Was Ivan IV truly "terrible," or was he simply "formidable"? In this episode, we dismantle the myths surrounding the first Tsar of all Russia, whose reign transformed the nation from a medieval state into a fledgling empire. We explore the nuance behind his famous epithet, Grozny, which historically meant "awe-inspiring" or "keeping enemies in fear" rather than evil.

Tune in as we chart Ivan’s traumatic childhood as an orphan neglected by feuding boyars and his rise to power at age 16. We discuss his early "golden years" of reform, including the establishment of the Zemsky Sobor (parliament), the streltsy standing army, and the introduction of the printing press to Russia. You will learn how his military campaigns in Kazan and Astrakhan secured the Volga river, effectively turning  ...