Anna Koltovskaya facts for kids

Anna Alexeievna Koltovskaya (Russian: Анна Алексеевна Колтовская; c. 1552 – 5 April 1626) was an important figure in Russian history. She was also known by her monastic name Daria (Дария). Anna was the fourth wife of Ivan the Terrible, who was the powerful ruler (Tsar) of all Russia. This made her the tsaritsa of all Russia.

Life

After his third wife, Marfa Sobakina, passed away suddenly in November 1571, Tsar Ivan IV wanted to marry again. However, this was tricky because the rules of the Russian Orthodox Church made it difficult to marry a fourth time. The Church usually allowed a first marriage, sometimes a second, but a third was seen as breaking the rules. A fourth marriage was very unusual. Ivan argued that his third marriage was not fully completed, which helped him get permission.

On April 29, 1572, Ivan married Anna Koltovskaya. Her father, Alexei Koltovski, worked at the royal court. Ivan did not ask the Church for permission beforehand. Instead, he held a special meeting at the Church of the Assumption. There, he gave a very emotional speech. His words touched the Church leaders (prelates) deeply, and they agreed to his marriage. However, they set some conditions for the Tsar. He was not allowed to attend church until Easter, and for a year, he had to spend time with people who were doing penance. After that, for another year, he had to spend time with regular Christians.

Their honeymoon took place in Novgorod. This city had been severely damaged by Ivan just two years earlier during the Massacre of Novgorod.

After about two years of marriage, Ivan started to lose interest in his wife. This was because she could not have children. He decided to end their marriage. Anna was then sent to the Vedenski-Tikhvinski convent. There, she became a nun and took the monastic name Daria. Only Anna and Maria Nagaya, who was Ivan the Terrible's seventh wife, lived longer than the Tsar himself.