Both monarchs had royal backgrounds and were put into power with high expectations of continuing the stability the country possessed. Citizens expect all government officials to have the best interests of the people in mind. But sadly, due to his brutal childhood, Ivan grew up observing and learning from the mannerisms of the corrupt elite. Ivan gained power mainly through fear and with this tactic he was the first to exercise despotism in Russia. An example of this is the story of the peasants who disturbed Ivan during one of his retreats. They came to him to complain about their governor who they believed was unjust, but Ivan was so angry that they had bothered him with such a petty matter that he punished them. The men had their hands tied behind their backs, boiling alcohol was poured over their heads and then their beards were set on fire with a candle. Apprehension and terror were Ivan's primary tools for keeping his people under control. Despite his totalitarian state of mind, Ivan believed that his decisions were still best for the country and that the only way to keep it safe was to leave it in constant fear. Although he was not always the most rational, the tsar still made the right choices to keep the kingdom united. Like Ivan, Charles was not always affected by his mental disability. During his 42