Ivan Grozny, was the first ruler of Russia to call himself Tsar. The research into this complex man for my podcast is coming along having just received a book entitled Ivan the Terrible by Robert Payne and Nikita Romanoff (a grand nephew of Nicholas II). Originally published in 1975, it looks like an excellent piece of work. Will have to balance it off with other works on their way though.

One interesting thing about Ivan’s name, is that Grozny, the name given to him by fellow Russian’s does not mean Terrible as many think. Its meaning is closer to the word powerful than Terrible. More on that in the Ivan IV podcast series starting in two weeks.