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Eldar Kadymov | all galleries >> Galleries >> Golden Domes & Splendor Of Moscow And St.Petersburg > Throne of Ivan the Terrible
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19-NOV-2005

Throne of Ivan the Terrible


Ivan IV Vasiljevich the Terrible (1530-1584) was a Grand Prince of "all the Russia," the first Russian Tsar who united Russians in one great state. He was one of the greatest Russian and European figures in the history considering his role in development of European politics, historical heritage, revolutionary political reforms and military ventures. He introduced so-called Rada or first Russian parliament with himself and distinguished nobbles as governing power, so-called Zemstvo or first supreme court for folks, compiled code of laws in 1550 for first time, reformed the Government and Court (provincial and by district ). The first printing-house was created in Moscow also during his reign. He conquered the greatest enemies of Russia such as Kazan Khan and Astrakhan Khan and ensured stability of Russian borders. For strengthening of state power and unification of Russia he introduced so-called "the oprichnina" or state police for first time in European history. He set up commercial connections and established trade with England & France and rest of West Europe. Joining of Siberia to Russian State was begun and completed during his reign. His library was considered one of the most complete and greatest ones of all times, unfortunally it was hidden after his death and up to these days is on the archeological radar. He earned title “Terrible” through conducting horrible repressions against the Russian nobles accompanied by tortures and executions, strong enslaving of peasants, imposed and controlled by government system of total police terror and interrogation penetrating all levels of society. He even managed to kill his own son, when he was in complete rage… Ivan IV had horrible childhood and tough youth while being tortured and humiliated by nobles , and this maybe shaped some dark sides of his nature… Very contradictory and difficult to judge figure …


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Bernd Koenemann25-Jan-2006 04:40
My memory of history leaves a lot to be desired. What exactly was so terible about Ivan?

Whenever I see or hear the name Ivan I have to think of an advertisement on American radio. The ad is about a Russian space station (I think it was called mir, peace) in questionable repair. You hear some space noises (did you ever realize that the spaceships in 2001: A Space Odyssey do not make any noise? Kubrick got it right, vacuum does not conduct sound) and a foreign, supposedly Russian voice. Then an American voice says (paraphrased) "That means, where's the duct tape, Ivan?"