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Livonian War as a reflection of the personality of Ivan the Terrible.

Perhaps, in the long era of the reign of Russian autocrat John Vasilyevich, who received the nickname of Grozny, there was not an event that would so vividly illustrate all those ups and downs that the king experienced in his life, like the Livonian War. The entire course of this twenty-five year battle, from its glorious beginning to its shameful end, was a direct consequence of the madness that had progressed over the years, to which the king brought not only his life, but also the well-being of his fatherland.

The Livonian War was started by a 28-year-old, young and full of strength and energy king. The official reason for its beginning was the non-compliance of the Livonian Order with the agreements concluded with Russia in 1554. These included the refusal to conclude any agreements with Sigismund II, the return of the debt for Yuryev's day for all the overdue years and a number of other obligations. After they were violated, a formal occasion for unleashing military action was received.

After the successful conquest of Kazan and Astrakhan, as well as the conclusion of peace with Lithuania, the young Ivan's gaze moved towards the Livonian Order. His apparent gradual disintegration gave all occasions to think about the fact that Russia is able to obtain those of its lands that will enable it to unimpeded access to the Baltic Sea. The Livonian War, whose causes were clearly geopolitical, was started in 1558 and up to 1561 brought only the victories to the Russian emperor. Narva and Dorpat fell practically without resistance, the siege of Riga led to the preparation of an agreement on the vassalage of the Livonian Order from Russia. But a small respite in the course of the military operations, which became the first crushing mistake, led to the fact that three strong states - Poland, Lithuania and Sweden - took up arms against the tsarist army.

The successful Livonian War is over, and a long history of variable success and military failures begins. Gradually, the worldview of Ivan the Terrible changes, he sees betrayal around him, mass repressions begin. By 1564 they reach such a scale that the former loyal friend of the Tsar Prince Kurbsky is forced to leave his fatherland. At the same time Lithuanians begin the siege of Polotsk, recently captured by the Russian army. The king, trying to deal with the failures and gradually plunging into the abyss of insanity, in 1565 establishes the oprichnina.

Absorbed by the struggle with the "internal enemy" led by him, the tsar annihilates many talented generals, destroys a huge number of his subjects, depriving the army of fresh replenishments. The war in this period is of a sluggish character, Lithuanians gradually take over the fortresses belonging to the Russians, and in 1569, as a result of an alliance with Poland, both states unite into one. Now, the main enemy, which must be overcome in the Livonian War, is Rzeczpospolita.

In the early 1570s Ivan the Terrible decided to make a decisive attempt to win, and besieged Revel, simultaneously capturing several fortresses. But the Tsar can no longer think as brilliantly as before, many years of debauchery, drunkenness and sudden mood swings have done their job, and a sensible and brave commander is standing at the helm of the army, and a man with a broken mentality, inclined to change his decisions and not devoid of a fair share Cowardice.

Further, the Russians were already giving up the positions won at the very beginning - Polotsk, Narva, Velikie Luki fell, a long and exhausting siege of Pskov was conducted.

In the years 1582-83 the Livonian War, the results of which proved extremely disappointing for the Russian Tsar, ends with the signing of peace. The Plus Truce and the Yam-Zampol Peace have brought to naught all the successes of the Russian army. The way out to the Baltic Sea remained a dream for Russia, which another king will realize in another century.

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