The Death of Ivan the Terrible [SEP] language of work or name
The Death of Ivan the Terrible
The Death of Ivan the Terrible () is a historical drama by Aleksey Konstantinovich Tolstoy written in 1863 and first published in the January 1866 issue of "Otechestvennye zapiski" magazine. It is the first part of a trilogy that is followed by "Tsar Fiodor Ioannovich" and concludes with "Tsar Boris". All three plays were banned by the censor. It dramatises the story of Ivan IV of Russia and is written in blank verse. Tolstoy was influenced by the work of William Shakespeare
or breach of ecclesiastical privileges. He advised all means of destruction to be used against heretics, but without bloodshed, in the name of 'saving souls'. Heretics were drowned. Novgorod Bishop Gennady Gonzov turned to Tsar Ivan III requesting the death of heretics. Gennady admired the Spanish inquisitors, especially his contemporary Torquemada, who for 15 years of inquisition activity burned and punished thousands of people. As in Rome, persecuted fled to depopulated areas. The most terrible punishment was considered an underground pit, where rats lived. Some