Anastasia of Russia

Anastasia Romanovna Zakharyina (??? - 1560) was the first wife of the Russian Tsar Ivan the Terrible and the first Russian tsarina. She was the daughter of boyar Roman Zakharyin, who gave his name to the Romanov Dynasty of Russian monarchs. Feodor I of Russia was her son.

Related Topics:
1560 - Russian - Tsar - Ivan the Terrible - Tsarina - Romanov Dynasty - Feodor I of Russia

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It is widely believed that Anastasia had assuaging influence on Ivan's volatile character. In the summer of 1560, she fell ill to a lingering illness. In consequence to these events, Ivan suffered a severe emotional collapse suspecting that his wife had been a victim of malicious actions and had been poisoned by the Boyars. Although he had no evidence of such crimes, he had a number of them tortured and executed. He had already had a strong dislike for the Boyars due to their abusive actions toward him during his childhood.

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Further examination of the bone remains of Anastasia in the late 20th Century by archeologists and forensics experts have been able to provide evidence that could actually sustain her husband's claim.

Related Topics:
20th Century - Archeologists - Forensics

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Anastasia's brother Nikita Romanovich was the father of Feodor, the first to take surname Romanov. In other words, Feodor Romanov was the first cousin of the last Rurikid tsar, Feodor I. This connection with the derelict dynasty facilitated election of Feodor's son Mikhail Romanov to the throne after the Time of Troubles

Related Topics:
Feodor - Rurikid - Mikhail Romanov - Time of Troubles

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