Ivan Iv Essay, Research Paper
Ivan IV: The First TsarIvan the Terrible was only 3 years old when he became the tsar of Russia. Obviously too young to actually rule, his mother Elena and her lover, Ivan Obolensky, ruled the country for him. In 1538, Elena died and Ivan Obolensky killed for the chance to rule the country. In 1542, Ivan was taken down to the torture dungeons by Josephus, Ivan Shuisky, and others to watch people being tortured. They would have him pull feathers off of birds and drop animals off the highest point in the city and watch them splat on the ground. To say that young Ivan was desensitized wouldn’t be the half of it. When Ivan began ruling, he would walk down the streets and execute anyone whose appearance offended him.