Livonian War
A History from Beginning to End (Wars in European History)
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Livonian War
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Narrated by:
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Noel Fuller
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Hourly History
The Livonian War broke out in 1558 after Livonia, which was ruled by the Livonian Order of the Teutonic Knights, refused to negotiate with Russian Tsar Ivan IV over control of its lands. The Livonian Confederation had never been particularly stable, and tensions between the knights and the many factions vying for power had left Livonia dangerously weakened. Its position on the Baltic Sea made it a coveted prize, and Ivan knew Russia would not be the only country looking to exploit the crisis.
It was no longer a question of whether the country would be invaded, but who would invade first. Ivan had already achieved most of his foreign policy goals early in his reign. Gaining direct access to the Baltic Sea for Russia was all that remained, and he was determined to make it happen. Despite a tumultuous upbringing, Ivan had ruled with a level head in his early years on the throne. But that would soon change, as tragic loss, betrayal, and his own paranoia conspired to transform him from Ivan IV into Ivan the Terrible. This is the story of the Livonian War and the figures and events that shaped it.
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