Ivan IV was the first tsar of Russia who ruled in the mid to late 16th century. He helped create a centralized government by acquiring vasts amounts of lands. Ivan IV may seem as a hero for uniting Russia; however, he should be remembered as a villain for his terrible rule of his people and his horrendous character.
Ivan IV inherited the power at the age of three, when both of his parents passed away. The boyars or the nobles were dubbed his guardians, and ten years under their rule scarred Ivan which changed him into a cruel and undisciplined person. To demonstrate his authority, “Ivan executed a member of the Shuisky family” ("Ivan IV." World ). This course of action was to help his Glinsky family have more influence. The execution was
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the beginning of his reign as in 1547, Ivan IV was officially crowned and took the title tzar. After Moscow caught fire, riots against the Glinsky family followed as Ivan became more interested in reforms. Ivan IV first important reform was creating Zemski Sobor, an assembly formed to make new laws such as the Sudebnik. He was a villain because the law made it harder for peasants to leave land, formed monopolies in trade, and exerted more control on the lives of his subjects. Ivan IV also treated people unfairly and was an unpopular leader because he disrupted the economy and culture. One example of this is when Ivan IV seized private lands and redistribute them to his supporters. Actions like these only caused chaos instead of keeping peace. Another reason why Ivan IV should be remembered as a villain is because of his character traits.
Ivan IV also goes by the nickname, “Ivan the Terrible,” since his character is one that a villain would have. Even as a young child, Ivan IV could be considered evil, as his boyar guardians “encouraged him to be cruel to animals and people and to engage in every form of debauchery” ("Ivan IV." Encyclopedia). One way that Ivan the Terrible was cruel to animals was that he took delight in throwing animals off the roof. But, he would also form a habit of robbing and beating the people of his capital. It is clear that because Ivan IV was involved in these immoral acts, he should be remembered as a villain. However, these were acts he committed as a child and continued this behavior as an adult. As an adult, Ivan the Terrible, “in a fit of rage lashed out at his 27-year-old son, Ivan Ivanovich, and struck him dead with an iron-pointed staff” ("Ivan IV." Encyclopedia). This shows that even as many years passed by, Ivan was still a villainous person. But, based on what Ivan wrote to Queen Elizabeth, we also know that Ivan is not a man of his words. Queen Elizabeth is the leader of England, who is considered a major trading partner with Russia. However, Ivan is unhappy with their ambassador; therefore, telling the Queen in a letter that “all our letters which we have so far given on trade matters are no longer valid” (Clio). This shows that Ivan IV is a villain for not keeping promises
with other nations. Even though Ivan IV committed a lot of atrocious act, there were some changes in made in society that can be considered heroic. Throughout his reign, Ivan made certain reforms that would increase the power of the middle and lower class. For example, Ivan IV introduced self-government to the rural area along with changing the method for tax collection. However, most importantly, “he instituted regulations on the obligations of the boyar class”(Biography.com Editors). This means that the nobles have a responsibility to help the others in the society as they have more money than the. It may seem as if Ivan IV is a great leader for helping out the majority of his subjects who need help the most. However during the oprichnina, the word “reform” was an “inappropriate characterization” because of “the tsar's statements and gestures—and his subsequent actions” (Crummey). This shows how Ivan IV’s reformation may not as been pleasant as it sound. Most of the changes that occurred during this time period were ones that were sudden and dramatic. Also, those changes Ivan IV made could barely seen as changes that improved his subjects. Even though Ivan IV had some heroic character in making reforms for the middle and lower classes, it wasn’t as pleasant as it seemed which shows some villainous trait. However, this is in addition to how terribly bad Ivan IV treated his subjects such as robbing, beating, and executing them. But, perhaps most importantly Ivan IV had a horrible character, being cruel to people, killing his own son, and not being a man of his words. All of this combines is what makes Ivan IV a villain in the books of history.
Nicholas II ruled Russia from 1894-1917 and was to be its final tsar. He ascended the throne under the impression that he would rule his whole life as it's undisputed leader. Accompanied by his wife, Alexandra, they lived a comfortable life of luxury while the country suffered around them. Nicholas was determined to rule as harshly as his father; however, he was a very weak and incompetent character who did not posses the qualities capable of guiding Russia through its time of turmoil.
Both monarchs had a royal background and were put in power with high expectations to continue the stability that the country possessed. Citizens aspire for all government officials to keep the peoples best interest in mind. But sadly, due to Ivan’s brutal childhood, he grew up observing and learning from the mannerisms of the corrupt elite. Ivan predominately gained power through fear and with this tactic was the first to exercise a despotism in Russia. One example of this is the story of the peasants who disturbed Ivan during one of his retreats. They came to him to complain of their governor who they believed was unjust but Ivan was so upset that they had troubled him with such a petty matter that he punished them. The men had their hands tied behind their backs, boiling hot alcohol poured on their heads and then their beards lit on fire with a candle. Apprehension and terror were Ivan’s main tools for keeping his people under control. Despite his totalitarian state of mind, Ivan believed that his decisions were still best for the country and the only way to keep it safe was by leaving it in constant fear. Although not always the most rational, the czar still made the suitable choices to keep the kingdom together. Similar to Ivan, Charles was not always under the influence of his mental disability. During his 42
I can use this source in my research project to defend why Czar Nicholas II is innocent to the abuse of power of the office of Czar.It reveales to me that even thouch Nicholas struggled with being the new Czar he truly did a lot for Russia to improve in learning abilities.Above all else, Nicholas loved Russia first and then his family; He thought the fate of the two was inseparable. No one knew the fault of the Romanov Dynasty better than him. Czar Nicholas sincerely felt his responsibility for the country, He thought that his destiny was within the country he ruled. I think it was really difficult for him but it was the only way to admit his mistakes and to say "sorry" to his people.
One of the things that affected Ivan’s death was the feeling of lioness because none of his family members cared about him. He became hopeless and stopped fighting the illness he had. Why and how he died isn’t clearly given in the story, but from one’s assumption, he might have had cancer.
“A leader does not deserve the name unless he is willing occasionally to stand alone” (Kissinger). Two leaders that stood alone by the end of their rules were Adolf Hitler and Ivan IV, or Ivan the Terrible. Ivan the Terrible was crowned the tsar of Russia in 1547 and ruled until he died in 1584. Ivan was known as an evil ruler who accused most of his noblemen of treason, killed thousands of his subjects, and murdered his son. When Ivan the Terrible died, Russia was left in financial and political ruin (Bogatyrev). Adolf Hitler was born in Austria in 1889 but loved Germany. In 1921, Hitler became the leader of the German Worker’s Party, a nationalist and anti-Semitic group, and based the Nazi Party on them. Hitler was dictator of Germany from 1933 until he committed suicide in 1945, and started World War II and the Holocaust while in power (“Adolf Hitler”, Biography.com). Ivan the Terrible and Adolf Hitler showed that people who have a similar impact on the world usually have the same characteristics. Ivan the Terrible and Adolf Hitler were both confident in themselves and in their countries and very paranoid, which caused them to be aggressive rulers willing to do whatever they needed to meet their goals.
The Romanov Empire had reign the Russian Empire for about 300 years before Nicholas II became the monarch. Unfortunately, the new Tsar of Russia was also advised by Konstantin Pobedonostsev, who promoted autocracy, condemned elections, representation and democracy, the jury system, the press, free education, charities, and social reforms; an outdated ideology by the turn of the twentieth century. Although Nicholas II possessed some skills that would have been advantageous as the leader but, overall he was not suitable to be the Tsar of Russia. Even though Czar Nicholas II implemented limited reform that were beneficial for the empire; there were more fiascos during his reign thus lies the collapse of the Romanov Empire on his political skill,
Throughout history there have been many odd characters. Russian history was not excluded. Grigory Rasputin, who was an assistant to the Royal Russian family, was an unusual man.
Eventually, she had a son named Paul. However, historians are unsure of who Paul’s father actually was. It is believed that his father is either Catherine’s husband, Peter, or it could be Sergei Saltykov, Catherine II’s lover at the time. When Empress Elizabeth died in 1961, Peter III and Catherine II came into power in Russia. Peter III began to alienate himself from powerful people in Russia and he also took away land from the church. Catherine II saw this as an opportunity to take control of Russia and began to become close with nobles, officials, and the military in order to have a close relationship with those whom Peter had alienated. Catherine II with help from one of her lovers, Grigory Orlov, overthrew Peter III and took the title as ruler of Russia. Catherine II had managed to get Peter III to step down, but he was strangled at one of his estates in Ropsha, Russia. In fear of being overthrown like her late husband, Peter III, Catherine II took steps in order to help her keep her seat as ruler of Russia. She gave back the land that Peter III had taken from the church and recalled the troops sent by Peter III to fight
We are all condemned to death; it is inescapable. Even if a person doesn’t believe in the concept of destiny, it is undeniable that every person is fated to die at some point. Most people, however, are not aware of when exactly the inevitable will approach. Often in works of fiction, the reader, or sometimes even the character, is aware of their fate. There are many different understandings of destiny, which is one of the reasons why it has played such a large role in so many different literary works throughout the world and history. Fate is one of the principal literary devices used in Homer’s epic poem, The Iliad, Shakespeare’s tragic play, Antony and Cleopatra, and Tolstoy’s pedagogical novella, The Death of Ivan Ilych.
In Leo Tolstoy's The Death of Ivan Ilyich, the story begins with the death of the title character, Ivan Ilyich Golovin. Ivan's closest friends discover his death in the obituary column in chapter one, but it is not until chapter two that we encounter our hero. Despite this opening, while Ilyich is physically alive during most of the story's action he only becomes spiritually alive a few moments before his death.
In 1513, an Italian politician by the name of Niccolo Machiavelli distributed, though privately, a political treatise called The Prince. This treatise was, essentially, a guide on how to effectively rule one's country. It's important beforehand to define exactly what a Machiavellian is, before describing one. A Machiavellian is a leader who, through his power and influence, works toward the common good of his people. This can be done through fear, through deceit, even through manipulation. It is important to understand the main principle of a Machiavellian; the end justifies the means. The end being the common good of his people. Vladimir Putin is a Machiavellian in the ways he retains power, institutes reform, and executes economic recovery domestically; and also in the ways he manages international affairs, such as the issues with Syria, Snowden, and the 2014 Winter Olympics.
In his novella, The Death of Ivan Ilyich, Leo Tolstoy satirizes the isolation and materialism of Russian society and suggests that its desensitized existence overlooks the true meaning of life—compassion. Ivan had attained everything that society deemed important in life: a high social position, a powerful job, and money. Marriage developed out of necessity rather than love: “He only required of it those conveniences—dinner at home, housewife, and bed—which it could give him” (17). Later, he purchased a magnificent house, as society dictated, and attempted to fill it with ostentatious antiquities solely available to the wealthy. However, “In reality it was just what is usually seen in the houses of people of moderate means who want to appear rich, and therefore succeed only in resembling others like themselves” (22). Through intense characterizations by the detached and omniscient narrator, Tolstoy reveals the flaws of this deeply superficial society. Although Ivan has flourished under the standards of society, he fails to establish any sort of connection with another human being on this earth. Tragically, only his fatal illness can allow him to confront his own death and reevaluate his life. He finally understands, in his final breath, that “All you have lived for and still live for is falsehood and deception, hiding life and death from you” (69).
This point of the story is indirectly brought out in the very beginning when Ivan's colleagues, and supposedly his friends, learn of his death. The narrator states in paragraph 5:
Alexander II has been considered “a great historical figure without being a great man, that what he did was more important than what he was.” ( W.E Mosse) For 26 years, Czar Alexander II ruled russia. During his reign, he made his mark on history by stepping outside of the box and going to extreme measures to help his people. He has been labeled as the “Liberator of tsar” for the ending of serfdom. Czar Alexander II of Russia has made an impact on history because of his interesting background, fatal assassination, and the changes made after his assassination.
“The Death of Ivan Ilych” is a classic piece of Realist Literature. It was written by the Russian author, Leo Tolstoy. Realist Writers were known for their works being about plain ordinary people(Textbook). Realist writers wrote more about the outcast of society such as the lower class(Textbook). “The Metamorphosis” was written by Franz Kafka.