| Dmitri Ivanovich | |
|---|---|
| Tsarevich of Russia | |
 | |
| Born | 11 October 1552 Moscow, Russia |
| Died | (1553-06-26)26 June 1553 (aged8 months 15 days) |
| Burial | Archangel Cathedral, Moscow |
| Dynasty | Rurik |
| Father | Ivan IV of Russia |
| Mother | Anastasia Romanovna |
Dmitry Ivanovich (Russian:Дмитрий Иванович; 11 October [O.S. 1 October] 1552 – 26 June [O.S. 16 June] 1553) was the eldest son ofIvan the Terrible, theTsar of all Russia, and as such the firstTsarevich (heir apparent). He died in infancy.
Dmitry was born as the third child and first son ofIvan IV of Russia ("the Terrible") by his first wife,Anastasia Romanovna. Throughout the first four years of their marriage, Anastasia presented Ivan with two daughters, Anna and Maria. Both died in infancy, Anna at the age of eleven months and Maria before her sixth month. However, on 11 October 1552,[1] Anastasia gave birth to a son, Dmitry.
During a severe illness, Ivan asked the boyars to take an oath, making his infant son hisheir apparent and the firstTsarevich.[2] However, the boyars were not satisfied, as they wanted to see Ivan's cousin,Vladimir of Staritsa, succeed,[2] but they reluctantly accepted.[2] Historians cannot agree whether this episode occurred in 1552,[2] or 1553.[3]
In the summer of 1553, Ivan proposed apilgrimage toKirillo-Belozersky Monastery, near the present-day village ofKirillov. While on the Sora River, the royal boat was hit by a wave, it overturned,[2] and the Tsesarevich was dropped by hiswet nurse.[3] The adults managed to escape, but by the time they got to the baby, Dmitry had drowned.[2] A chronicle records thatMaximus the Greek, who had recently visited Ivan, allegedly foresaw the death of the Tsesarevich.[4] According toAndrey Kurbsky, Maximus had told Ivan that "he should not go such a long way with his wife and newborn lad".[4]
Dmitry was interred in theArchangel Cathedral. After his death,Anastasia Romanovna would have three more children, two of whom would survive infancy. Ivan's youngest son by his last wife was namedDmitry, after his eldest son, who had died more than 30 years earlier.
Tsarevich Dmitry Ivanovich of Russia (1552–1553) Born: 11 October 1552 Died: 26 June 1553 | ||
| Russian royalty | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Heir to the Russian throne asheir apparent early 1553 – 26 June 1553 | Succeeded by |