Sovereigns' reign in Great Britain and Russia in the 16th century

Queen Elizabeth I of England
and
Ivan IV Tsar of All Russia
(ruled 1558-1603)
(ruled 1533-1584)

The political situation in England before the reign of Elizabeth I
The Tudor age: rapid inflation, Reformation and religious disagreements between Catholics and Protestants.

The political situation in Russia before the reign of Ivan IV
The time of centralization and consolidation of lands.
The period of political crisis provoked by the rule of struggling boyar clans.

Family of Elizabeth I
Henry VIII
1491-1547
(Father)
Anne Boleyn
c.1504-1536
(Mother)
The Lady Elizabeth in 1546, by an unknown artist

Family of Ivan IV
Vasili III
1479-1533
(father)
Elena Glinskaya
1508-1538
(mother)
The Birth of Ivan IV

The early lives of
Elizabeth I and Ivan IV
The childhoods of both Elizabeth I and Ivan IV was full of painful and confusing episodes.
Elizabeth I
the death of mother – 3
the death of father – 13
had 3 stepmothers, two of whom were executed
Ivan IV
the death of father – 3
the death of mother – 8 (assassination by poison)
mother was indifferent to the child
witnessed the terrible acts of torture and cruelty

The characters of
Elizabeth I and Ivan IV
Sensitive and intelligent, Ivan became cruel, secretive, suspicious, shy, mistrustful and irritable.
He always thought that he was surrounded by enemies and betrayers.
The execution of mother and two stepmothers had a negative impact on Elizabeth’s psychology.
These tragic events became the reason for her negative attitude towards marriage.

Elizabeth I and Ivan IV were the best educated persons of their time
Latin
Greek
Spanish
French
History
Philosophy
Mathematics
Art
Reading
Writing
The Bible

Religion
Ivan IV
Was a devout person, cultivated a close relationship with the Orthodox Church.
Religion – a political force. The leader – a God on the Earth.
Elizabeth I
Was educated in a Protestant faith. Believed in religious tolerance: ‘There is only one Christ, Jesus, one faith’.

Elizabeth’s I domestic policy
Religious settlement and the establishment of the Church of England
Marriage to the Kingdom
Sell of monopolies and official positions in the government

Ivan’s IV domestic policy
New law code – the Sudebnik
Standing army – the streltsy
The Zemsky Sobor – the council of the nobles
The first laws restricting the mobility of the peasants;
The oprichnina and the persecution of the nobles

Elizabeth’s I foreign policy
Elizabeth I considered trade to be the most important foreign policy matter.
She encouraged English traders to settle abroad and to create colonies.

Ivan’s IV foreign policy
Ivan’s IV reign is remarkable for the conquest of Kazan and Astrakhan, colonization of Siberia and unsuccessful Livonian war.

The establishment of
Russian-English
trade relationships.
Ivan IV and English merchant,
Richard Chancellor
Ivan the Terrible Showing His Treasures to Jerome Horsey

The results of the reigns of Elizabeth I and Ivan IV
Elizabeth I – The Virgin Queen, Gloriana
England – a powerful trading empire
Ivan IV – The Terrible, tyrant and despot
Russia – a multiethnic and multiconfessional state

An Illustrated History of Great Britain by David McDowall;
«Исторические портреты и этюды»
В.О. Ключевский;
«История государства Российского» Н.М.Карамзин;
www.npg.org.uk
www.answers.com
www.varvar.ru
www.hrono.ru
www.elizabethi.org
Bibliography