Ivan the Terrible

Height and build: By 16th-century standards, he was a true giant—he stood approximately 180 cm tall. At 16, he had a strong, harmonious, athletic build, with broad shoulders and well-developed muscles. Face and hair: He had regular, pleasant features, a high forehead, and large, expressive blue (gray) eyes. His hair was thick and reddish-blond. Due to his age, he wore only a light mustache and a youthful beard that was just beginning to grow. Facial expressions and voice: Even then, the young man's gaze was described as piercing and attentive. He had a very sharp, loud, and commanding voice.
Character: High intellect and erudition: Ivan was naturally gifted with a quick, flexible, thoughtful, and witty mind. He was one of the most educated men of his era: he read widely, had an excellent memory, and was a master of oratory. Suspiciousness and secrecy: Orphaned early, the boy grew up in an atmosphere of neglect, fear for his life, and constant deception. By the age of 16, vindictiveness, mistrust of others (especially the boyar nobility), and secrecy were deeply ingrained in him. Hot-temperedness and cruelty: From an early age, impunity (the boyars indulged the whims of the young heir to distract him from politics) was combined with cruel amusements. As a teenager, he enjoyed throwing pets from the high roofs of the Kremlin towers and mounting horseback rides on random passersby in Moscow. Deep religiosity: Ivan's piety developed very early. Christian humility paradoxically coexisted in his mind with pride and absolute confidence in his divine right to punish and pardon his subjects.