Tsarevich Ivan Ivanovich of Russia

Who was Tsarevich Ivan Ivanovich of Russia?

Ivan Ivanovich of the House of Rurik, was Tsarevich - the heir apparent - of the Tsardom of Russia, being the second son of Ivan the Terrible and Anastasia Romanovna, and elder brother of Feodor.

The young Ivan apparently accompanied his father during the Massacre of Novgorod at the age of 15. For five weeks, he and his father would watch the Oprichniks with enthusiasm, and retire to church for prayer.

Ivan purportedly once saved his father from an assassination attempt. A Livonian prisoner named Bykovski raised a sword against the elder Ivan, only to be rapidly stabbed by the Tsarevich.

In 1566, it was suggested that he marry Virginia Eriksdotter, daughter of King Eric XIV of Sweden, but this did not come about. At the age of 17, Ivan was betrothed to Eudoxia Saburova, one of 12 marriage finalists rejected by his father. Due to her sterility, Ivan's father banished her to a convent. He later married Praskovia Solova, only to have the elder Ivan send her away for the same reason.

At age 27, Ivan was at least as well read as his father, and in his free time, wrote a biography on Antony of Siya. His third wife was Yelena Sheremeteva, who was found to be pregnant on October 1581. His relationship with his father began to deteriorate during the later stages of the Livonian War. Angry with his father for his military failures, Ivan demanded to be given command of some troops to liberate besieged Pskov.