TIL about Ivan VI of Russia, named emperor in 1740 when he was two months old, deposed in a coup thirteen months later, then kept a prisoner in solitary confinement for 20 years until his murder.
TIL about Ivan VI of Russia, named emperor in 1740 when he was two months old, deposed in a coup thirteen months later, then kept a prisoner in solitary confinement for 20 years until his murder.
If anyone is trying to understand the current political situation in Russia, a brief look at their history is very instructive.
Russian History:
And then it got worse…
"we thought we hit rock bottom, but then we heard a knock from below" -Russian Joke
We wanted the best but it turned out as always.
Docile dogs breed such result but let's be real we got enough of that every where
It ain't like "western civilization" is progressing unless you count young people slaving in poverty as some sort of gold standard... 🤔
“If I fall asleep, wake up 100 years later and somebody asks me, what is going on in Russia, my immediate answer will be: drinking and stealing”
--Alexander Rozenbaum
For a brief recap of just the Soviet Union part, this is a fun little song.
He should have moved quicker to consolidate his power.
He clearly didn't listen to the right advisors.
Rookie mistake.
By this time twenty years of solitary confinement had disturbed Ivan's mental equilibrium, though he does not seem to have been actually insane. Nevertheless, despite the mystery surrounding him, he was well aware of his imperial origin and always called himself Gosudar (Sovereign). Instructions had been given not to educate him, but he had been taught his letters and could read his Bible.
I was most curious if like, he was even aware. Reason being Anne Frank doesn't remember much from before she knew language, only what she remembers as (very vague paraphrasing) primative instincts to want ice cream.
But it seems he was taught enough to understand his situation. Not sure if that's better or worse.
Edit; yes, Helen Keller, not Anne Frank
Do you mean Hellen Keller? Anne Frank was the girl living in the attic during nazi occupation in World War II. Helen Keller was blind and deaf and, to my recollection, wasn't able to communicate until adulthood when a teacher came along to teacher sign language.
That's depressing.
Yes, it is the happiest Russian childhood in history.
Upon the accession of Peter III in 1762, Ivan's situation seemed about to improve, for the new emperor visited him and sympathised with his plight, but Peter was deposed just a few months later. New instructions were sent to Ivan's guardian to place manacles on his charge, and even to scourge him should he become unmanageable.
Dang. Upon the doorstep of deliverance, a new emperor visiting your cell, empathizing with your position, only to have him deposed just as ruthlessly, and your situation made all the worse. How is this a real story and not some terrible ancient Greek tragedy?
Greek tragedies tend to start at a high point and head towards a low point and this boy never had a high point at all. This is more like a Russian tragedy
I mean, little dude peaked at two months old as emperor of Russia, then was Man-in-the-Iron-Masked until his death, right at the moment of his release.
Russian or Greek, it's a freaking tragedy. I hope the guard that followed orders in killing him before he could be released was subsequently wrecked. Freaking bootlickers, man. They exist in every century.
Thanks, I hate it
"...and then it got worse."
Interestingly this happened after the death of the Man in the Iron Mask