it into adulthood. While he murdered some of his wards, Maria and Ana died before Ivan could celebrate their 1-year birthday anniversary.

Eudoxia never reached 2 years. Dmitry later perished in a boat accident. Ivan deservingly had a fair share of terrible tragedies that befell him. Finally, on 18th March , a terrible tragedy sent Ivan back to his maker. On that day, as he sat down playing chess, he was attacked by a fatal heart condition. Moments later, the year-old man peacefully passed away in his bedroom.

Ivan was a controversial leader who lived in a separate world of realities. Here are some really horrifying facts about Ivan the Terrible:. In fact, the tsar almost spent his entire life fighting on the battlefield. Expansionism was his key principle. Unfortunately, he lost that war to the Swedish and Polish armies. The loss deprived Russians of accessing the Baltic Sea.

The Crimean Tatars raided central Russia. When they finally landed at Moscow in , with the exception of the Kremlin, everything in their sight was set ablaze. History adds that he even knew how to kill people, while he was young. In all, he grew up and became full of wrath, as a result of the dangerous environment he was earlier exposed to.

Following the death of his beloved wife, Anastasia Romanovna, in , Ivan the Terrible's mental state deteriorated significantly, plunging him into a deep depression that fanned the flames of his paranoia. Believing that the boyars conspired to murder her, Ivan sought vengeance against the noble class. In an act of desperation and anger, he abandoned Moscow but was soon coaxed back by the people, who pleaded for his return.

Upon his re-ascension, he demanded absolute power over Moscow and established the oprichnina, a territory controlled directly by him, which became synonymous with tyranny and brutal repression. As Ivan solidified his grip on power, he enacted a reign of terror that sought to quash dissent and eliminate opposition. His secret police, the Oprichniki, enforced his will through ruthless measures, which included executions and confiscation of property from those he deemed threats.

During this dark period, Ivan engaged in horrific acts, including the brutal beating of his pregnant daughter-in-law, leading to a miscarriage, and ultimately, in a fit of rage, killed his own son, Feodor. The violence and destruction he wrought among the boyar families left deep political and social scars in Russia, setting the stage for an era of instability and chaos.

Ivan the Terrible's personal life was deeply affected by both his family dynamics and the tumultuous nature of his reign. He married Anastasia Romanovna in , a relationship that initially provided him with stability and support. Anastasia was often seen as a calming influence, helping Ivan navigate the complexities of ruling a growing empire.

Their union was not only a personal alliance but also a politically strategic move that solidified Ivan's claim to the throne among the Russian nobility. They had several children together, although only one son, Feodor, survived into adulthood. Tragically, Anastasia died in , a loss that plunged Ivan into a deep depression and heightened his paranoia about the boyars.

He suspected them of plotting against him, which exacerbated his descent into tyranny.