6. The Death of Ivan the Terrible’s Son
In 1581, Tsar Ivan IV of Russia, known as Ivan the Terrible, struck his son, Tsarevich Ivan Ivanovich, in a fit of rage, leading to the son’s death and the weakening of the Russian monarchy. On November 15, 1581, Ivan IV chastised his daughter-in-law, Yelena Sheremeteva, for her attire during her advanced pregnancy. This led to a confrontation between father and son, during which Ivan IV fatally struck Tsarevich Ivan Ivanovich in the head with his scepter. The incident resulted in the death of Tsarevich Ivan Ivanovich on November 19, 1581. This tragic event left Ivan IV’s son, Feodor Ivanovich, to inherit the throne. However, Feodor’s reign was marked by ineffectiveness, leading to the eventual downfall of the Rurikid dynasty and the onset of the Time of Troubles in Russia. (Gateway to Russia.)
