Ivan the Terrible
1530 – 1584 Russian Grand Prince of Moscow, first Tsar of All Rus
The first ruler crowned Tsar of All Rus, who expanded Russia eastward and ruled with escalating violence.
- Religion
- Russian Orthodox
- Affiliations
- House of Rurik
Ivan IV was crowned the first Tsar of All Rus in 1547, raising the Moscow ruler above the other princes. He conquered the khanates of Kazan and Astrakhan and opened the drive across Siberia. His later reign turned to terror through the oprichnina, a personal guard that carried out mass executions and the sacking of Novgorod, and in a fit of rage he killed his own son and heir. His long rule left Russia larger but exhausted and set up the dynastic crisis of the Time of Troubles.
Connections
- associate of Boris Godunov — Godunov rose as a courtier and in-law during Ivan's reign and later took the throne himself.
- associate of Boris Godunov — Served at Ivan's court and married into his inner circle before taking the throne.
In the timeline
- 1547 Ivan the Terrible Crowned First Tsar the crowned tsar
- 1552 Conquest of Kazan the conquering tsar
- 1581 – 1582 Yermak's Campaign into Siberia the reigning tsar under whom the eastward push began