first Tsar of Moscow, Ivan IV Vasilyevich the Terrible

E. A. Tikhomirov was a little-known Russian writer and compiler of historical and educational books from the 19th century, whose full name has not been preserved. It is known that he worked as a teacher at the Kolomna District School and devoted himself to writing popular historical works intended for a wide readership. His works were published almost annually for forty years and were distinguished by their desire to present history in a lively and engaging manner. This volume includes the novel "e;The First Tsar of Moscow, Ivan IV Vasilyevich the Terrible,"e; dedicated to one of the most controversial figures in Russian history. The author strives to portray Ivan the Terrible not only as a stern and ruthless ruler, but also as a man of exceptional talent educated, religious, and obsessed with strengthening the Russian state. The novel reveals the events of the era of the rise of autocracy, reflecting the tsar's inner contradictions his faith, intelligence, and energy, as well as outbursts of cruelty and suspicion. The reader is presented with a broad panorama of the 16th century boyar conspiracies, the oprichnina, relations with foreign powers, and the fates of those close to the monarch. Tikhomirov's novel combines elements of historical research and fiction, creating a coherent and expressive portrait of the first Moscow tsar, whose personality remains one of the most enigmatic in Russian history.