Ivan IV
Ivan IV, known as Ivan the Terrible (1530-84). Tsar of Russia. He became Grand Prince of Moscow in 1533 and was crowned tsar of all Russia in 1547 at the age of 17. As tsar, he followed a policy of expansion and consolidation, conquering Kazan, Astrakhan, and western Siberia. After the death of his first wife he became al-most insanely tyrannical and was responsible for several ruthless massacres. These included the killing of his own son (1561). He subsequently married a further five times.