Till that time the local rulers wore the title of the Grand Prince of Moscow and Ivan was the first real Emperor (Tsar). There are many stories of his cruelty.
On this day in 1547, Ivan IV the Terrible was crowned the Russian Emperor (Tsar). Until that time, the local rulers bore the title of the Grand Prince of Moscow and Ivan was the first real Emperor. There are many stories of his cruelty. On one occasion, when he saw his son’s wife walking in inappropriate clothing, he physically assaulted her, causing her to suffer a miscarriage (she was bearing his grandson).
When, because of that, his son started arguing with him, Ivan IV the Terrible struck him on the head with a pointed staff, causing his death. Therefore, he was later succeeded by a younger, intellectually disabled son. John was supposedly very sorry for the murder of his son, so that he repeatedly pounded his head into his son’s casket before the funeral.
