FREE ESSAY ON IVAN THE TERRIBLE

IVAN THE TERRIBLE

Ivan IV, Tsar of Russia is better known as Ivan the terrible. In the following paragraphs
I will depict major events in his life and the role he played in Russia. I will also
exhibit the many positive things that he did. As well as the negative things that he did
to Russian society during his reign of thirty-seven years. I will debate the fact that
Ivan IV was nick named Ivan the terrible.
Ivan IV was born on August 25, 1530, in Moscow. He was the son of Vasily III, the grand
duke of Moscow, who died when Ivan was just three years old. His mother Yelena Glinskaya
who was from a leading noble family established a regency, which soon became nothing but
corruption and wild violence as rival families feuded the dominance of the Ginskaya
family. After Yelena Glinkaya died in 1538 the misrule continued after that. Ivan was
crowned in 1547, but not as grand duke but as a tsar. In the same year he married
Anastasia Romonov. Anastasia died on 1560, and Ivan remarried many times. Ivan died March
18,1584.
Ivan IV made many positive attributes. From the year 1547-1560 are considered to be the
really productive period of Ivan's reign. During this period Ivan appointed an advisory
council. Ivan also founded a national assembly in 1549, and enacted reforms in the local
government . He also drew up a new law code in 1550. He also regulated the
responsibilities and jobs of the aristocracy. Expansion of Russia eastward also started
during this period. And finally trading began with the English, Dutch, and the French.
Ivan IV made many negative attributes as well. In 1560 when Anastasia died marked the end
of Ivan's productive period. Ivan IV was increasingly powerful and he turned against his
advisors, because he was convinced that they had caused her death, backed by rival Nobel
families. Ivan threatened to abdicate unless the nobles were punished. Ivan left Moscow
in 1564, and settled in a village called Aleksandrovsk. The confused people of Moscow
begged Ivan to return . Ivan eventually returned to Moscow under two conditions. First,
he had to have the right to punish traitors, executing them necessary and keeping their
stuff. Secondly, he had a political and territorial subdivision called "the oprichnia"
was to be established, and managed completely under the tsar.
Ivan IV also known as Ivan the terrible. Ivan the terrible led a very eventful life. Ivan
had many negative attributes. As well as positive attributes. If you put things in
perspective all of these things balance off. So was Ivan IV really terrible?, you be the
judge.