Ivan IV of Ryazan

Grand Prince Ivan IV of Ryazan (Ivan Vasilyevich of Ryazan; ; April 14, 1467, Moscow – May 29, 1500) was the ruler of the Grand Duchy of Ryazan (1483–1500). He was the elder son of Grand Prince Vasily Ivanovich of Ryazan and Grand Duchess of Ryazan Anna Vasilyevna, younger sister of Ivan III of Moscow. He had a younger brother, Prince Fyodor Vasilyevich, with whom he shared domains in the Duchy of Ryazan. Domestic affairs Ivan Vasilyevich came to the throne of the Grand Duchy of Ryazan on the death of his father, Grand Prince Vasily Ivanovich, on January 7, 1483. As the elder son, he received Pereyaslavl of Ryazan (modern city of Ryazan), Rostislavl and Pronsk as his personal domains, while his younger brother, Prince Fyodor Vasilyevich (d. 1503), was given , and a third of Pereyaslavl of Ryazan as appanage. For a period of time, their mother, Grand Duchess Anna Vasilyevna, sister of Prince Ivan III of Moscow, ruled the duchy as regent. On August 19, 1496, Grand Prince Ivan Vasilyevich concluded an agreement with his brother, Prince Fyodor, according to which Prince Fyodor promised to never betray his brother and always assist in his politics; both must avoid military attacks on each other's lands. The agreement implied that if Grand Prince Ivan Vasilyevich died childless, the throne would pass to his brother, Fyodor, while if the latter died childless, his appanages would pass to his elder brother. Their mother, Grand Duchess Anna Vasilyevna was to receive a quarter of all income from both brother's domains. The court servants were also divided between the brothers. The agreement also prohibited either of the brothers to purchase or mortgage each other's inhabited localities. The internal politics of Ivan IV of Ryazan was focused on keeping Ryazanian boyars from entering Moscow court. He also granted large lands to the Church of Ryazan. Relations with Moscow Ivan IV of Ryazan continued his father's politics of loyalty towards Moscow. On June 9, 1483, he concluded a treaty with his maternal uncle, Grand Prince Ivan III of Moscow, which, as a matter of fact, put the Duchy of Ryazan in the position of a vassal principality. Dmitry Ilovayski argued that the position of the Grand Prince of Ryazan under this treaty was similar to a viceroy, rather than a ruler. Ivan IV of Ryazan obliged himself to never betray Grand Prince of Moscow, seek alliances or vassalage to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, or negotiate with the princes who escaped there.