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Aug 2023
32m 7s

The 6 to 8 Wives of Ivan the Terrible

Lindsay Holiday
About this episode

What 16th century megalomaniac monarch magnified the power of his nation, ordered the violent executions of thousands of his own people, became obsessed with fathering male heirs and went through at least 6 wives, several of whom were murdered? Why Ivan the Terrible, Tsar of Russia of course! In fact he outdid Henry VIII of England in many terrible ways, including having not 6 wives but as many as 8. The exact number is still debated by historians. But 6 or 8, they would all come to regret their wedding vows. Let’s meet the women who were unfortunate enough to call one of the most evil men in history their husband.

Anastasia Romanovna

Maria Temryukovna

Marfa Sobakina

Anna Koltovskaya

Anna Vasilchikova

Vasilisa Melentyeva

Maria Dolgorukaya

Maria Nagaya


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Intro Music: Baroque Coffee House by Doug Maxwell

Music: From Russia With Love by Huma-Huma

Angevin - Thatched Villagers by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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