# Death of Ivan IV (1584)

URL: https://history-russia.com/timeline/1584-death-of-ivan-iv
Categories: ruler-change

Ivan IV died in March 1584 while playing chess. His son Feodor I succeeded, while Boris Godunov, brother of Feodor's wife, became the real ruler. The port of Arkhangelsk was founded the same year. Arkhangelsk became Russia's main link to western European trade. Ivan's death opened the last reign of the Rurikid dynasty.

## Why it matters
Ivan's death opened the last reign of the Rurikid dynasty.

Ruler at the time: [Feodor I](https://history-russia.com/rulers/feodor-i)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Feodor I of Russia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feodor_I_of_Russia)
- [Wikipedia — Arkhangelsk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arkhangelsk)
- [Wikipedia — Tsardom of Russia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsardom_of_Russia)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Death of Ivan IV](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Death+of+Ivan+IV)
- [Wikipedia — Timeline of Russian history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Russian_history)