Ivan the Terrible Crowned Tsar of Russia (1547)
Following his parents’ deaths, Ivan IV became the first ruler of Russia to assume the title “czar” and to pursue a czarist autocracy by limiting the power of the Russian nobility. He also expanded Russian influence by conquering Kazan and Astrakhan, acquiring Siberia, and seeking better access to the Baltic Sea. A serious illness and the death of his wife, however, caused Ivan to become increasingly tyrannical and volatile. Why did Ivan murder his son—and only viable heir—in 1581? More… Discuss
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