At one point during this man's rule, he abdicated the throne and was replaced by Simeon Bekbulatovich.
This man funded a military corps known as the streltsy, which led to the annexations of Kazan and Astrakhan. At one point during this man's rule, he abdicated the throne and was replaced by Simeon Bekbulatovich. Difficulties in his later years included a botched military campaign to retake western Slavic lands in the Livonian War, and the harsh government he created called the oprichnina, a far cry from his earlier Chosen Council. He killed his own son, bringing about the downfall of the Rurik Dynasty. For 10 points, identify this Russian leader who served as the first man to take the title tsar and is best known for his rampant acts of cruelty.
This man funded a military corps known as the streltsy, which led to the annexations of Kazan and Astrakhan.
{Ivan IV Vasilyevich} [or {Ivan} the {Terrible}]