Ivan IV, the Terrible  

First Czar of Russia, 1533-84 

According to legend after St. Basil’s Cathedral was completed, Ivan the Terrible put out the eyes of its architects to prevent rival edifices from being erected.

When he originally commissioned architects, Barma and Posnic, to build the cathedral, Ivan the Terrible called for eight clustered churches each one commemorating the most significant battles in his hard fought victory over the powerful Tartar ruler of Kazan.  In honor of this great triumph over Russia's Islamic rivals, each church was dedicated to an Orthodox saint.   Ivan was persuaded by his architects to change his initial plan and to build one central church with eight surrounding domes housing individual chapels.  Four of these chapels were arranged in the directions of the compass and another four placed diagonally.  The church was completed in 1560 and originally named Church of Protection of the Mother of God.

Aside from his military conquests and the erection of Russia's most recognizable landmark, Ivan encouraged cultural development, revamped the country's legal code, and significantly strengthened Russia's military.  In ruthlessly pursuing his goal of transforming Russia into a European power, however, he had over 3,000 of his own subjects put to death, all of whom he suspected were plotting against him. In a fit of rage he even killed his own son, Ivan.