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# The Danish King's Embassy at Ivan the Terrible's Feast, Where Guests Rose 65 Times
- URL: https://theparnassian.com/en/byt-priglashennymi-na-pir-k-ivanu-groznomu-eto-konechno-znak-osoboi-milosti/
- Published: 2019-12-11T12:29:18.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-02T19:04:19.000Z
- Author: Alexandr Radayev
- Tags: Archive, Monarchies, Mores

To be invited to a feast with Ivan the Terrible is, of course, a sign of particular favour. That said, the Tsar invited the long-awaited embassy from the King of Denmark only after asking for the list of gifts and satisfying himself that they sufficed. The Tsar's chancery also hinted that the gifts must be presented not only to the prince and his elder son but, without fail, to his younger son as well. A gilded goblet was deemed a sufficiently sumptuous item to give to Ivan Vasilyevich and his sons. The embassy was summoned to the feast quite simply, with the phrase “The Tsar favours you, bow your heads before him”. Where could they go after so many weeks of agonising travel? The envoys appeared at the feast and bowed their heads. The banquet began with the passing of dishes directly from the Tsar, according to rank and to his disposition towards his guests; the envoys received their dishes immediately after the chief military commander, Prince Mstislavsky, and the Tsar's brother-in-law Nikita Romanovich. At every passing of a dish from the Tsar, everyone had to rise to express their reverence: at this banquet they rose 65 times. And only after that did they set about eating.