Russian Metamorphosis By David Mac 1480 Ivan III frees Russia from the Mongols "Ivan the Great did create the Russian State" 1547 Ivan IV (the Terrible) becomes first Tsar /Czar Period: May 7, 1682 to Feb 8, 1725 Reign of Peter I (the Great) Peter the Great modernized Russia through a cultural revolution inspired by the Enlightenment, expanding Russian territory and radically transforming Russian institutions.