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Yuri Vasilievich (Юрий Васильевич; 30 October 1532 – 24 June 1563) was the only brother ofIvan the Terrible. He was borndeaf, and was thus never considered to be a candidate as heir to the Russian throne. He ruled the appanage principality ofUglich on theVolga.
Yuri was the second son ofVasily III of Russia andElena Glinskaya. He was a year and a half old when his father died of a legabscess, and six when his mother was apparently poisoned. According to letters written by his older brother Ivan to another Russian prince,Andrey Kurbsky, the two children customarily felt neglected and offended by the mightyboyars from the Shuisky andBelsky families. An excerpt from their correspondence, describing their mistreatment, reads as, “My brother Yuri, of blessed memory, and me they brought up like vagrants and children of the poorest… What have I suffered for want of garments and food!” Unlike his brother who spent his spare time in learningtheology, Yuri was apparently only interested in food and games including ice-skating. Yuri accompanied his brother during the latter's coronation asTsar, and was later given a private residence with servants. On 16 June 1552, during theRusso-Kazan war, Yuri was given full charge of state affairs while his brother accompanied the army toKazan. Yuri was married on 3 November 1547 toPrincess Ulyana ofPalekh (Paletskaya) and had a son, Vasili, in 1559. The child died 11 months later.
Yuri died three years later from natural causes. His wife was sent to theNovodevichy Convent. Yuri's property was inherited by his elder brother.