A name is meaningful, but an epithet holds greater weight. Tsar Ivan IV of Russia would rightfully gain the epithet of “the Terrible,” which became the name he would be better known by. Ivan left the Russian state in complete disarray through his policies and actions. Involvement in wars caused high taxes on the people, and Ivan’s mass killings contributed to epidemics and famine. These effects ravaged the Russian people and the land of security, economically and socially. Although numerous events contributed to Russia’s downfall, everything followed from two primary sources. Tsar Ivan IV’s policies of opportunist and war in Livonia left Russia economically depleted and politically unstable. Ivan did not always ascribe to the descriptor of
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Therefore, at the beginning of 1559, Russians took up arms against Livonia again. Through a series of deals and allegiances, Germany, Poland, and Lithuania joined forces with Livonia so that she might never fall under Russian control again. Still, after a series of unresolved campaigns, the Livonians surrendered to Russia, creating a temporary end to the Livonia war. This temporary halt in the war came to an end when “Northern Livonia was now being claimed by the King of Sweden, and southern Livonia by the King of Poland.” Ivan sent soldiers back into Lithuanian Livonia in mid-1577 to give Russia the advantage of surprise “because Russia and Lithuania had signed a truce which would not expire until later in the year.” Due to this tactic, Ivan won easy victories against the Livonians, and eventually, twenty-seven settlements surrendered to his rule. However, these towns and cities eventually fell into the hands of the Lithuanians and Swedes. Ivan fought a war with Livonia, which lasted almost the entirety of his reign, only to gain and lose land multiple times. Overall, the long and costly Livonia war only resulted in losses for the
Therefore, at the beginning of 1559, Russians took up arms against Livonia again. Through a series of deals and allegiances, Germany, Poland, and Lithuania joined forces with Livonia so that she might never fall under Russian control again. Still, after a series of unresolved campaigns, the Livonians surrendered to Russia, creating a temporary end to the Livonia war. This temporary halt in the war came to an end when “Northern Livonia was now being claimed by the King of Sweden, and southern Livonia by the King of Poland.” Ivan sent soldiers back into Lithuanian Livonia in mid-1577 to give Russia the advantage of surprise “because Russia and Lithuania had signed a truce which would not expire until later in the year.” Due to this tactic, Ivan won easy victories against the Livonians, and eventually, twenty-seven settlements surrendered to his rule. However, these towns and cities eventually fell into the hands of the Lithuanians and Swedes. Ivan fought a war with Livonia, which lasted almost the entirety of his reign, only to gain and lose land multiple times. Overall, the long and costly Livonia war only resulted in losses for the