Ivan IV of Russia

Ivan IV, also known as Ivan the Terrible, was born to Grand Prince Vasily III and Princess Elena Glinskaya in the Kremlin, Moscow. He was the first Tsar of all Russia.

At the age of three, Ivan became the Grand Prince of Moscow after his father's death. His mother Elena Glinskaya initially ruled as regent.

Ivan's mother, Elena Glinskaya, died under suspicious circumstances, leading to a period of rule by powerful boyars who often competed for control over the young prince.

Ivan IV was crowned the first Tsar of all Russia at the age of 16, marking the beginning of his reign and the centralization of power.

Ivan IV established the Zemsky Sobor, a national assembly that included representatives from various social classes, to help govern and reform the state.

Ivan IV led a successful military campaign against the Khanate of Kazan, expanding Russian territory and securing a strategic position on the Volga River.

Following the conquest of Kazan, Ivan IV annexed the Khanate of Astrakhan, further consolidating Russian control over the Volga region and opening a route to the Caspian Sea.

Ivan IV created the Oprichnina, a separate territory within Russia governed directly by him and staffed by loyal oprichniks, to combat aristocratic opposition and centralize power.

In response to perceived disloyalty, Ivan IV ordered the brutal massacre of Novgorod, resulting in the deaths of thousands and the destruction of the city's autonomy.

Ivan IV accidentally killed his son, Ivan Ivanovich, during a fit of rage, a tragic event that deeply affected him and altered the succession.

Ivan IV the Terrible died at the age of 53, leaving behind a legacy of significant reforms, territorial expansion, and a reign marked by both achievement and terror.