Ivan IV, the Terrible (1530-1584), in 1547 became the first Russian ruler to be crowned czar. Known for his cruelty, he created a stronger and more centralized government and expanded Russia’s territory.
Ivan was born on Aug. 25, 1530. His grandfather was Grand Prince Ivan III of Moscow, who was also known as Ivan the Great. Ivan IV became grand prince in 1533 after his father, Basil III, died. Ivan was only 3 years old at the time, and for a number of years nobles fought to control the government.
After Ivan began to rule independently in 1547, he conquered vast lands southeast of Moscow along the Volga River and opened trade with England. In the 1560’s, he established his personal, arbitrary rule in much of Russia. His political police terrorized nobles, merchants, and peasants. Ivan’s laws helped bind many peasants to the land as serfs. In the 1580’s, Russia’s Stroganov family sponsored the conquest of western Siberia and gave it to Ivan to add to the realm. Ivan died on March 18, 1584.
