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Ivan IV - the 'Terrible'? Trivia Quiz

In the history of Russia, perhaps only Stalin instills more fear and fascination than the infamous Ivan IV, the 'terrible'. Perhaps this little quiz will help place Ivan more properly within historical perspective.

A multiple-choice quiz by thejazzkickazz. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
thejazzkickazz

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
65,106

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
2242

Awards
Editor's Choice

Last 3 plays: Guest 54 (8/10), Guest 142 (6/10), Johnmcmanners (10/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Ivan IV 'the Terrible', the great tsar of 16th century Russia, held what title prior to becoming 'tsar'? Hint

King of Kiev and Minsk

Grand Prince of St. Petersburg

Grand Duke of Muscovy

Regent of Novgorod

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. Ivan IV was the first ruler to be *crowned* tsar over all of Russia.

True

False

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Question 3 of 10

3. Many scholars believe the sobriquet 'the Terrible' to be an improper interpretation of the title given to Ivan by his contemporaries. What is this poorly translated title? Hint

Pomestchik

Prikaz

Zemskii

Groznyi

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Question 4 of 10

4. Ivan had a family name ending in 'vich' (meaning 'son of'). What was this family name? Hint

Ivanovich

Vasilievich

Sergiovich

Davidovich

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Question 5 of 10

5. Prior to Ivan claiming the title czar, his mother ruled the country along with various members of the gentry class. What was Ivan's mother's name? Hint

Elena Glinskaya

Ilyana Prasteriov

Irina Vasnetyov

Ela Pratsky

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Question 6 of 10

6. Ivan worked to consolidate the Russian state, but ran into opposition from the gentry class. He was forced to create a smaller private state from which to work, which he called what? Hint

Zemshchina

Oprichnina

Boyar

Kitznek

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Question 7 of 10

7. Which of the following was not a conquest of Ivan? Hint

Kazan

Siberia

Astrakhan

Pskov

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Question 8 of 10

8. Ivan killed his eldest son in a fit of rage.

True

False

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. Ivan was involved in what activity at the time of his death? Hint

sleep

sex

chess

horseback riding

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Question 10 of 10

10. Which Russian film director created a three part epic on Ivan's life? Hint

Bodrov

Tarkovsky

Eisenstein

Sokurov

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Most Recent Scores

Dec 05 2024 : Guest 54: 8/10
Dec 03 2024 : Guest 142: 6/10
Nov 11 2024 : Johnmcmanners: 10/10
Nov 05 2024 : Guest 109: 8/10
Nov 05 2024 : Guest 86: 8/10
Oct 25 2024 : Guest 174: 3/10
Oct 25 2024 : Guest 24: 7/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Ivan IV 'the Terrible', the great tsar of 16th century Russia, held what title prior to becoming 'tsar'?

Answer: Grand Duke of Muscovy

He landed this title at the tender age of 3!

2. Ivan IV was the first ruler to be *crowned* tsar over all of Russia.

Answer: True

He was crowned tsar, a Russian derivation of the Roman term 'Caesar', in 1547. Some of his predecessors had already used the term, however.

3. Many scholars believe the sobriquet 'the Terrible' to be an improper interpretation of the title given to Ivan by his contemporaries. What is this poorly translated title?

Answer: Groznyi

I suppose that for history's sake (i.e. selling books) the translation 'terrible' or 'dread' causes more titillation, but many believe it better translated as 'stern', 'formidable' or 'feared'. Ivan's life was one of angst and dissonance as he was witness to cruel punishments and violent power struggles throughout his youth.

4. Ivan had a family name ending in 'vich' (meaning 'son of'). What was this family name?

Answer: Vasilievich

Son of Vasili III, who united the lands of Russia.

5. Prior to Ivan claiming the title czar, his mother ruled the country along with various members of the gentry class. What was Ivan's mother's name?

Answer: Elena Glinskaya

Elena Glinskaya was Ivan's father's second wife. He had no children from his first marriage.

6. Ivan worked to consolidate the Russian state, but ran into opposition from the gentry class. He was forced to create a smaller private state from which to work, which he called what?

Answer: Oprichnina

Those troublesome gentry were the boyars, whose domains were aptly termed 'zemshchina'.

7. Which of the following was not a conquest of Ivan?

Answer: Pskov

The Republic of Pskov was added to the Russian empire by Ivan's father Vasili III in 1510. The other conquests, namely: Kazan (1552), Astrakhan (1556), Siberia (1581), were made during Ivan's successful imperialist reign.

8. Ivan killed his eldest son in a fit of rage.

Answer: True

Madness overcame Ivan, who stabbed his eldest son to death during a violent melee. This left Ivan without a competent heir, as his younger son Fedor was unable to rule, and both his sons were childless.

9. Ivan was involved in what activity at the time of his death?

Answer: chess

Ivan became unpopular with many of his compatriots as a result of various debaucheries, executions and military failures. However, he also was known for his religious excesses and rehabilitation of 'victims'. His death was followed by a period of chaos, the legacy of this Jekyll and Hyde tsar.

10. Which Russian film director created a three part epic on Ivan's life?

Answer: Eisenstein

Eisenstein was able to finish the first two parts of the trilogy in 1945 and 1946, but the third went unfinished (Eisenstein died in 1948). The second of the trilogy was banned in the Soviet Union until 1958 ... It could have had something to do with Stalin!

Source: Author thejazzkickazz

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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