The Oprichnina This essay is about the oprichnina in Russian during Ivan the terrible's reign. It goes over what they did and why they were created

Essay by rageradiosJunior High, 9th gradeA, February 2004

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During the reign of Tsar Ivan IV, he created a special force of men known as the Oprichnina, loyal directly to him. Although they looked like monks wearing black and riding black horses, they were violent and are similar to modern day gangsters. In a final count, the Oprichnina numbered 6,000. An Oprichnik, one of the members, had a dog's head and a broom drawn onto his saddle, which meant they sniff out treason like dogs and sweep everything the Tsar wanted out of his land. The Oprichnina controlled a state within a state. They were ruled under a demeritocracy, meaning they were rewarded for being bad and evil. To become an Oprichnik, a recruit would have to be interviewed by someone in Ivan's court, or by Ivan himself. The recruits encompassed Boyars, or even foreigners who were screened carefully to determine if they were of the right type to be an Oprichnik. They had to have everything to do with the people the Tsar did like did not have anything to do with people he did not like.

Ivan found many ways of utilizing the Oprichnina to further his control. They murdered on Ivan's whim, and did whatever was necessary. They took land from many groups of people, including Boyars who displace from their land that became property of the Oprichnina. When Ivan became sick in 1553 his cousin, Prince Vladimir of Staritsa claimed he was heir to the throne. Ivan did not die and when he was healthy again, he had the Prince killed. To gain control over the Church, Ivan had Oprichniki kill priests and others who had to do with the Church. One of the more remarkable killings was the murder of Metropolitan Philip of Moscow. He would not bless...