Ivan The Terrible Research Paper
Ivan IV "The Terrible" Czar of Russia
Ivan IV was a Czar terrible beyond words. He succeeded his father Vasily III who died in 1533 when Ivan IV was just 3 years old. Ivan's uncle challenged his right to the throne and as a result he was arrested and imprisoned in a dungeon. His mother was ruled as a regent for 5 years until she died of what is thought to be poisoning. Now, the real trouble began. Ivan IV was now somewhat capable of being the Grand Duke of Moscow. Ivan, who was not even 8 years old yet, was a sensitive and intelligent young boy. Although powerful, Ivan soon became lonely and depressed. There was no one to watch over him and boyars often molested or neglected him. The boyars were a class of high Russian nobility …show more content…
He threw Shuisky to a pack of starving dogs and as a result the rule of the boyars ended. At the ripe age of 13, Ivan was a disturbed young man and already a heavy drinker. He walked the streets of Moscow with his malicious gang. They drank, knocked down old people, and raped women. The gang disposed of their victims by having them hanged, strangled, buried alive, or thrown to the bears. Besides killing animals Ivan enjoyed robbing and beating farmers. Ivan began reading religious texts at an unbelievable pace. He was a bothered young man and in efforts to confess his sins Ivan would throw himself before icons and bang his head on the floor of numerous public churches in Moscow. These "confessions" usually ended when Ivan's forehead was a massive bloody bump (Bos, …show more content…
The majority of the population wanted Ivan back. He agreed as long as he could have the absolute power to punish anyone he thought was disloyal. In addition to punishment Ivan then disposed of their estates as he saw fit. After strengthening his position as absolute ruler of the Russians, Ivan decided on a new instrument of cruelty, the Oprichniki. The Oprichniki were selected by Ivan himself and were forced to swear him a personal oath of allegiance. They dressed in black and rode black horses. Most were ruthless criminals who would kill a priest during his sermon if that is what Ivan asked. Ivan recognized himself as the abbot and the Oprichniki as the monks. They had sacrilegious masses followed by orgies of sex, rape and torture. Ivan acted as master at these rituals pulling ribs out of men's chests with red-hot pincers. He would then throw himself before the alter to repent and finally read Christian sermons to his drunken Oprichniki (Bos,
Ivan IV was a Czar terrible beyond words. He succeeded his father Vasily III who died in 1533 when Ivan IV was just 3 years old. Ivan's uncle challenged his right to the throne and as a result he was arrested and imprisoned in a dungeon. His mother was ruled as a regent for 5 years until she died of what is thought to be poisoning. Now, the real trouble began. Ivan IV was now somewhat capable of being the Grand Duke of Moscow. Ivan, who was not even 8 years old yet, was a sensitive and intelligent young boy. Although powerful, Ivan soon became lonely and depressed. There was no one to watch over him and boyars often molested or neglected him. The boyars were a class of high Russian nobility …show more content…
He threw Shuisky to a pack of starving dogs and as a result the rule of the boyars ended. At the ripe age of 13, Ivan was a disturbed young man and already a heavy drinker. He walked the streets of Moscow with his malicious gang. They drank, knocked down old people, and raped women. The gang disposed of their victims by having them hanged, strangled, buried alive, or thrown to the bears. Besides killing animals Ivan enjoyed robbing and beating farmers. Ivan began reading religious texts at an unbelievable pace. He was a bothered young man and in efforts to confess his sins Ivan would throw himself before icons and bang his head on the floor of numerous public churches in Moscow. These "confessions" usually ended when Ivan's forehead was a massive bloody bump (Bos, …show more content…
The majority of the population wanted Ivan back. He agreed as long as he could have the absolute power to punish anyone he thought was disloyal. In addition to punishment Ivan then disposed of their estates as he saw fit. After strengthening his position as absolute ruler of the Russians, Ivan decided on a new instrument of cruelty, the Oprichniki. The Oprichniki were selected by Ivan himself and were forced to swear him a personal oath of allegiance. They dressed in black and rode black horses. Most were ruthless criminals who would kill a priest during his sermon if that is what Ivan asked. Ivan recognized himself as the abbot and the Oprichniki as the monks. They had sacrilegious masses followed by orgies of sex, rape and torture. Ivan acted as master at these rituals pulling ribs out of men's chests with red-hot pincers. He would then throw himself before the alter to repent and finally read Christian sermons to his drunken Oprichniki (Bos,