Possevino et la mort du tsarevič Ivan Ivanovič

The Lucid Interval of Tsarevich Ivan Ivanovich Could Have Been Due to an Epidural Hematoma

“…On November 15, 1581, during a dispute at the Alexandrova Sloboda fortress, Tsar Ivan IV of Russia, Ivan the Terrible, struck his 27-year-old son Ivan Ivanovich on the temple with his scepter (►Fig. 1). Boris Godunov, who witnessed the incident, attempted to intervene but himself received blows.…”

“…Over the following days, the Tsar prayed for a miracle, but it was in vain, and the tsarevich died 4 days later, on November 19. [1][2][3][4] Since the incident occurred at a time when detailed medical records were scarce, the specific injuries suffered by Ivan Ivanovich were never adequately documented. However, given the severity of the blow and the characteristic symptoms of the lucid interval (LI), it is plausible that he suffered a fatal epidural hematoma (EDH).…”

“…I have killed my son!” The young man briefly regained consciousness and is said to have uttered: “I die as a devoted son and the humblest servant.” Over the following days, the Tsar prayed for a miracle, but it was in vain, and the tsarevich died 4 days later, on November 19. 1 2 3 4…”

How Quickly They Forgot: Ivan IV in Muscovite Historical Memory

“…He notes that "some say" that Boris Godunov and Bogdan Bel'skii poisoned Ivan IV and that "some say" that Ivan IV killed Tsarevich Ivan in a fit of temper 15 . These judgments are all in error: Ivan IV's decision to attack Novgorod was not influenced by foreigners, Ivan IV was not poisoned, and whether he murdered Tsarevich Ivan in a fit of temper is an open question 16 . Timofeev explicitly attributes these opinions to rumor, not manuscript written sources.…”