#TodayInHistory On this day (18th March) in 1584, the infamous ruler of Russia Ivan the Terrible died from a stroke whilst playing a game of chess. Ivan was the first Tsar of Russia; a ruthless leader who vastly expanded Russias territory, transforming it from a state into an increasingly powerful empire. Prone to rages, paranoia, and most likely suffering from some kind of mental disorder, Ivan was renowned for stripping back the power of the nobility. For this reason he became something of a champion for Russias poor. He also killed his son and heir Ivan Ivanovich by smashing him over the head with his sceptre after an argument, leaving the empire unstable in the hands of his younger, childless son Feodor. This eventually led Russia to the Time of Troubles between 1598 and 1613. Print from nineteenth-century Russian artist Konstantin Makovskys painting Death of Ivan the Terrible.
Posted on: Tue, 18 Mar 2014 09:00:01 +0000