Who Really Killed Ivan The Terrible? Investigating Russia's Most Brutal Tsar

On March 18, 1584, Ivan the Terrible dropped dead over a chessboard. For centuries, historians debated whether Russia's first Tsar died of natural causes, a palace coup, or strangulation. In this investigation, a leading criminologist travels deep inside the Kremlin to examine 16th-century manuscripts, exhumed bones, and forensic toxicology. Uncovering deadly levels of mercury, the investigation reveals whether the tyrannical Tsar was assassinated by rival courtiers or driven to fatal madness by his own medical treatments. Welcome to Chronicle; your home for all things medieval history! With documentaries covering everything from the collapse of the Roman Empire to the beginnings of the Renaissance, from Hastings to Charlemagne, we'll be exploring everything the Middle Ages have to offer. Subscribe now so you don't miss out! 📺 You can now become a History Hit member right here on YouTube! Join for access to a new exclusive documentary every week, and access to over 160+ of our documentaries presented by world renowned historians like Dan Snow, Eleanor Janega, Tristan Hughes, Mary Beard, Matt Lewis and more. Get an exclusive release every week by signing up here: https://bit.ly/4pyExyn Chronicle is part of the History Hit Network. To get in touch please email [email protected].