Tsardom of Russia (1547–1721)
Ivan IV, the Terrible
Ivan IV was the Grand Prince of Moscow from 1533 to 1547, then “Tsar of All the Russias” until his death in 1584.
The development of the Tsar’s autocratic powers reached a peak during the reign of Ivan IV (1547–1584), known as “Ivan the Terrible”.[56][57] He strengthened the position of the monarch to an unprecedented degree, as he ruthlessly subordinated the nobles to his will, exiling or executing many on the slightest provocation.[46] Nevertheless, Ivan is often seen as a farsighted statesman who reformed Russia as he promulgated a new code of laws (Sudebnik of 1550),[58] established the first Russian feudal representative body (Zemsky Sobor), curbed the influence of the clergy,[59] and introduced local self-management in rural regions.[60