Reforms of Ivan the Terrible. Their role in the formation of the Russian state

The figure of the Tsar Ivan the Terrible (1530-1584) was and remains one of the most controversial in Russian history. Disputes about the significance of his reign for Russia do not stop until now. This is not surprising, because his activities give an occasion to treat him and as a great ruler of the country (strengthening the state, taking Kazan , etc.), and as a cruel ruler (oprichnina, etc.). Let us turn to the most vivid period of his reign and consider the reforms of Ivan the Terrible and their influence on the state system of the country.

First Zemsky Sobor and its results

According to historians, the young king saw the goal of these reforms for his state in strengthening the vertical of his power and centralizing the state. Initially, the reforms of Ivan the Terrible were created both by himself and members of the Chosen Rada, which included people close to the sovereign: his confessor - Protopop Sylvester, Prince AM. Kurbsky, Metropolitan Macarius and A.F. Adashev. The period of reforms in the Russian state was connected with the convocation of the first Zemsky Sobor (to which all classes, except peasants were invited) in 1549. The tsar himself called it the "Cathedral of Reconciliation" between him and the boyars, as well as between the estates of the country. It was in 1550 that a new "Sudebnik" was adopted, corresponding to the needs of the time. It confirmed the norms of the transfer of peasants to another landowner on Yuryev's day, the authority of the master was strengthened over them (however, responsibility for the crimes of his workers was imposed on him), the right of monasteries to pay taxes was not abolished, punishments for the boyrid boyars and deacons- Bribe takers.

Feeding and management reforms

Reforms of Ivan the Terrible affected the boyar feeding. Boyars were limited in their virtually neglected possession of land, judicial and bureaucratic bodies were established over them. The first "Sudebnik" provided for the responsibility that the boyars carried to the sovereign for their actions. At the same time, Zemstvo reform was carried out , suggesting that certain functions of the state were given to the zemstvo elder, who were elected by the local population. Also elected people were transferred to the police, court and financial management. Thus, these local authorities have replaced themselves with feeding. Stressing the advantages of such transformations, historians know a known minus the creation of a huge bureaucratic machine of a centralized state, which Ivan the Terrible launched and his reforms.

Reform of military organizations

The reforms of Ivan the Terrible presupposed the strengthening of the role of the nobility in the life of the country. In the same year 1550, one thousand noblemen received land within Moscow. At the same time, a well-armed strelets army was created. The king himself paid enough attention to this issue, followed the new technologies of making weapons, for example, artillery, etc. In addition, many transformations are associated with his name. This is a change in the tax system, and new land legislation, etc.

According to most scholars, these reforms of Ivan the Terrible were necessary for the country. They helped strengthen the power of the Russian state in the geopolitical space of the then world.