ipl-logo

Ivan The Terrible's Cruelty In Russian History

1284 Words6 Pages

Ivan Vasilyeevich, the first tsar of Russia, was known for his cruelty. Titled Ivan the Terrible, the tsar made a mark on Russian history when he began the absolute rule of Russian tsars. Through expansion and reform, Ivan built Russia from the ground up. However, the creation of a strong new nation came at a high price: the lives of thousands of Russian citizens. Ivan the Terrible helped shape Russian history and created a lasting legacy of Russian tradition. Born on August 25, 1530, Ivan the Terrible was the first son of Grand Prince Vasily III and Yelena Glinskaya. Ivan was crowned Grand Prince of Moscow at age three, immediately after his father's death. Ivan's mother was named regent until her death in 1538. In the power vacuum left …show more content…

As a boy he would often throw cats and dogs out the window of the Kremlin and watch with delight as they fell to their deaths. At the age of thirteen he ordered his mentor, Boyarin Shuisky, to be beaten to death. His first wife, Anastasia Romanovna, was able to tame his cruelty slightly during the early years of his reign. However, after Ivan mysteriously grew sick in 1533, she was unable to curve his paranoia. The defining moment of Ivan's switch to extreme cruelty was when his beloved wife died of unknown causes in 1560. Ivan flew into a rage, killing and exiling former allies if he suspected them of poisoning the tsarista (Ivan IV of Russia). With paranoia burning through him, Ivan left Moscow and threatened to abdicate his throne. The sudden loss of Russia's sole leader had the people panicking and pleading for his return. He agreed to resume his role as tsar, but demanded absolute control of the oprichnina, the land surrounding Moscow. To carry out his policing and spread of terror, Ivan created Russia's first secret police force, the Oprichniki. They systematically executed thousands for suspected betrayal, including many innocents such as Prince Alexander Gorbatyi-Shuisky. During this time Ivan saw a major personality switch. His formerly ascetic life was now consumed with lavish feasts and orgies for his pleasure (Ivan the

Show More
Related

  • The Romanov Family: Standing For Imperial Russia

    309 Words  | 2 Pages

    Its was expected of him since his grandfather Ivan III made the Grand Duchy of Moscow into a dominant Russian state and was affecting the ruler of Russia. Ivan IV ruled from 1547-1584 when his mental capabilities stated to decline and affect his reign. Since his chosen heir dyed, Simeon Bekbulatovich was commander of main regiment of the Livonian war and appointed grand prince of all Russia. Later

    Read More

  • How Did Stalin Lead To The Russian Revolution

    774 Words  | 4 Pages

    Similar to the Tsars before him, Stalin caused the death of anyone who opposed his way of ruling, especially the Kulaks. He violated the rights of the people by launching an extensive campaign on deporting ethnic groups that opposed his leadership. Stalin’s years of “great terror” through much unneeded purges caused him to more and more act as a “Red Tsar”. The only difference was Stalin was ruling under Marxist ideologies with communism being the end result as opposed to adherence to the Russian Orthodox Church. However, just like Stalin, Alexander II was very similar in that the secret police was at the centre of dealing with outside issues towards his power.

    Read More

  • How Did Peter The Great Rule Russia

    1189 Words  | 5 Pages

    Peter the Great ruled Russia for many years as both Tsar and Emperor. He was known for his intense and crafty leadership where his political and social changes led to the modernization of Russia. At times Peter was a cruel leader and ordered executions of many followers and would execute men with his own bare hands. During his time in power Peter was considered “Peter the Great” by many followers. He was no doubt a great leader and ruler in Russia and wanted his supporters to earn a good education.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Dehumanization In Night By Elie Wiesel

    679 Words  | 3 Pages

    He experienced the brutal losses of his family, along with everything he owns, his faith, and almost his sanity. Many hundreds of miles away in 1570, a Russian tzar named Ivan IV Vasilyevich, better known now as Ivan the Terrible from an arguably more accurate mistranslation of his title “The Severe”, waged a massacre on the independently-minded city of Novgorod, lasting only five weeks yet leaving thousands dead; though the city’s population could not have been more than 100,000, around 30,000 were murdered, leaving 20,000 more to perish from the aftermath (Erenow, “ Massacre- Ivan The Terrible”).

    Read More

  • Joseph Stalin Dbq Essay

    696 Words  | 3 Pages

    To do this, he used his totalitarian government to set up a secret police that would carry out his dirty work. He gave them unlimited power to convict or even murder people that swayed from his beliefs. This caused people to think that he was power hungry and not fit to rule. They wanted him to be replaced by someone that was less rude and more thoughtful of the Russian citizens. (Document One)

    Read More

  • Barrack Obama's Ivan IV: Ivan The Terrible

    793 Words  | 4 Pages

    What would you do if I told you that our own president, Barrack Obama, was a bloodthirsty murderer who raped women as if it were a casual way to spend his free time? Though this idea may seem controversial to some, in early Russia this statement had zero exaggeration to it. If the deaths of thousands of people due to psychological illness and paranoia is a normal sight to see in your eyes on a regular basis, then you might have lived between 1533 and 1584. During this time, Ivan Chetvyorty Vasilyevich (Ivan IV) reigned in Russia. The first appointed Czar of Russia, Ivan IV, better known as Ivan the Terrible, had a disturbed childhood which led to a severely unstable mental state and brutal rule.

    Read More

  • Czar Nicholas And The Romanov Dynasty

    1227 Words  | 5 Pages

    Czar Nicholas and the Romanov Dynasty: Czar Nicholas was the last czar of the Romanov (Russian) Dynasty to rule Russia. Czar Nicholas and the Romanov Dynasty played a crucial role in provoking the start of the Russian Revolution (“Romanov Dynasty”). During the Russian Revolution, Russia was beginning to fall towards an economic corruption. Czar Nicholas was aware of the severity of lack of human necessities, yet he ignored the citizens. As a result, the citizens rioted the capital of Petrograd, making demands for food and better working conditions.

    Read More

  • Vladimir III: The Principles Of An Absolute Monarch

    804 Words  | 4 Pages

    Overall, Vladimir III was a benevolent Absolute Monarch. He strengthened his country and the people in it using his power and authority and the backing of the

    Read More

  • Death Of Ivan Ilych Analysis

    509 Words  | 3 Pages

    They are so close that it all looks to be the same. Ivan is angry with everyone around him. “While she was kissing him he hated her from the bottom of his soul and with difficulty refrained from pushing her away” (128). In this passage Ivan is angry with his wife, why am I ill and she is not. This is typical of an individual that is dying to be angry with people of good health.

    Read More

  • Soviet Union Vs Russia Dbq

    694 Words  | 3 Pages

    (Background Essay) Before Vladimir Lenin came into power to rule Russia, Russia was ruled by Czar’s. A Czar was an emperor that the ruled Russia before 1917. The last Czar to rule Russia was Nicholas II. He was overthrown by Bolsheviks in the year of 1917.

    Read More

  • Tolstoy Death Of Ivan Ilych Analysis

    695 Words  | 3 Pages

    This envy and vindictiveness for what the people around him have leads him to acquire more materialistic items that do not necessarily bring him happiness. His life flows pleasantly this way until he reaches a threat that takes away his control. In order for a person to be content at the end of their life is “ if we are in control of our careers, mates, children, and bodies, [then] we can live a predictable and powerful life” (Sansom 419). As Ivan loses control of his environment, the thought of death and losing his possessions makes him scared of death. His life amounts to nothing more than chaos, where “the assumed defense against chaos is more control of relationships, job, environment, emotions, and future” (Sansom 419).

    Read More

  • Theme Of Detail In The Death Of Ivan Ilyich

    712 Words  | 3 Pages

    Tolstoy portrays to us that Ivan’s life is soon coming to an end by providing us (readers) with many recollections and details from his childhood. Tolstoy also demonstrates how Ivan will die without truly living because he never thought about how death would turn the corner and take him and never lived his own, unique life. Throughout his adulthood, Ivan made choices and completed actions, not for his own sake, but because that is what society accepted, and he wanted to be accepted by society. The details in Ivan’s life are present, but he doesn’t notice those details and goes right along with his work and card games; never showing any emotion towards practically anything in his life.

    Read More

  • Explain How Ivan III How Could He Secure The Domains Of His Father

    740 Words  | 3 Pages

    To conquer the principality of Tver, he directly invaded but in the Yaroslavl and Rostov principalities he bought off the great princes of those countries. In conquering Novgorod, his most notable gathered principality, he invaded during their time of trouble and took control. Once he had control he deported boyars, merchants, and executed many. In regard to the land he seized, he gave it to individuals who would take care of the land for Ivan, and they knew their land was given to them on conditional release. His other conquest (specifically, Lithuanian) would lead to the Russian involvement of war with their Western rivals and neighbors.

    Read More

  • 1917 Revolution Dbq

    1224 Words  | 5 Pages

    Furthermore, Nicholas allowed his country to enter two wars, the Russo-Japanese war and WWI, Russia being ill-prepared for the wars both times. The battles did not go well in either of the wars and his actions dealt great suffering to the people of Russia, especially the minority, or lower class. Although his country was in peril and he knew it, he refused to implement reforms. Tsar Nicholas II truly wanted to aid his country although his inexperience did not allow him to do so. Hence, this led to the murder of his family and the end of 3 centuries of Romanov ruling when the Bolsheviks took power of Russia.

    Read More

  • Animal Farm: An Allegory For The Russian Revolution

    1510 Words  | 7 Pages

    The Russians did not hate the Tsar at first as they blamed their troubles on the government, however an event called Bloody Sunday changed their minds. Citizens began to protest outside of Tsar’s palace where many were shot and killed by soldiers. This turned them against the man they once trusted. World War I also occurred during Tsar’s reign and ultimately killed many unskilled and unequipped Russian soldiers. This caused the citizens to dislike Tsar even

    Read More

More about Ivan The Terrible's Cruelty In Russian History

Open Document