This ruler sponsored over three thousand symbolic ancestor-lists which were sent to monasteries to commemorate dead noblemen.
This ruler sponsored over three thousand symbolic ancestor-lists which were sent to monasteries to commemorate dead noblemen. His regime was threatened with losing a war after Stephen Bathory became king of Poland, which led this ruler to ask Pope Gregory the Thirteenth to mediate the conflict. After emerging from that disastrous Livonian War, he became increasingly paranoid and organized the oprichniki (aap-RICH-nick-ee) to terrorize his enemies. For 10 points, name this Rurikid Dynasty ruler who killed his own son and left Russia in shambles on his 1584 death.
This ruler sponsored over three thousand symbolic ancestor-lists which were sent to monasteries to commemorate dead noblemen.
{Ivan} the {Terrible} [or {Ivan IV} of Russia; or {Ivan Vasilyevich}; or {Ivan Grozny}; prompt on