Ivan the Terrible

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Ivan the Terrible Full Name: Ivan IV Vasilyevich Alias: Ivan the Terrible Ivan the Formidable Ivan the Fearsome Origin: Kolomenskoye, Grand Duchy of Moscow Occupation: Tsar of Russia (1547 - 1575) Skills: Military might Great political power Hobby: Sadistically tormenting and killing others Engaging in divine worship Playing chess Goals: Conquer Russia and enforce his brutal rule upon its people (succeeded) Crimes: Child abuse Mass murder (including child murder) Filicide Torture Mutilation Genocide Persecution of Christians Xenophobia War crimes Crimes against humanity Cruelty to animals Misogyny Anti-Semitism Type of Villain: Sadistic Aristocrat

“	Ivan the Terrible waged a forty-year war on his own country, Russia. Thousands were slaughtered. He devised cruel, sadistic punishments in his personal torture chamber. He watched prisoners flayed, boiled, and even fried. He destroyed villages, towns, and an entire city. He stabbed his son to death in a fit of rage...all in the name of God.	„
	~ Introduction to a Discovery Channel documentary about Ivan the Terrible

Ivan IV Vasilyevich, infamously known as Ivan 'the Terrible', (August 25^th, 1530 - March 28^th, 1584) was the first Czar of Russia. He lived during the 16th Century and is considered to be one of the most horrific leaders to have ever lived, it is estimated that he killed in totally 1 million.

Acts of Villainy

His sadistic and sociopathic tendencies were noticeable even from his childhood, given that he took delight in torturing adults and even childrens.

He is known for killing large amounts of people, including his own son, often in extremely brutal, sadistic, and destructive ways. Despite his actions, he was initially a good ruler according to some, but went mad with grief and anger when his first wife, whom he deeply loved, died. Also, despite his sadism, he truly believed that he was doing what God wanted him to do.

At some point during his reign, he founded the Oprichniki, a secret police force devoted to carrying out his will. These fiendish men, many of whom were criminals, instilled complete fear of Ivan in the hearts of his subjects. So as to symbolize their role as enforcers of Ivan's will, they rode black horses, dressed in black robes, and wore the heads of dogs on their saddles and carried brooms, claiming they would "sniff out opposition to Ivan and sweep it away." It was with their help that Ivan was able to carry out his brutal methods of torture and execution, though despite this, he became less trusting of them in his later years.

Achievements

Aside from his cruelty, Ivan was known for being an able and competent diplomat, and was a proud patron of the arts. However, even then he could be sadistic: he had the architect who built his magnificent palace blinded so that he could not build anything more beautiful. Ivan usually reserved his worst cruelties for the nobility, most of whom he despised for destroying his family when he was a child. His brutal military campaigns, particularly the siege of Khazan, ultimately unified Russia.

Ultimately, he was brought to his senses after accidentally killing his favorite son when the latter tried to stop him from hurting his wife. Overcome with remorse and guilt, Ivan became (somewhat) good. He began praying for forgiveness for his misdeeds; he sent out lists of his victims to various churches, asking the priests to pray for their souls, and shut down the Oprichniki. He became so insane, that he even complied to Queen Elizabeth I for political asylum (Side note, he proposed to her in the past and was rejected with no hesitation). However, this still did nothing to prevent the people in Russia from being killed and tortured in brutal ways under his rule.

Death

Ivan died from a stroke while playing chess with Bogdan Belsky on March 28^th, [O.S. March 18^th] 1584. Upon Ivan's death, the Russian throne was left to his unfit and childless middle son Feodor. Feodor died childless in 1598, ushering in the Time of Troubles.

Trivia

• Ivan played a major role in the Russian Conquest of Siberia.

Links

Ivan the Terrible (Night at the Museum) on Villains wiki