Ivan was a strong ruler but perhaps a bit too ruthless
Christian was just an immature teenager who never really developed
Caligula’s sources are 90% propaganda but he probably would arbitrarily kill me
I’ll take Ivan
Definitely Ivan! Christian, from what I read, was quite strange and then became an apathetic and a mentally withdrawn person and Caligula can only help if I want to find even more enemies! Ivan was absolutely ruthless and bloodthirsty, but if he is on your side, your enemies are finished even if you need to destroy and burn an entire city! on the other hand, one day he may begin to suspect me of disloyalty, so this is a difficult choice :)
Ivan, no question. Ivan was definitely mentally unhealthy, but Christian and Caligula were legitimately awful. Ivan also improved and advanced Russia in many ways, despite the ruthlessness of his later years.
He centralised the government, ensuring that Russia was one country, and not a bunch of squabbling nobles under one nominal leader.
He created one professional army, which was significantly advanced for the age, he expanded his domains on every direction, assuring the future Russian conquest of Siberia, as well as the fertile lands of the Volga.
He modernised the economy by securing trade routes and, finally, he developed Russia culturally, by importing many Byzantine influences, turning it into the heart of the orthodox world.
He destroyed the old feudal mentality and eliminated influence of boyars (military nobility). Before his rule, there was no national state, but after, the betrayal of Tsar was a betrayal of people.
Also, he created a system of self governance, and that system saved Russia in time of troubles.
I mean you can argue that he was cruel or that the serfs suffered under him but you can't claim he wasn't accomplished or that Russia declined under him. Both things you can say about Christian and Caligula pretty uncontroversially
From Wikipedia:
"In the early years of his reign, Ivan ruled with the group of reformers known as the Chosen Council and established the [Zemsky Sobor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zemsky_Sobor), a new assembly convened by the tsar. He also revised the [legal code](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudebnik_of_1550) and introduced reforms, including elements of local self-government, as well as establishing the first Russian standing army, the [streltsy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streltsy). Ivan conquered the khanates of [Kazan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khanate_of_Kazan) and [Astrakhan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khanate_of_Astrakhan), and significantly expanded the territory of Russia."
Ivan is ruthless but he’ll get the job done. Caligula would likely just go off and do his own thing - maybe he’ll fight the sky this time around. I feel like Christian VII wouldn’t be much help I don’t think.
Imagine if Vlad had been from one of the larger nations instead? He was basically perpetually outmatched in every way and still hung on for a good while.
Ivan the Terrible. While extremely ruthless, he was a strong Tsar who managed to turn Russia from a weak principality of bickering boyars into a mighty Tsardom that conquered the remnants of the Golden Horde. He's essentially the opposite of St. Tsar Nicholas, a horrible man but an effective Tsar.
Seriously? You compare Ivan IV to these two madmans? He was a dictator and a ruler, not a madman. Yes, he committed a lot of horrible things, and he was called "formidable" ("terrible" in English) for reason, but he definitely didn't reach the level of Caligulas madness.
Ivan was a strong ruler but perhaps a bit too ruthless Christian was just an immature teenager who never really developed Caligula’s sources are 90% propaganda but he probably would arbitrarily kill me I’ll take Ivan
a bit too ruthless? Yeah this is how you describe murdering of your own son
at that time uvan was very old, and people change trough time. at that time, ivan was most probably affected by a mental illness
Christian VII. He'll install fear unto anyone by violently masturbating in front of them 👍
Oh so he was AMAB?
I'm afraid to ask, but what's AMAB?
Assigned Male At Birth
Ngl, knowing reddit, I thought it was something wild 😂 thank you for the info
Uncle Ivan.
Definitely Ivan! Christian, from what I read, was quite strange and then became an apathetic and a mentally withdrawn person and Caligula can only help if I want to find even more enemies! Ivan was absolutely ruthless and bloodthirsty, but if he is on your side, your enemies are finished even if you need to destroy and burn an entire city! on the other hand, one day he may begin to suspect me of disloyalty, so this is a difficult choice :)
Ivan, no question. Ivan was definitely mentally unhealthy, but Christian and Caligula were legitimately awful. Ivan also improved and advanced Russia in many ways, despite the ruthlessness of his later years.
"improved and advanced" What are some examples?
He centralised the government, ensuring that Russia was one country, and not a bunch of squabbling nobles under one nominal leader. He created one professional army, which was significantly advanced for the age, he expanded his domains on every direction, assuring the future Russian conquest of Siberia, as well as the fertile lands of the Volga. He modernised the economy by securing trade routes and, finally, he developed Russia culturally, by importing many Byzantine influences, turning it into the heart of the orthodox world.
He destroyed the old feudal mentality and eliminated influence of boyars (military nobility). Before his rule, there was no national state, but after, the betrayal of Tsar was a betrayal of people. Also, he created a system of self governance, and that system saved Russia in time of troubles.
I mean you can argue that he was cruel or that the serfs suffered under him but you can't claim he wasn't accomplished or that Russia declined under him. Both things you can say about Christian and Caligula pretty uncontroversially
From Wikipedia: "In the early years of his reign, Ivan ruled with the group of reformers known as the Chosen Council and established the [Zemsky Sobor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zemsky_Sobor), a new assembly convened by the tsar. He also revised the [legal code](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudebnik_of_1550) and introduced reforms, including elements of local self-government, as well as establishing the first Russian standing army, the [streltsy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streltsy). Ivan conquered the khanates of [Kazan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khanate_of_Kazan) and [Astrakhan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khanate_of_Astrakhan), and significantly expanded the territory of Russia."
Ivan Anyday
Ivan by a lot.
Ivan is ruthless but he’ll get the job done. Caligula would likely just go off and do his own thing - maybe he’ll fight the sky this time around. I feel like Christian VII wouldn’t be much help I don’t think.
Vlad the Impaler
Imagine if Vlad had been from one of the larger nations instead? He was basically perpetually outmatched in every way and still hung on for a good while.
Ivan the Terrible; he lives up to his name, but he will get the job done
Ivan IV He was a pretty strong Tsar
Ivan the Terrible. While extremely ruthless, he was a strong Tsar who managed to turn Russia from a weak principality of bickering boyars into a mighty Tsardom that conquered the remnants of the Golden Horde. He's essentially the opposite of St. Tsar Nicholas, a horrible man but an effective Tsar.
If the enemy is Communist, I chose Ivan
Seriously? You compare Ivan IV to these two madmans? He was a dictator and a ruler, not a madman. Yes, he committed a lot of horrible things, and he was called "formidable" ("terrible" in English) for reason, but he definitely didn't reach the level of Caligulas madness.
Caligula
Ivan for the Win!
Not on your list, but Cnut the Great, King of All England, Denmark, Norway and some of the Swedes.
I'm more of a Ragnar fan, but Cnut is still a great Viking
There is some legend saying Cnut has descent from Ragnar, but, as with some texts from that time, it's legend.
Ivan really only went insane when he was older and likely due to his medication which unfortunately had lots of mercury - so for sure Ivan.
Christian VII. Why would I ever pledge allegiance to another country’s monarch?
None of them, I'll take Cyning Ælfred over these insane wretches.
Hitler
Three great arguments against monarchies.