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In 1533, Ivan's father, Basil III, died and left his three-year-old son to become the prince of Moscow.
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In 1538, Ivan's mother dies, possibly leaving mental effects that impacted him greatly.
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In 1547, Ivan was crowned tsar of all Russia.
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In 1547, the same year Ivan was titled the czar of Russia, he decided to marry Anastsia Romanova.
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In 1549, Ivan, with the help of his councilers, introduced self-government, reformed tax collections, and instituted statutory law and church refroms.
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In 1558, Ivan went to war to attempt to establish Russian rule over present-day Latvia and Estonia.
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Ivan's first wife, Anastasia, died on Jul 23, 1560.
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Ivan founded the Oprichnina state policy which included institution of secret police, mass regressions, and etc.
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In 1570, Ivan personally led all of his oprichniki troops against Novgorod. He ended up destroying that city and executing several thousands of its inhabitatns.
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The Oprichnina state policy was abolished when the regiments failed to defend Moscow from the Crimean Tatars' attack.
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On June 15, 1581, Ivan murdered his own son during an outburst of rage, which was perhaps, one of the most historically significant events of his life.
