Ivan the terrible brief biography

The grandson of Ivan the Great, Ivan the Terrible, or Ivan IV, acquired vast amounts of land during his long reign , an era marked by the conquest of the khanates of Kazan, Astrakhan and Siberia. Ivan the Terrible created a centrally controlled Russian state, imposed by military dominance. Many believe him to have been mentally ill.

One of his violent outbursts was perhaps the reason for his son's death.

Why is ivan the terrible called terrible

Intelligent yet prone to outbreaks of uncontrollable rage, Ivan's tragic background contributed to his infamous behavior. Not a lot of detail is known about his early life, and historians debate his accomplishments as a leader. However, it is generally agreed that his reign established the current Russian territory and centralized government for centuries to come.

His father, Basil III, died when he was 3 years old. His mother, Elena Glinskaya, ruled as regent until her death in when Ivan was 8. During this time, the realm rapidly degenerated into chaos as rival boyar noble families disputed the legitimacy of her rule. The court intrigue and constant danger that Ivan was exposed to while growing up molded much of his ruthless and suspicious nature.