Excerpt from My Notes Ivan the Terrible, whose real name was Ivan IV, became the first Tsar of Russia in 1547. He expanded Russian territory and strengthened the government. However, after the death of his wife, he became increasingly suspicious and harsh toward those around him. He created the Oprichniki, a group that helped him punish people he believed were enemies. One of the most tragic events of his life was accidentally causing the death of his son during an argument. Ivan died in 1584 and is remembered as both a powerful ruler and a feared leader.