Russia in 1839 -Empire of the Czar: A Journey Through Eternal Russia

CHAP. XXVI.

HISTORY OF IVAN IV. COMMENCEMENT OF HIS REIGN. — EFFECTS

OF HIS TYRANNY. —ONE OF ITS CAUSES.— HIS MARRIAGES.HIS

CRUELTIES.FATE OF NOVGOROD ABDICATION. — THE SECRET

OF RUSSIAN SERVILITY. IVAN RESUMES HIS CROWN. THE

OPRITCHNINA.EXTRACTS FROM KARAMSIN. COWARDICE OF

IVAN. МВЬШ V CONQUERED. — FRIENDSHIP OF IVAN AND QUEEN-

ELIZABETH OF ENGLAND. — IVAN ASSUMES THE COWL. RELI

GIOUS RESIGNATION. THE ONLY INDEPENDENT CHURCH. —

NATIONAL AND UNIVERSAL RELIGION. EXTRACT FROM KA

RAMSIN.ANECDOTE OF GRAND DUKE CONSTANTINE. — CORRE

SPONDENCE OF IVAN WITH GRIASNOÏ.—LIVONIA CEDED. — MURDER

OF THE CZAREWITCH.DEATH OF IVAN.APPENDIX: A NEW

ORDER OF ARCHITECTURE. RUSSIAN EQUITY. SKETCH OF

IVAN III., BY KARAMSIN.RESEMBLANCE OF PETER THE GREAT

TO THE IVANS. ACCOUNT OF THE DEATH OF ALEXIS, SON OF

THE CZAR PETER, BY M. DE SÉ^GUR.

If the reader has not made a particular study of the annals of Ilussia, he will find it difficult to believe that the sketch he is about to read is authentic history.

But all this mass of abominations, attested by history though read as fable, is not the most astonishing subject for reflection which a review of the long reign of Ivan IV. suggests. A problem altogether in-solvable to the philosopher, an eternal subject for surprise and painful meditation, is the effect produced by that unparalleled tyranny on the nation that it decimated. It not only failed to alienate the people ;