Massacre at Novgorod

     The Russian Czar Ivan the Terrible arrived at the city of Novgorod on January 2, 1570, leading a restless army that had already slaughtered citizens in towns and villages all along its path.   He had come to murder the people of the city, apparently because he believed that they opposed him.

       On arriving his soldiers first build high wooden walls around the city, so that no one could escape, and sealed churches and monasteries to prevent anyone seeking sanctuary.  Leading citizens and merchants were locked inside their homes while soldiers arrested city officials and clergymen.  Then, before beginning the massacre, Ivan decided he needed money to pay his army.  He announced that each priest and monk would bay a fine of 20 rubles.  Those who did not pay were stripped and flogged to death in the town square.

      Then, on January 9, Ivan ordered the killing of the general population to begin.  Each day the army was ordered to round up 1000 citizens, who were brutally tortured and killed in front of Ivan and his young son.  This lasted for 5 weeks, during which time and estimated 60000 people were put to death.  Finally, on February 12, the czar assembled what remained of the citizens of Novgorod and, announcing they were pardoned, blamed the city’s archbishop for bringing on the massacre and told them to “forget your wrongs!”

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