12 Times Ivan the Terrible Did Something Really Regrettable
Ivan IV Vasilyevich, also known as Ivan the Terrible, was the first tsar of Russia and reigned from 1547 to 1584. His name translates more technically to "Ivan the Fearsome" or "Ivan the Awesome," but considering his actions, "terrible" is pretty darn accurate. The list of crazy and horrific things that Ivan the Terrible did could span all of Russia, but here are a few of his most egregious mistakes. From inappropriate dating behavior to violent overreactions, these are Ivan's most unfortunate decisions.
When He Killed His Son
Photo: I. Repin / via WikimediaWhen Ivan the Terrible beat his son Ivan's wife until she miscarried (an unequivocally terrible act), his son confronted him. Then, his father did something really, really terrible. In his anger, he struck his son on the head with a pointed staff, killing him. As famously depicted in Repkin's Ivan the Terrible Killing His Son, this was probably a moment of instant regret.
When He Constantly Banged His Head Into Things
Photo: via WikimediaWhen he was young, Ivan was known to bang his head against the floor in front of religious idols, forming a callous on his head. However, he really kept it going, and continued to use this as a coping mechanism throughout his life. There are reports of him slamming his head on the floor upon the deaths of his wives, his murder of his son, and other fairly stressful moments.
When He Rewarded His Architect by Blinding Him
Photo: via WikimediaWhen the beautiful St. Basil's Cathedral was completed in 1560, it completely lived up to Ivan's expectations. However, legend has it that Ivan then gouged out his architect's eyes in order to ensure that he would never design anything as beautiful as the cathedral again.
When He Killed People in Super Theatrical Ways
Photo: Mikhail Clodt / via WikipediaIvan Fedorov was a member of Tsar Ivan VI's court, until he was accused of involvement in a plot to overthrow the tsar. Ivan the Terrible knew that Fedorov had to die, but he went with a very imaginative route. In 1568, he forced Fedorov to don the royal robes and sit upon the Tsar's throne with the royal scepter. He then bowed to Fedorov and said, "since I have the power to seat you I can also unseat you." He then proceeded to stab Fedorov several times.
Ivan really liked embracing his creative side, and this murder was not the only example. During the 1570 Massacre of Novgorod, Ivan decided to sew the Archbishop of Novgorod into a bear skin, and then let dogs hunt and kill him.
When He Pretended to Abdicated the Throne
Photo: via WikimediaIn 1572, Ivan disbanded his private army after they failed to defend Moscow. He then "abdicated" and placed a Tartar general, Simeon Bekboelatovitch, on the throne. Meanwhile, Ivan stayed at a country estate and regularly came to pay homage to the supposed tsar. He did this for about a year until he decided that it wasn't that fun anymore.
When He Basically Ran Away
Photo: Nikolai Nevrev / via WikipediaIn 1564, Ivan claimed to be leaving Moscow in order to visit monasteries. In reality, he just ran away from home, taking valuables with him and threatening to never return. Of course, he returned a few months later, proving that there's no place like home. Ivan claimed to have left Moscow because he was suspicious that the aristocracy and clergy were plotting against him, and he only agreed to come back on the condition that he be granted total authority over them - a condition that was granted.
When He Engaged In Unsolicited Beard Play
Photo: Alexander Litovchenko / via WikipediaWhen Queen Elizabeth sent some of her trusted ambassadors to Russia, it was likely assumed that everyone was going to take the visit quite seriously. But Ivan just couldn't help himself, and started playing with Lord Kennilworth's long beard. This is especially regrettable when one considers that Ivan was a potential spouse for Elizabeth at one point, so he really should have been thinking about making a good impression.
When He Got Married 8 Different Times
Photo: W. Schwarz / via WikimediaIvan had Henry VIII beat by a long shot. He got married eight times, and only the first three were church-sanctioned. Out of those eight wives, five were murdered and three were imprisoned. His last wife turned out alright, but that is probably only because she outlived him. The deaths of his various wives cannot be conclusively blamed on Ivan, but it seems... likely that he had something to do with it.
When He Led an Enormous Massacre
Photo: Viktor Vasnetsov / via WikimediaIvan's violent and bloodthirsty nature played out most tragically in the Massacre of Novgorod, launched by Ivan in 1570. His intense paranoia led him to persecute the citizens of Novgorod on suspicion of treason. The death toll is estimated as being anywhere from 2,000 to 27,000 people, and thousands were tortured. While retreating from Novgorod, Ivan had 90% of the fields burned.
When He Destroyed His Own Home
Photo: Grigory Sedov / via WikipediaFollowing the death of his first wife Anastasia, Ivan was inconsolable. This is understandable, considering the circumstances. However, he proceeded to suffer a total mental collapse and destroy his home, including smashing all the furniture.
Anastasia's death was deemed a poisoning, and this sent Ivan into a spiral of paranoia from which he never recovered.
When He Got Addicted to Mercury
Photo: Klavdiy Lebedev / via WikipediaIvan did not age well. At the end of his life, he was carried around in a cart and smelled pretty terrible. For his pain, he was prescribed painkillers, which he took excessively. It can be assumed that this painkiller was mercury, since a ton of mood swings, nervousness, irritability, and other emotional changes, it was found in his bones after he had died. In fact, it is believed that he had a cauldron of the stuff in his room. Historians think this toxic chemical might have been partly responsible for his insane behavior - symptoms of mercury overdose include "mood swings, nervousness, irritability, and other emotional changes."
When He Got Too Worked Up Over a Game of Chess (And Died)
Photo: Ivan Bilbin / via WikipediaCleary, Ivan the Terrible was a guy with a serious lack of self-control, and this extended to his mind. So when he sat down to play chess, a game of cold, hard strategy, he straight up died. The reason for his fatal attack is unknown, though it was likely a stroke.
