gave them over to his torturers. At that stage, his reign was a reign of terror. Then, quite suddenly, he changed. After spending several days sunk in gloom, he called his trembling ministers together and announced that he intended to confess and repent of his sins. This he did in a characteristically dramatic manner, kneeling in the snow at roadside shrines, weeping bitterly for all to see.
The change lasted a number of years, during which time Russia was not ruled by Ivan the Terrible but Ivan the Capable, Ivan the Hard-Working, the Wise, even the Good. He proved himself a fine administrator, a skilful diplomat, and a talented general. He gathered a body of wise and enlightened counsellors round him and through them encouraged the arts and sciences and promoted social reform. He made many improvements in the way his country was run, and was especially interested in promoting scientific discovery and technological invention. He promoted trade with other countries, including England, and even proposed marriage to the English queen, Elizabeth I. Luckily for the English, she was very good at saying no.
Then it all went wrong again – and again there were reasons for it. In a comparatively short space of time fate struck Ivan a series of blows. His wife and eldest son died. And his greatest friend deserted him.
In the agony of his grief he turned first against the boyars, the great Russian landowners he hated because they had disregarded or opposed him when he was young. Many he tortured and executed, seizing their lands and possessions.
The boyars were not his only victims. Anyone who incurred his displeasure suffered. He was only too ready to strike. On a mere rumour that certain citizens of Novgorod were plotting against him, he laid waste the town and put hundreds of its inhabitants to the sword.
Still worse was to come. In the year 1580, Ivan’s personal tragedy reached a dreadful climax. In the course of a quarrel, he struck his eldest surviving son, whom he loved dearly, a blow which killed him.
It was too much for Ivan’s sanity. Tortured by feelings of guilt for which there could be no excuse or comfort, he fled to a monastery. There monks cared for this strange, distraught man until his death three years later.
On Ivan’s death, Russia was able to breathe easily again. But not for long.