Charles IV of Spain vs Ivan the Terrible

Charles IV became King of Spain upon the death of his father Charles III. His reign was marked by reliance on his wife Maria Luisa and her favorite Manuel Godoy, leading to ineffective governance and growing discontent.

Charles IV signed the Treaty of Fontainebleau with Napoleon, allowing French troops to cross Spain to invade Portugal. This agreement led to the French occupation of Spain and triggered the Peninsular War.

Under pressure from Napoleon, Charles IV abdicated the Spanish throne in favor of his son Ferdinand VII at Bayonne, France. This abdication was part of Napoleon's plan to install his brother Joseph as king of Spain.

After abdication, Charles IV lived in exile in France under Napoleon's supervision. He remained there until his death in 1819, never returning to Spain, while the Peninsular War raged.

Ivan IV was crowned as the first Tsar of All Russia, adopting the title of Caesar. This coronation asserted Russia's independence from Mongol influence and claimed imperial status. It marked the beginning of centralized autocratic rule in Russia.

Ivan IV led a Russian army to conquer the Khanate of Kazan, ending Tatar rule in the Volga region. The siege lasted several weeks and resulted in the annexation of the khanate. This victory opened the way for Russian expansion into Siberia and the Caspian region.

Ivan IV launched a war against the Livonian Confederation to gain access to the Baltic Sea. The war lasted 25 years and involved Poland-Lithuania, Sweden, and Denmark. It ended in Russian defeat, with Ivan failing to secure a Baltic port.

Ivan IV created the Oprichnina, a separate territory and state apparatus under his direct control. He used the Oprichniki, a corps of secret police, to eliminate his political opponents. This policy led to widespread terror, executions, and confiscation of lands.

Ivan IV led the Oprichniki in a brutal campaign against the city of Novgorod, suspected of treason. Thousands of inhabitants were killed, and the city was looted and destroyed. This massacre broke the power of Novgorod and terrorized the Russian population.

Ivan IV struck and killed his eldest son and heir, Ivan Ivanovich, during an argument. The tsarevich died from his injuries days later. This event left Russia without a capable successor and contributed to the Time of Troubles after Ivan's death.