Why Ivan 4 is called Ivan the Terrible ?

Some figures in history are lucky enough to have a nickname for what they’ve achieved in their life, Alexander 3 as alexander the great, Sachin Tendulkar as Master blaster, Mahatma Gandhi as Bapu, William 1 as William the conquerer but one of the famous or rather infamous nickname is Ivan the Terrible.

Ivan Vasilyvich 4, was born on 3rd September 1530. He was considered as the True Tsar of Russia (pronounciation : zar) . Before him the head of Russia were know as Muscovy (Grand Prince). Ivan was crowned as the Tsar of all russians with Monomakh’s cap at the age of 16, yet Ivan is not noted as Ivan the 4th or Ivan the First Tsar through the history. He is rather known as Ivan the Terrible. So what did Ivan do in his lifetime to earn the name Ivan the Terrible ?

Like the name suggests, he did a lot of terrible things. His terribleness began in his tough childhood. His father died quiet early leaving him to become Moscovy at the age of 3. His mother was insecure and power hungry. She took on the power from his late father, and sent his uncle in prison, just to avoid any conflit regarding inheritance. She didnt live longer after all this. It was believed that she was poisoned by the Boyar, the Aristocracy of Russia.

With his Father, Mother and close family dead, he was orphan at age of 8. He spent his childhood locked away with little food to eat almost like he was a begger at his own house. He took pleasure in killing small animals. Which basically lead him to mental issues. It all increased with death of his first wife, Anestasia.

He was now being noticed with erratic behaviour, mood swings, paranoya. This lead him to forming secret police and enforcing his will on russian population. This was at peak during massacre of Novgorod in 1570. Novgorod was a commercial hub in russian empire. Ivan believed the whole population is plotting to overthrow him. He ransacked the town and put thousands to the sword.

He was also constantly engaged in wars. His biggest war was against the Tatars who were constant threat to russia. Russia captured the city of Kazan in 1552. Basil’s Cathedral was built in honour of this Victory. It is also said that he blinded the architects of the Cathedral, so that they will never build anything beautiful like this ever again.

But wait these are not the most terrible things that he has ever done. He actually beat his own son to death. This was result of psychotic burstouts against a kid with whom he had a disagreement with. For the argument finally he killed him with a walking stick.

These are some of the terrible things he did, to earn the nickname Ivan The Terrible. But terrible here is translated from russian word Gronzy which means the threatening. So the one who introduced the title Ivan the Terrible probably meant, Tsar Ivan who inspired terror.