Ivan IV
(Ivan the Terrible)
- Became an absolute ruler
- Came into thrown when he was only 3 years old - His young life was disrupted by struggles for power against boyars
- At age 16, Ivan seized power and crown himself czar
- Married Anastasia
Ivan's Good Period (1547-1560)
- Ivan…
- Won great victories
- Added new land to Russia
- Ruled justly
Ivan's Bad Period (1560-1584)
- Anastasia died -> Accused the boyars of poisoning her and turned against them
- Organized his own force to hunt down and murder people he considered traitors
• Seized the boyars' and gave them to to nobles
- Killed his oldest son and heir
- Died in 1584
- His weak and incompetent son was left to rule