After the reign of Vasily Shuisky, the question arose of strengthening the unified Russian state. For this, it was necessary to take several decisive actions - to put an end to decentralization, to fully form a nationwide apparatus and expand the territory of the country. Vasily III put only the beginning of this process, and it remained for his son Ivan to solve the problems, who at the time of his father's death was only three years old.
In 1546, the future Ivan IV reached the age of fifteen (at this age came of age), and power from his mother completely passed to him. In 1547 he assumed the title of king. The wedding to the kingdom took place in the Assumption Cathedral. In the same year, a series of fires and a popular uprising took place, which proved that there was a confrontation between the boyars and the people in society. Ivan IV began an intensified struggle against the boyar authorities, bringing people from other classes closer to him. The circle of associates receivedthe name "The Chosen Rada", which included such persons as Andrei Kurbsky, Metropolitan Macarius and Archpriest Sylvester, Alexei Adashev. They carried out the following reforms that glorified Ivan's reign:
1. In 1550, the so-called Code of Laws was published - a code of laws that strengthened the royal power.
2. The Streltsy army appeared in the army.
3. The financial system was reformed.
4. Local and central government canceled feedings and introduced a system of orders.
5. The church was reformed.
Changes have led to the fact that in a short time the authority of the authorities has noticeably increased in the state. The elected Rada and its system of government proved to be the most effective. All decisions made in the 50s of that century were aimed at centralizing the power of the king. Despite the fact that the Chosen Rada and its reforms had a positive effect on the state and strengthened the royal power, in 1560 it was dissolved. There were several reasons for this. The tsar ceased to trust his close people, especially when he suspected treason after Andrei Kurbsky's escape to Poland. There were also growing differences of opinion in foreign and domestic policy.
In 1565, Ivan IV established a new sovereign inheritance - the oprichnina, which included economically developed territories.
Here the tsar formed his government bodies - the Duma, the court, orders, as well as the oprichnina army, which later turned into a toolpolitical terror. The elected Rada and the oprichnina were endowed with punitive functions, but if the first punished only the boyars, then the oprichnina had power over all estates. As a result of the domination of the oprichnina, the despotic regime of Ivan IV was established in the state. During these harsh years, the king received the nickname "Terrible".
However, the reign of terror proved to be less effective than the Chosen Rada and its policies. As a result, the tsar abolished the oprichnina in 1572. After that, the political and economic crises of the 70s-80s occurred in the country. In addition, the ruin of peasant farms, which were the basis of the country's economy, took place - the Chosen Rada emphasized them. Oprichnina largely caused the general crisis of power and the coming Time of Troubles.
