Oprichnina: causes, content, consequences

The article presents the understanding of Oprichnina as a transitional period in the Russian history, when centralization of state administration took place, and the power of the tsar increased. The causes of Oprichnina formed at the end of the 15 century and were connected with the struggle for power. The territory of the state and the population were divided into two parts: Oprichnina and Zemshchina. In the territory that was not part of the Oprichnina was located the Boyar Duma, administrative structures and district councils. The territory of the Oprichnina was the domain of the tsar, where it's administrative and economic institutions operated: the Boyar Duma, administrative structures, which later were renamed the “yard”. The result of Oprichnina was suppression of the opposition, strengthening of the status of the head of state, the form of state devices was changed, the state regime became tougher, and the religious and ideological unity in the society was achieved. During the Oprichnina period, the opposition was suppressed. Some of its representatives, fleeing from imminent death, were forced to hide abroad, thereby giving rise to charges of treason on the part of the tsar. Tsar Ivan the Terrible was able to retain power within the country, but could not solve many foreign policy problems. Russia didn't get access to the Baltic Sea - this task fell on the shoulders of the future Russian rulers. The points of view of the leading Russian scientists - historians on the problem of the Oprichnina are revealed.