Regalia of Russian Tsars
Ivan IV the Terrible

(25.8.1530-18.3.1584)
The elder son of  Moscow Great Prince  Vassily III and his second wife Helen Glinskaya.
Moscow Great Prince (1533-1547)
First Tsar of Russia (1547-1584)

Ivan the Terrible. Ch. Weigel. Engraving. Fragment. Nuremberg, 2nd half of the XVIth century. From book "Veracious portraits of Moscow rulers". St.-Petersburg, 1882
Crowned for the Russian throne in 1547. The first Tsar of Russia. A special ceremonial was worked out for his crowning. It was held in the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. In the center of the adorned cathedral there was an altar stand for the Royal regalia and a high stepped platform where the royal throne stood. Near to the throne there stood the Metropolitan’s chair and on either side of the platform  - benches for the clergy. The royal regalia were brought to the cathedral and put upon the specially prepared altar stand, covered with precious fabrics. At the key moment of the Ceremony Metropolitan Makary put the cross, golden chain, barmas and the Crown of Monomakh, the inheritable crown of the Russian sovereigns, on Ivan IV (the Terrible). Since that time, during the whole XVIIth century, setting for reigning was officiated by the Heads of the Russian Church.