Ivan

By Giovanni Ricco

This book delves into the life and reign of one of the most complex and debated figures in Russian history: Ivan IV Vasilievich, known as "the Terrible." It aims to look beyond his reputation as a tyrant, exploring the multifaceted and deeply human personality of a ruler who left an indelible mark on his country's history.
The book begins by placing Ivan not as an isolated figure, but within the context of his contemporaries, emphasizing that his actions were not more excessive or cruel than those of his era's opponents and allies. Ivan is a complex and often misunderstood figure, whose decisions and behavior must be viewed in the context of an era marked by violence and political instability.
Through engaging narration, the book describes Ivan as a Russian prince who declared himself emperor and embarked on an ambitious program of reforms and territorial expansion. These actions, aimed at improving and strengthening his realm, are highlighted with particular attention to their complexity and the challenges Ivan faced.
Additionally, the work explores the power dynamics of a court full of intrigue and betrayal, where ruthlessness was often a necessity rather than a choice. Ivan is portrayed as a man constantly forced to defend himself from more ruthless internal and external enemies, in a context of duplicity and violence.
The book does not overlook the darker sides of his reign but seeks to balance them with an analysis of his successes and failures, showing how he was remembered mainly for his alleged monstrosities by his enemies.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Giovanni Ricco
• Release date: Nov 22, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215826249

Giovanni Ricco

Giovanni is an instructor at the Culham Historical Fencing and Mixed Martial Arts Club (CSSA) in the UK with a diverse martial arts background. He began his martial arts training in 1991 with Japanese Karate (kumite) and later moved on to Kickboxing for six years and then Muay Thai for four years, participating in amateur competitions. In 1999, he was introduced to Medieval and Renaissance fencing by his master of Italian historical fencing and started training in the manual of Fiore de Liberi and Marozzo. He also joined a group that trained in ancient Olympic boxing (Pygmachia), wrestling (Pale), the ancient mixed martial art of Pankration, and gladiatura in an experimental archaeology style (Arsdimicandi).In 2000, Giovanni received his first qualification as an Instructor of Medieval Fencing, followed by a second one in Renaissance Fencing (IRSAST). He taught his first class in southern Italy before receiving his qualification. He also received a qualification as an instructor of modern Pankration (Athlima) and taught his first class of bare-hand fighting in northern Italy (Venice). Along with his students in both northern and southern Italy, Giovanni participated in historical tournaments and battles. He later moved to South Milan and opened two classes in bare-hand fighting and fencing. In 2013, he received a qualification as a mixed martial arts instructor (FIGMMA).Giovanni further broadened his skills by joining a local club of defensive and dynamic shooting with firearms, participating in competitions. In 2018, he moved to China for work and continued to have students in all of his disciplines, including boxing. After moving to England, he joined a local historical fencing school in Wiltshire and then the Hema Fencing school in Oxford (OSS) and a Brazilian Ju Jitsu school to improve his wrestling skills. In 2022, Giovanni had his martial arts qualifications validated by the British Martial Arts and Boxing Association (BMABA).

Book preview

IVAN

Published by Giovanni Ricco

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© Copyright 2023 Giovanni Ricco

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Captions

Introduction

The Monk

Witness of a New Era

The Parents

Birth

Youth

Tsar

The court

The Military Leader

The Livonian War

Prince Kurbsky

Anastasia

The Oprichnina

Skuratov

Siberia

The Tatars

The Orthodox Church

Ivanovich

Final Years

The Death

Fedor

Dmitrij

Legacy

The Character of Ivan

Recent Studies

Ivan According to the Author

The Sources

What We Don't Know

Bibliography

Introduction

In an austere room, barely lit by the flicker of a candle under the breath of a night breeze, an old man stood before a crumpled parchment. He was a chronicler, one of those who tell the days of the world with a pen, though his name was destined to fade into the anonymity of history.

A group of people in a street Description automatically generated

His hands trembled as he wielded the pen, and a mix of excitement and fear filled him. He had lived long enough to witness the rise and fall of Ivan, a ruler who had reigned with an iron fist and intelligence few could boast. Now, with the death of the Tsar still fresh in popular memory, the chronicler felt the heavy responsibility of telling the story of a kingdom that had marked an era.

He was not a mere observer; he had walked through the shadows of the palace, listened to the whispers of counselors, and with his own eyes had seen the intrigues and alliances that had forged Ivan's era. He had observed the man behind the title of Tsar, a person made of flesh and bones, with passions, fears, and aspirations.

As he began to write, words flowed from him like a raging river. He narrated of a youth raised in the presence of giants, a boy who had learned early the price of power. He described the battles he had faced, both on the fields of war and in the corridors of power, and the victories he had seized with cunning and determination.

But it was not just an account of conflicts and strategies. The chronicler also outlined an intimate portrait of the man, revealing moments of doubt and uncertainty, broken loves, and betrayed friendships. He presented an Ivan who had loved deeply, suffered, and sought to balance duty with his own humanity.

With every sentence, the chronicler aspired to capture the essence of the protagonist, to show not only the Tsar but also the man. A man who had reigned in a time of tumultuous changes, who had led his people with authority and wisdom, and who had left an indelible mark in Russian history.

As the candle slowly burned down, marking the hours of the night, the chronicler wrote fervently, hoping that his work would be read by future generations, as a testimony of the era in which he had lived and of the Tsar he had tried to understand.

And so, with a pen in hand and a heart full of