‘Ivan the Terrible and His Son Ivan’ by Ilya Repin (16 November 1581) It’s thought Ivan the Terrible killed his son during a family row after Ivan Jr.’s pregnant wife walked past the Tsar in her undergown (showing one’s undies to the Tsar was highly offensive). Another account claims a political disagreement between the two lads was to blame… Ivan the Terrible swung his staff and accidentally smashed his son’s head before desperately trying to stem the blood flow, but to no avail. Twenty-seven-year-old Ivan was the only sane heir to the throne, his younger brother Fyodor was considered mentally ill. The image shows Ivan Jr. at death’s door, forgiving his father for lashing out by solemnly holding a distraught Ivan the Terrible’s shoulder with his right hand.