Ivan IV of Russia
Hello, my name is Ivan
the IV of Russia most people call me Ivan “the terrible” I was born August 25,
1530. I was only 3 when my father died, so I grew up without a father figure. On
December 29, 1543, I was only 13 years old ordered the arrest of Prince Andrew
Shuisky, who was reputed to be a cruel and corrupt person. I established a new
code of law; I expanded Russia and gave it a better army. Although there were
some bad things I did like breaking the power of
the Muscovite boyars, exiling thousands of them to Siberia I also created a new militia, the oprichniki, who
were devoted to me and were encouraged to rape, loot, burn, and kill in my
name. They spread terror throughout Russia, culminating in the massacre of
Novgorod in 1569. I also
beat my own son to death in 1582. I was an absolute Monarch because I had
complete power over everything and did not trust many people. I would kill
anyone that betrayed me including my own son. I controlled all aspects of my
government and tried to have control over everything that occurred in my
country.
