He was the tsarevich (heir apparent) until he suddenly died; historians generally believe that his father killed him in a fit of rage.

At the age of 27, Ivan was at least as well read as his father, and in his free time, wrote a biography on Antony of Siya.

A Livonian prisoner named Bykovski raised a sword against the tsar, only to be rapidly stabbed by the tsarevich.

Some sources claim Ivan Ivanovich's relationship with his father began to deteriorate during the later stages of the Livonian War.

Angry with his father for his military failures, Ivan demanded to be given command of some troops to liberate besieged Pskov.