Ivan the Terrible or Fearsome?

Ivan IV of Russia, remembered in the West as Ivan the Terrible, didn't actually earn a title that meant "terrible" in the modern sense of cruel or monstrous. The Russian word "grozny" is more accurately translated as "formidable," "awe-inspiring," or "fearsome." It described his power and ability to instill respect, not just his brutality. Thanks to centuries of mistranslation, Ivan's image outside Russia became far darker than the one his contemporaries intended.

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