Early in this ruler's reign, he often relied on the "Chosen Council" to advise him, and one of its members, Andrey Kurbsky, d
Early in this ruler's reign, he often relied on the "Chosen Council" to advise him, and one of its members, Andrey Kurbsky, defected to the enemy during a war with such leaders as Stephen Báthory and Sigismund II, the Livonian War. He instituted the first Zemsky Sobor and later created the oprichniks, who, besides massacring the population of Novgorod, acted as a force of goons to harass the boyars, whom this ruler mistrusted. He killed his proclaimed heir with a pointed staff while enraged, leaving his inept son Fyodor to succeed him, leading to the Time of Troubles. For 10 points, name this first Czar of Russia and member of the Rurik dynasty.
Early in this ruler's reign, he often relied on the "Chosen Council" to advise him, and one of its members, Andrey Kurbsky, defected to the enemy during a war with such leaders as Stephen Báthory and Sigismund II, the Livonian War.
{Ivan} the Terrible [accept either name; or {Ivan} the {Awesome}, {Awe}-{inspiring}, {Fearsome}, or anything similar, or {Ivan Grozny}, or {Ivan IV Vasilyevich}; prompt on {Ivan}]