S6·E23 Ivan the Terrible: Might and Madness

Examine the violent, transformative reign of Ivan IV, the first tsar of Russia, whose rule fused sweeping ambition with terrifying brutality. It traces his rise from a neglected child‑prince to a ruler determined to centralize power and expand Russia’s borders. The program explores Ivan’s early reforms, his military campaigns, and the creation of the Oprichnina, a feared state within a state that unleashed widespread terror. Through expert commentary and dramatic reenactments, the episode reveals how personal tragedy, paranoia, and absolute authority shaped Ivan’s descent into cruelty. Yet it also highlights his role in forging a more unified Russian state. The portrait that emerges is of a ruler both mighty and monstrous—an architect of empire whose legacy remains deeply conflicted.