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This is the amount of time Ivan ruled Russia.
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Ivan Vasilyevich was proclaimed Grand Prince at age three.
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Ivan's mother ruled in his name until her death in 1538 by poison. 1538-1547 was a period of murderous strife among the clans of the warrior caste.
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The first and only wife he truly loved was Anastasia Romanovna. They married on this date.
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In this time referred to as his "good period," Ivan won great victories, added land to Russia, gave Russia a code of laws, and ruled justly.
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Ivan was crowned tsar (caesar or emperor). He was the first Russian ruler to use this title officially.
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The first Zemski Sobor was summoned to meet in an advisory capacity. It was a national assembly made of boyars, clergy, and some elected representatives of the new service gentry.
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A new legal code reorganized central administration of Russia into departments and improved conditions of military service.
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Ivan set out for Kazan and the Russian Army succeeded in taking the town by assault.
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Ivan Ivanovich, Ivan's first child and heir to the thrown was born.
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The Khanate of Astrakhan was annexed without a fight.
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Ivan went to war in attempts to establish Russian rule over Livonia.
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Ivan's "bad period" began when his first wife (Anastasia Romanovna) died. He accused boyars of poisoning Anastasia and turned against them, creating his own police force (secret police).
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Ivan Ivanovich was Ivan's eldest and strongest son. In a fit of rage, Ivan hit his son on the head and killed him immediately from impact.
