Tyrant Unleashed – How Ivan the Terrible Became Russia's VERY FIRST Tsar | HISTORY

Join us as we take a look at the sordid history of the teenage tyrant, Ivan the Terrible…

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00:00:00 – A Childhood Marred by Cruelty
00:03:29 – A Taste for Vengeance
00:07:33 – Unleashing the Hounds of Terror

On January 16, 1547, the Cathedral of the Dormition in the Kremlin resounded with the solemn chants of Orthodox priests and the reverberation of ancient rituals. At its center stood a boy of just 17 years, draped in regal vestments, his youthful face betraying both determination and a glimmer of something darker. Ivan IV Vasilyevich was about to crown himself the first Tsar of All Rus—a title that would redefine the trajectory of Russia and cement his legacy as one of the most controversial figures in history: Ivan the Terrible.

The Path to the Throne
Ivan’s ascent to power was steeped in turmoil and bloodshed. Born on August 25, 1530, into the Rurik dynasty, Ivan’s early life was marked by chaos. His father, Grand Prince Vasily III, died when Ivan was only three years old. His mother, Elena Glinskaya, served as regent but met an untimely death—rumored to have been poisoned—when Ivan was just eight. Orphaned and vulnerable, Ivan grew up in the hostile environment of the Russian court, where boyars—powerful noble families—vied for control.

Subjected to neglect and humiliation, Ivan developed a deep-seated resentment toward the boyar class. He reportedly tortured small animals for amusement—a chilling prelude to the cruelty that would later define his rule. By the time he reached adolescence, Ivan’s intellect and cunning had outpaced those around him, and he began consolidating power with a single-minded ruthlessness.

The Coronation
The decision to crown himself tsar was unprecedented. Previous rulers of Muscovy had held the title of Grand Prince, a designation that placed them as primus inter pares (first among equals) among the Russian nobility. By adopting the title of tsar—derived from “Caesar”—Ivan signaled his intention to position himself as an autocrat, answerable only to God.

The coronation ceremony was a grand and meticulously orchestrated affair. Ivan entered the Cathedral of the Dormition under a canopy held by attendants, walking past courtiers who bowed low in submission. The Metropolitan of Moscow, Macarius, anointed him with holy oil, invoking the divine right of kings. As the Monomakh’s Cap—an ancient relic symbolizing imperial authority—was placed on his head, Ivan’s transformation from prince to tsar was complete.

This moment was not merely symbolic; it was a declaration of absolute power. Ivan’s coronation marked the beginning of the centralized Russian state, over which he would reign supreme. The boyars, who had once dominated the political landscape, were now subjugated to the will of a singular ruler.

The Tsar’s Reign: Triumphs and Terrors
Ivan’s rule can be divided into two distinct periods. The first, often referred to as the “Good Years,” was marked by reforms and military successes. Ivan established the Zemsky Sobor (the Assembly of the Land), Russia’s first semblance of a parliament, and introduced a new code of laws, the Sudebnik of 1550. He also reorganized the military, creating the streltsy, a standing army loyal to the crown.

However, the good years gave way to an era of paranoia and brutality following the death of Ivan’s beloved wife, Anastasia Romanovna, in 1560. Her death—possibly by poisoning—unleashed Ivan’s latent fury. Convinced of conspiracies against him, he unleashed the Oprichnina, a campaign of terror aimed at rooting out treason.

The Oprichniki, Ivan’s black-clad enforcers, rode across the land, leaving a trail of devastation. They executed thousands, including entire families, often with gruesome methods such as impalement and boiling alive. The massacre of Novgorod in 1570 stands as a particularly horrific episode. Suspecting the city of plotting treason, Ivan ordered a brutal siege, during which thousands of men, women, and children were slaughtered.

The Legacy of Ivan the Terrible
Ivan’s reign was marked by stark contradictions. Under his rule, Russia expanded its territory significantly, conquering Kazan, Astrakhan, and Siberia, thus laying the groundwork for the vast Russian Empire. Yet, his reign also saw economic decline, social upheaval, and a population ravaged by his purges.

Perhaps the most infamous act of Ivan’s life occurred in 1581, when, in a fit of rage, he struck his son and heir, Ivan Ivanovich, with his staff, killing him. This act not only devastated the tsar personally but also left Russia without a competent successor, leading to the period of political instability known as the Time of Troubles.

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