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Today in History - 25th August

25th August 1530 - Ivan the Terrible born near Moscow

495 years ago today, Tsar Ivan IV of Russia, also known to history as Ivan the Terrible, was born at the royal estate of Kolomenskoye, a few kilometres southeast of Moscow. He was the eldest son of Vasili III, Grand Prince of Moscow and all Russia, and his second wife Elena Glinskaya.

At the time of Ivan's birth, Russia was far from the sprawling transcontinental state that we know today. From the 9th to the 13th century, many of the Slavic lands of north-eastern Europe were united under the banner of the Kievan Rus. However, following the Mongol Invasion of Europe, the Rus separated into numerous principalities, with the Grand Duchy of Moscow becoming the dominant one after conquering many of its rival entities. As a result, the rulers of Moscow titled themselves 'Grand Prince of All Russia.'

Ivan assumed this tile aged just 3-years-old, when his father died of blood poisoning caused by an abscess on his leg. His mother served as his regent until her death in 1538, and she was succeeded by a number of different power-hungry nobles, before Ivan assumed power for himself once he turned 16, at which point the Russian nobility and Orthodox Church chose to bestow on him a new title: Tsar - the Russian translation of 'Caesar.'

As Tsar, Ivan used brutal methods to transform Russia from a loose collective of principalities into a centralised nation, and expanded his domain eastwards, conquering the Khanates of Kazan and Astrakhan along the Volga River. Over time, Ivan began to be known as 'grozny' (a word that has been translated to English as 'terrible,' but more accurately means feared or formidable) due to the brutality in which he suppressed potential rebellions and suspected traitors. His reign lasted until 1584, when he died whilst playing chess with a close friend. He was buried in Moscow and succeeded by his son Feodor.

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