What Happened On January 16th?
On January 16th in the year 1547, Ivan IV, commonly known as Ivan the Terrible, was crowned tsar and grand prince of all Russia. At the Cathedral of the Dormition in the Moscow Kremlin, Ivan IV was coronated, establishing a centralized and autocratic rule.
Living up to his “nickname,” Ivan IV was indeed terrible, as he attacked his pregnant daughter-in-law for wearing unstandardized clothing, leading to her miscarriage. As a result, his son confronted Ivan IV, but Ivan IV lashed out, bashing his son’s skull to death with his staff.
Ivan, crowned at the age of 16, inherited the throne after the death of his father, Vasily III during a period of political change. At the time, Russia was transitioning from a decentralized feudal system to a more centralized state, and the title of “tsar” reflected a shift towards a monarchy, departing from the previous system of boyar influence.
The Coronation Day
During the coronation, Ivan IV took on the title of “tsar,” a term derived from the Latin “Caesar.” This designation elevated him to a position of supreme authority, emphasizing his role as the autocrat with absolute power.
The coronation rituals included anointing with holy oil, the presentation of the royal regalia, and the tsar’s public acceptance of the responsibility to rule with justice and protect the Orthodox Church.
Ivan’s coronation solidified the trend towards centralization, concentrating power in the hands of the tsar. This laid the foundation for the future development of an autocratic Russian state.
Ivan’s subsequent rule goes down in history as a ruler who achieved, but was notorious for his brutal acts. His reign saw the expansion of the Russian state and the establishment of the Oprichnina, a state policy involving mass repression and torturous executions.
In the year 1570, in Novgorod, Russia, Ivan IV accused Archbishop Pimen of treason and took his rage out on the whole town, murdering 2000 to 3000 civilians. His methodology of killing them, was by tying women and children to sleds, and pushing them into freezing waters.
What Did You Learn?
There’s no doubt that Ivan The Terrible was an evil man, who was ruthless, violent, and brutal towards human beings.
However, my question to you is – If Ivan IV was never coronated on this day, would the U.S.A. and the Soviet Union ever fight the Cold War?
I would love to hear your response below!
