Ivan the Terrible: Trauma, Power, and the Birth of Russian Autocracy

Send us a message!Ivan the Terrible wasn’t born a monster — he was made. In this episode, we descend into the childhood of Ivan IV Vasilyevich, the first Tsar of Russia, and trace how trauma, political violence, and abandonment shaped one of history’s most fearsome rulers. From boyar clans tearing the Kremlin apart to the brutal scenes Ivan witnessed as a child, we explore how paranoia became policy and how a neglected prince forged an empire through terror.  Music is by Alexander Nakarada.Support the show