Ivan the Terrible Family Tree

Ivan the Terrible Family Tree in many ways should have never began. Ivan IV "the Terrible" of Russia (1530-1584) was a cruel tyrant, who never knew the meaning of moderation; he drank too much, laughed too loudly and hated and loved too fiercely. And he never forgot anything. Ivan was definitely smart and, despite his cruelty, his reign is a great one in Russian annals. In Russia Ivan was called "Grozny", which has always been translated to "the Terrible", but actually means "the Awesome".

Ivan was only 3 years old when his father died. This is only where the Ivan the Terrible Family Tree started to veer into many curves. His uncle Yuri challenged his rights to the throne, was arrested and imprisoned in a dungeon. There he was left to starve. Ivan's mother, Elena Glinsky, assumed power and was regent for five years. She had Ivan's other uncle killed, but a short time afterwards she suddenly died, almost surely poisoned. A week later her confidant, Prince Ivan Obolensky 1, was arrested and beaten to death by his jailers. While his mother had been indifferent toward Ivan, Obolensky's sister, Agrafena, had been his beloved nurse. Now she was sent to a convent.

Ivan the Terrible Family Tree

Not yet 8 years old, Ivan was an intelligent, sensitive boy and an insatiable reader. Without Agrafena to look after him, Ivan's loneliness deepened. The boyars alternately neglected or molested him; Ivan and his deaf-mute brother Yuri often went about hungry and threadbare. No one cared about his health or well being and Ivan became a beggar in his own palace. A rivalry between the Shuisky and the Belsky families escalated into a bloody feud. Armed men roamed the palace, seeking out enemies and frequently bursting into Ivan's quarters, where they shoved the Grand Prince aside, overturned the furniture and took whatever they wanted. Murders, beatings, verbal and physical abuse became commonplace in the palace. Unable to strike out at his tormentors, Ivan took out his frustrations on defenseless animals; he tore feathers off birds, pierced their eyes and slit open their bodies.

By then, Ivan was already a disturbed young man and an accomplished drinker, thus giving the Ivan the Terrible Family Tree a legend of cruelty. He threw dogs and cats from the Kremlin walls to watch them suffer, and roamed the Moscow streets with a gang of young scoundrels, drinking, knocking down old people and raping women. He often disposed of rape victims by having them hanged, strangled, buried alive or thrown to the bears. He became an excellent horseman and was fond of hunting. Killing animals was not his only delight; Ivan also enjoyed robbing and beating up farmers. Meanwhile he continued to devour books at an incredible pace, mainly religious and historical texts. At times Ivan was very devote; he used to throw himself before the icons, banging his head against the floor. It resulted in a callosity at his forehead. Once Ivan even did a public confession of his sins in Moscow.

Coronation Cap In 1547 Ivan was finally crowned Tsar of all Russians. He had taken methodical and meticulous care in preparing for his coronation. Later, when he decided to choose a wife, Ivan had eligible young Princesses and daughters of noblemen presented to him in a kind of 'Miss Russia Contest'. He instantly fell for the beauty and charm of Anastasia Romanovna and married her. By all accounts Anastasia had a quieting effect on Ivan. He called her his "little heifer" and they were to have 13 years of wedded bless. Anastasia bore him six children of whom only two survived infancy, thus continuing the Ivan the Terrible Family Tree.

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Will begin the Ivan the Terrible Family Tree with, Ivan III: 22 January 1440, Moscow – 27 October 1505, Moscow

Ivan III, coming to the throne at the age of twenty-two, is determined to bring all Russian lands under Moscow's control and to liberate Russia from the Mongol yoke. His greatest prize will be the rich and independent territory to the northwest, the commercial empire of Novgorod.

Ivan III and Sophia 1455 – April 7, 1503 had a son, Vasili III Ivanovich. March 25, 1479 – December 3, 1533, Moscow. The grand prince Vasili dies when his son Ivan IV(the Terrible) is only three. Ovan's mother is Elena Vasilyevna Glinskaya ? - April 4(13).1538, Moscow, was the second wife of Grand Prince Vasili III and regent of Russia for 5 years (1533-38).

The first wife for Ivan in the Ivan the terrible family tree was Anastasia Romanovna Zakharyina-Yurieva died August 7, 1560. She was selected as the best bride for Ivan from a large number of suitable mates, brought to the Kremlin specifically for the selection process. All the noble families throughout Russia were given an invitation to present their eligible daughters for this purpose (it is said that there were between 500 and 1500 girls to choose from). Anastasia and Ivan's marriage took place on February 3, 1547 at the Cathedral of the Annunciation. She gave birth to a total of six children (Anna, Maria, Dmitri, Ivan, Evodokia, and Feodor).

Fyodor I Ivanovich (May 31, 1557 - January 16/17, 1598) was the last Rurik Tsar of Russia (1584 - 1598), son of Ivan the Terrible and Anastasia Romanovna.

Ivan the Terrible DVDs

Ivan the Terrible Books

 The Domostroi: Rules for Russian Households in the Time of Ivan the Terrible

 Armies of Ivan the Terrible: Russian Troops 1505-1700 (Men-at-Arms)

 Ivan the Terrible Family Tree

IVAN THE TERRIBLE: A Military History

The Death Of Ivan The Terrible, A Tragedy  

Ivan the Terrible Prints/Posters