The first Russian Tsar to be crowned in 1547 was Ivan IV, commonly referred to as Ivan the Terrible. His coronation marked the transformation of the Russian state from a duchy into a centralized Tsardom. Ivan IV used this title to consolidate power and expand Russian territories. His reign was characterized by significant reforms, but also by periods of violent repression and conflict, particularly towards the nobility, leading to a complex legacy that shaped the future of Russia.