{
  "id": 16181162,
  "title": "Ivan the Terrible Wanted to Marry Elizabeth I. How Did England's 'Virgin Queen' Reject the Russian Czar Without Souring Trade Relations?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/23/ivan-the-terrible-wanted-to-marry-elizabeth-i-how-did-englands-virgin",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-10-23T11:45:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Smithsonian",
    "slug": "smithsonian",
    "url": "https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/ivan-the-terrible-wanted-to-marry-elizabeth-i-how-did-englands-virgin-queen-reject-the-russian-czar-without-souring-trade-relations-180989656/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In October 1570, Ivan the Terrible sent a letter to Elizabeth I, ending it with the phrase \"I spit on you and your palace.\" The Russian czar had recently executed his most capable foreign ministers, leaving no one to curb his language. Ivan was known for his mercurial nature, cruelty, and willingness to blame others for his poor decisions. Despite his fearsome reputation, he was a skilled politician who maintained control over Russia's vast territories. As he wrote his letter, Ivan was consolidating power within Russia while engaged in a war against Sweden. He was surprised that Elizabeth, known as the \"Virgin Queen,\" had not reciprocated his romantic intentions. Elizabeth, however, was well aware that she needed the approval of her subjects to maintain her power. By 1570, she had reigned alone for 12 years and saw no need for a husband, having survived her early years without one. England's relatively small, wealthy island had not been invaded by a larger power, and Elizabeth remained unmarried, which was advantageous for her. She often used marriage negotiations as a diplomatic tool, prolonging them until the threat had passed. Elizabeth also drew inspiration from her sister Mary's disastrous marriage to Philip II of Spain, which ended in little except Mary's unpopularity and the loss of Calais. Ivan threatened to spit on Elizabeth because he had reneged on a previous agreement granting the English Muscovy Company exclusive rights to Anglo-Russian trade. This had allowed foreign ships into Russia, undermining English imports of Russian goods, including rope for the Royal Navy. Tensions between the two countries also hindered English explorers' attempts to discover a northeast passage through Russia to India and China. Devlet I Giray, the Crimean khan, took advantage of Ivan's withdrawal and attacked Moscow, killing over 10,000 people and enslaving many more. This event solidified Ivan's realization of the benefits of an English alliance, leading him to restore the Muscovy Company's exclusive trading rights in March 1572.",
  "summary": "A new book details the Russian ruler's failed courtship of the Tudor queen, who famously remained unmarried during her nearly 45-year reign",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}