Oprichnina

Oprichnina was a policy and period in Russian history during the reign of Tsar Ivan IV (Ivan the Terrible), from 1565 to 1572. It created a separate royal domain and a parallel administration under the tsar, distinct from the zemshchina, which remained under the traditional government and the boyars. The purpose was to strengthen autocratic authority, suppress the influence of the noble class, and eradicate perceived traitors.

The oprichnina included a private army, the oprichniki, and an extensive security apparatus empowered to arrest, confiscate property, and execute people at the tsar’s command. They operated with broad discretion, often bypassing standard legal procedures, and carried out mass repression against opponents, especially among leading boyar families.

Notable actions during the period included the mass repressions and the sack of Novgorod (1569–70), as well as seizures of lands and wealth from noble families. The policy produced widespread fear and economic disruption, and its brutality undermined urban life and the traditional elite.

By 1572 the policy was effectively wound down, and the state was reasserted through the zemshchina. The Oprichnina left a lasting and controversial legacy in Russian history, illustrating the potential dangers of unchecked autocratic power and contributing to later memories of state terror.