CHRONOLOGY - Russia: A Reference Guide from the Renaissance to the Present - page 399

1547
Marriage and coronation of Ivan IV, who becomes
first Muscovite ruler to assume title of “Czar.”

1558
Stroganov family granted land along the Kama
River.

1558-1583
Livonian War fought against Poland-Lithuania
and Sweden. Initial Muscovite victories are
followed by eventual failure to secure access
to Baltic Sea coastline.

1549
First zemskii sobor (assembly of the land).

1550
New sudebnik (law code) issued by Ivan IV.
Streltsy (musketeer) regiments first organized.

1560
Death of Ivan's first wife, Anastasia Romanova.

1550-1551
Church proposes reforms at Council of Stoglav
(Hundred Chapters).

1560s
First edition of Domostroi, a book of principles of
family life. 1550s

First chancelleries formed and reforms of local
administration.
Moscow constructs chain of stockades along
southern border and Russian colonization of
the steppe begins.

1561
The Livonian Order disbanded.

1563
Death of Metropolitan Macarius.
Russians capture Polotsk.

1551
Foundation of Sviiazhsk and incorporation into
the Muscovite state of the part of the
Khanate of Kazan on the right bank of the
Volga.

1564
Flight of Andrei Kurbsky to Lithuania.
Fearful of conspiracy in Moscow, Ivan IV retires
to Aleksandrovsk.
First book printed in Moscow by Ivan Fedorov.

1552
Capture and annexation of remaining part of
Khanate of Kazan.

1565
Creation of Ivan IV's personal guard, the oprich-
nina, which will conduct reign of terror in
Moscow and other towns until 1572.

1553
Ivan's illness.
English merchants led by Richard Chancellor
reach Russia through White Sea route.

1566
Zemskii Sobor (Assembly of the Land) convened
to discuss Livonian War.

1555
Formation of the Muscovy Company in London
and extension of privileges to it for trade
throughout the Moscow state.
Reform of local fiscal system.
St. Basil's Cathedral on Red Square begun.

1568-1571
Famine and plague visit Muscovy.

1569
Union of Lublin leads to the merger of Poland and
Lithuania and establishment of the Polish-
Lithuanian Commonwealth.

1556
Conquest of the Khanate of Astrakhan.