Ivans other son, Dmitri Ivanovich, was a three-year-old infant.
Ivan did have a capable heir, his eldest son Ivan Ivanovich.
Seven years later, in 1592, Dimitri was found dead with his throat slit.
Foul play was suspected, and Dimitris supporters summoned an insurrection by ringing the great bell of Uglich.
Godunov immediately sent troops and the riot was swiftly quelled and the rioters arrested.
Even the bell was not spared.
The church bell, in particular, was once considered a prominent citizen of the village.
They had human-like names and parts of the bells body were given names after human body parts.
A Russian bell had a head, a waist, a lip, a tongue, and ears.
In Russian history and culture, church bells occupy a mysteriously important position.
In War and Peace, the Kremlins bells ring during Napoleons invasion, disquieting the Grande Armee.
The New Yorker, April 2009
The anthropomorphism of church bells has one drawback.
Death of Tsarevich Dmitry.
The blacksmith also cut the bells earssmall metal hooks by which the bell is hung.
To get his message across, Godunov even ordered the bell to be flogged with heavy whips.
It was then exiled to Siberia along with the rioters.
About 60 families from Uglich spent a year dragging the immensely heavy bell to Tobolska distance of 1,400 miles.
The exiled bell of Uglich.
At first glance, the case appears open and shut.
There is but one problem with this theoryDimitry was never legally in line for the throne.
But how did Dimitry accidentally stab himself in the throat?
Because Dimitry suffered from epilepsy.
Other executed bells
The execution of Uglichs bell was not an isolated incident.
As already mentioned, bells were treated as persons in Russia and were subjected to trials and executions.
Bells were often taken down from their towers after a city was captured.
It was transported to Moscow and melted down.
Removal of the Novgorod veches bell.
Photo:Wikimedia Commons
The same fate befell the bell of Novgorod veche.
Taking control of the city would not have been completed without the capture of the all important bell.
But the bell was punished by having its ears cut and tongue torn out.
