30. Murdering His Own Flesh and Blood
Not even the family of Ivan the Terrible was spared his fits of uncontrollable rage. In 1581, he grew upset when he saw his pregnant daughter-in-law wearing summer clothing that he thought was too revealing. So he violently assaulted her, causing her to miscarry.
When her husband – Ivan’s son and heir – angrily berated his father for what he had done, Ivan smashed his head in with his scepter, causing a fatal wound from which he died a few days later. Ivan grieved, but grief did not bring back his son. He followed him three years later, dying from a stroke while playing chess.