Russian archaeologists said they had unearthed what they believe to be the tomb of Tsar Ivan VI in an announcement that made a splash among scientists on Monday.
A sarcophagus with the Tsar’s remains was discovered in northern Russia’s Arkhangelsk region, archaeologists said.
The grandnephew of Empress Anna, Ivan VI was proclaimed her heir and then emperor, with his mother as regent, when he was only eight weeks old. In 1741, they were deposed by Elizabeth, daughter of Peter I, and for the next 20 years he remained in solitary confinement in various prisons. In 1764, when an army officer tried to free Ivan to restore him to power and remove Empress Catherine II, Ivan was assassinated by his jailers.
Since then, the location of his final resting place has provoked permanent debates between pundits.
Source: The Voice of Russia [September 13, 2010]