The Library of Ivan the Terrible and the Board

Perhaps, one of the most fascinating riddles of the XVI century (and history in general) can rightly be called Liberia - the library of Ivan the Terrible. Its full content, as well as the location, is still unknown. But the story speaks of huge records of old books and papyrus scrolls, which impressed the information contained in them. In addition to the literature of writers and philosophers of the time, the library of Ivan the Terrible, according to various sources, contains the books of the Kazan khan, Muslim manuscripts, priceless folios telling about the birth of life on Earth and human civilization. Also considered to be the lost historical works of Julius Caesar, Heliotrope, Aristophanes, Cicero, Virgil and others. It should be noted that the library went to Ivan IV from his grandfather, the prince of Moscow's Ivan III, and also that the tsar constantly replenished it. From history we know Ivan the Terrible as a cruel and tyrannical man, but there is little mention that he was also very educated and wise. Perhaps that is why his library evokes such interest.

History of Liberia

In 1464 the wife of the Grand Duke of Moscow Ivan III dies, in 1472 he is crowned with a direct descendant of the Byzantine emperors, Sophia Palaeologus. It was she who brought to Moscow as her dowry the legendary Liberia, which went down in history as the library of Ivan the Terrible. Originally it belonged to the Byzantine emperors, the last of which was Constantine XI. After the fall of the Byzantine Empire, the collection of books was transported to Italy by the brother of Constantine and the father of Sophia Thomas by Paleologue.

Where can there be a library of Ivan the Terrible, as if no one knows. There are only assumptions by which scientists, archaeologists and simply seekers continue to search. According to some versions, caches with books and manuscripts can be found in Alexandrov, Vologda, and the Moscow Kremlin. Probably, many more years will pass before the secrets of antiquity collected in the library become available to us. But if they find Liberia, it will be a truly precious gift for us and for the descendants.

Personality of Ivan the Terrible

Speaking about the famous royal collection of books, it is impossible not to tell about the person of the Grand Duke of Moscow and All Russia.

Ivan Vasilyevich Grozny (1530-1584) went down in history as the youngest monarch. When Vasily III died, the father of the future Grand Duke, Ivan IV was only 3 years old. But the misfortunes that fell to the king's child, this just started. Five years later, after his father, Ivan's mother dies, and the rule of the state, as well as custody of the underage king, passes into the hands of the boyars. So Vasily III ordered himself in his time, not suspecting what it would lead to. After gaining power, the boyars did not hurry to educate the young tsar. Ivan grew up like a homeless child, watching what corruption and lawlessness the boyars are doing, very early became an adult and began to understand many things at such a young age. Probably, in part this was the reason for the cruel customs of the tsar.

The era of Ivan the Terrible is one of the most mysterious, interesting and gloomy in the history of Russia. During his reign, many reforms were carried out. In 1549, the creation of a unified state administration - an order headed by an orderly judge; 1556, the "feeding" was abolished; In the years 1550-1556. An archer army was established and laws regulating the formation of the army were adopted; 1566 adopted the "Code of Service" from which it follows that serve in the army must from 15 years. The latter also determined the size of estates and the number of warriors as payment for service.

From all of the above, it is difficult to draw unambiguous conclusions. Even the story in its descriptions of the time discord. Was the Tsar a cruel tyrant or, as Karamzin wrote, "... the orphans of the Russian State ..." everyone will decide for himself.