Exploring Modern Russia: A Photo Journey Through Everyday Life

8. The First Tsar

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A turning point in Russian history, Ivan IV—better known as Ivan the Terrible—ascended to the Tsar title in 1547 This occasion not only confirmed Ivan's authority but also marked the beginning of a new period in Russian government, therefore enabling centuries of tsarist control. Derived from the Latin "Caesar," the term "Tsar," signified great power and divine right to rule, and held great weight. The coronation of Ivan IV as Tsar was a well planned ritual meant to underline the holy character of his power. The service, held in the Assumption Cathedral inside the Kremlin, merged uniquely Russian customs with Byzantine legacy. Especially in terms of Orthodox Christianity, this mix of influences represented Russia's position as a successor to the Byzantine Empire, therefore attesting to its own unique character. Ivan IV's rule was notable for reform and major expansion. Russia started to change from a mediaeval state under his direction into a burgeoning empire. The increase of Russian territory was among his most important accomplishments. Remnants of the Golden Horde, Ivan started victorious wars against the Khanates of Kazan and Astrakhan, therefore terminating Mongol rule in the area and establishing the Volga River trading route. Ivan looked westward as well because of his expansionist ideas. His attempts to reach the Baltic Sea set him afoul of Poland-Lithuania, Sweden, and the Livonian Confederation. Known as the Livonian War, this struggle ran 24 years and, despite early victories, Russia finally lost. Ivan's forced renunciation of the territory he had acquired along the Baltic coast at the end of the battle would have an impact on Russian foreign policy for next centuries. Ivan's rule saw notable internal changes notwithstanding this military loss. Through a set of changes that centralised authority and modernised the governmental machinery, he Though its influence was restricted, the Zemsky Sobor—an assembly of representatives from several social levels—was a remarkable innovation. Ivan also changed the legal system, created a standing army (the streltsy), and pushed Russian printing development. Establishing trade ties with England was one of Ivan's most significant changes of direction. Seeking a northern sea road to China, an English expedition headed by Richard Chancellor unintentionally landed on the White Sea coast in 1553. This unannounced presence resulted in the founding of the Muscovy Company and Anglo-Russian trade starting. Russia's cultural and economic growth was much enhanced by this Westward expansion. Ivan's tenure was also distinguished by moments of excessive violence, which earned him the nickname "the Terrible." Later years of his rule witnessed the application of the oprichnina, a program of internal terror meant to eradicate supposed treachery among the boyars (nobility). Mass executions, forcible migration, and the establishment of a state inside a state under direct Ivan rule defined this time. Ivan IV left a multifarious and complex legacy. On the one hand, he greatly enlarged Russian territory, centralised state authority, and created fresh economic and cultural contact routes. Conversely, his harsh domestic policies and the final collapse of his western operations left Russia underdeveloped and isolated at his death. The development of the Russian Empire began with the tsardom established under Ivan IV. Following leaders would build on the foundations set during his leadership, therefore extending Russian influence and territory. First formally adopted by Ivan, the term Tsar would be used by Russian kings until the fall of the Romanov dynasty in 1917, therefore signifying the ongoing influence of this turning point in Russian history. Understanding the later evolution of Russian state authority, foreign policy, and national identity depends on knowing the reign of Ivan IV and the founding of the tsardom. Russian history will be shaped for generations to come by the conflicts between modernisation and tradition, expansion and consolidation, that defined Ivan's rule.