Raise of Russia, Ivans (jan 1, 1494 – jan 1, 1612)

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-Ivan III—also known as Ivan the Great—came to power in 1462 and began to conquer lands around Moscow and build up his strength

-By 1480, he threw off Mongol control, although some threats remained until 1502. He saw Russia as the heir to the Roman and Byzantine empires and the defender of Christianity.

-1533, Ivan IV gained the throne and ruled for about 50 years. He conquered Mongol territories, created a uniform code of laws, and reduced the power of the boyars (nobles), increasing the military's power.

-He expanded the training of Russian soldiers to include skills such as engineering and gunsmithing from just calvary. Made infantry force, field artillery force, and combat engineer corps.

-He was a cruel tyrant to the society. He was afraid of the boyars and made the oprichnina, territory directly under his control.

-The oprichniki were a army of around 6000 bodyguards that acted as secret police executing who Ivan was wary of.

-Ivan's son Fyodor was weak and this led to a 15-year period of civil war known as the Time of Troubles.

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