Ivan IV Vasilyevich (1530–1584)

Ivan IV Vasilyevich (1530–1584), known as Ivan the Terrible, was the first Grand Prince of Moscow to have himself crowned tsar. During his reign, he oversaw far-reaching reforms of the administration, judiciary and military, all of which were aimed at strengthening the central power within the empire. Ivan also pushed for expansion to the south and east. He destroyed the Tatar khanates of Kazan, Astrakhan and Sibir, bringing them into the Russian Empire.

Portrait of Tsar Ivan IV Vasilyevich (known as Ivan the Terrible) (1530–1584), oil on canvas, 18th–19th century, artist unknown; source: The image is used from www.hermitagemuseum.org, courtesy of The State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia, https://www.hermitagemuseum.org/wps/portal/hermitage/digital-collection/01.+paintings/128160.