Ivan the Terrible (1530–1584)

Question 1

Who was the first Tsar of Russia?

Answer 1

Ivan the Terrible (Ivan IV) was the first Tsar of Russia.

Question 2

When was Ivan the Terrible born?

Answer 2

August 25, 1530.

Question 3

What was Ivan the Terrible’s real name?

Answer 3

Ivan IV Vasilyevich.

Question 4

What does ‘Grozny’ mean in Russian?

Answer 4

‘Grozny’ means formidable or awe-inspiring, often translated as ‘Terrible.’

Question 5

What significant event happened in Ivan’s life at age three?

Answer 5

Ivan’s father, Vasili III, died.

Question 6

How did Ivan’s mother die?

Answer 6

She was possibly poisoned.

Question 7

At what age did Ivan become Tsar?

Answer 7

Ivan became Tsar at age 16.

Question 8

What architectural masterpiece did Ivan commission?

Answer 8

St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow.

Question 9

What territories did Ivan conquer during his reign?

Answer 9

Ivan conquered the Khanates of Kazan and Astrakhan.

Question 10

Which legal code did Ivan introduce to modernize Russian governance?

Answer 10

The Sudebnik of 1550.

Question 11

How did Ivan reduce the power of the boyars?

Answer 11

Ivan centralized power, limiting the influence of the boyars.

Question 12

What was the Oprichnina?

Answer 12

A secret police force created by Ivan to terrorize his enemies, especially the boyars.

Question 13

Which infamous massacre occurred during the Oprichnina?

Answer 13

The massacre of Novgorod in 1570.

Question 14

Who did Ivan kill in a fit of rage in 1581?

Answer 14

Ivan killed his eldest son, Ivan Ivanovich.

Question 15

What event marked the succession crisis after Ivan’s death?

Answer 15

The Time of Troubles.

Question 16

What was one of Ivan’s main contributions to the Russian state?

Answer 16

He centralized autocratic power and laid the foundation for future Russian tsars.

Question 17

How did Ivan’s reign influence future Russian rulers?

Answer 17

His autocratic rule influenced rulers like Peter the Great and shaped Russia’s political culture.

Question 18

What title did Ivan IV take, becoming the first ruler with this title in Russia?

Answer 18

He became the first ‘Tsar of All Rus.’

Question 19

What religious building did Ivan build in Moscow that stands as a symbol of Russian culture?

Answer 19

St. Basil’s Cathedral.

Question 20

What major internal reform did Ivan introduce?

Answer 20

The Sudebnik of 1550, a legal reform to centralize law enforcement.

Question 21

What event marked the beginning of Ivan’s violent rule after 1565?

Answer 21

The creation of the Oprichnina.

Question 22

Why is Ivan remembered as one of Russia’s most notorious rulers?

Answer 22

Because of his extreme cruelty, paranoia, and violent campaigns against his own people.

Question 23

How did Ivan the Terrible expand Russian territory?

Answer 23

By conquering the Khanates of Kazan and Astrakhan.

Question 24

What was a major failure of Ivan’s foreign policy?

Answer 24

The unsuccessful Livonian War, which weakened Russia.

Question 25

What legacy did Ivan leave behind?

Answer 25

He laid the groundwork for a strong, centralized Russian state but also caused significant devastation through his violent rule.

Question 26

What was Ivan’s favorite intellectual pastime?

Answer 26

He loved reading and maintained a personal library.

Question 27

What strange act did Ivan commission that backfired?

Answer 27

He commissioned a massive bell that was too large to move, rendering it useless.