Ivan Vasilyevich came to the throne of the Grand Duchy of Ryazan on the death of his father, Grand Duke Vasily Ivanovich, on January 7, 1483. As the elder son, he received Pereyaslavl of Ryazan, :ru:Ростиславль-Рязанский|Rostislavl and Pronsk as his personal domains, while his younger brother, Prince Fyodor Vasilyevich, was given, and a third of Pereyaslavl of Ryazan as appanage. For a period of time, their mother, Grand Duchess Anna Vasilyevna, sister of Duke Ivan III of Moscow, ruled the duchy as regent. On August 19, 1496, Grand Duke Ivan Vasilyevich concluded an agreement with his brother, Prince Fyodor, according to which Prince Fyodor promised to never betray his brother and always assist in his politics; both must avoid military attacks on each other's lands. The agreement implied that if Grand Duke Ivan Vasilyevich died childless, the throne would pass to his brother, Fyodor, while if the latter died childless, his appanages would pass to his elder brother. Their mother, Grand Duchess Anna Vasilyevna was to receive a quarter of all income from both brother's domains. The court servants were also divided between the brothers. The agreement also prohibited either of the brothers to purchase or mortgage each other's inhabited localities. The internal politics of Ivan IV of Ryazan was focused on keeping Ryazanian boyars from entering Moscow court. He also granted large lands to the Church of Ryazan.
Relations with Moscow
Ivan IV of Ryazan continued his father's politics of loyalty towards Moscow. On June 9, 1483, he concluded a treaty with his maternal uncle, Grand Duke Ivan III of Moscow, which, as a matter of fact, put the Duchy of Ryazan in the position of a vassal principality. Dmitry Ilovayski argued that the position of the Grand Duke of Ryazan under this treaty was similar to a viceroy, rather than a ruler. Ivan IV of Ryazan obliged himself to never betray Grand Duke of Moscow, seek alliances or vassalage to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, or negotiate with the princes who escaped there. The relationships with Tatar princes were also to be in accordance with Moscow, while the Grand Duke of Ryazan, was to pursue and capture the fugitive princes of Meshchera. By that treaty the Grand Duchy of Ryazan lost many lands. Ivan IV of Ryazan had to admit the towns of :ru:Тешилов|Teshilov, Venyov and Rostovets as domains of Moscow, and never attempt to invade Yelets. Upon the order of Ivan III of Moscow, Ivan IV of Ryazan had to send his troops to assist in military campaigns. In 1492–1494, Ryazanian troops took part in capturing the Principality of Vyazma and a number of Upper Oka towns. In 1493 Ryazanian troops headed by Prince Fyodor Vasilyevich and his warlordIvan Inka Izmaylov had to capture Serpeysk and Mezetsk for Moscow, taken by Lithuanians prior to it. As a result, Ryazanian lands on the west faced multiple attacks from Lithuania. In the peace treaty with the Grand Duke of Lithuania, Alexander, of January–February 1494, Ivan IV of Ryazan declared that he was vassal to Moscow and his lands should not be invaded as if lands of a sovereign prince.
Family
Ivan IV of Ryazan was married to Princess Agrafena Vasilyevna Babich-:ru:Друцкие|Drutskaya, daughter of Prince Vasily Ivanovich of Drutsk, on July 13, 1485, in Pereyaslavl of Ryazan. The wedding was conducted by the Bishop of Ryazan :ru:Симеон |Simeon. His spouse was related to Polish KingCasimir IV through her mother. In the marriage they had a son, Ivan, who succeeded the throne of Ryazan. The latest genealogies claim he had two more sons, Vasily and Fyodor, who are not acknowledged by the respected historians. Because of the shortcomings of the agreement of 1496, his brother, Prince Fyodor, bequeathed his appanage to Grand Duke of Moscow, Ivan III.
