Ivan IV revamped and reorganized the code of laws to make government more efficient.
The law code that Ivan IV was replacing dated from 1497; he instituted his new legal code in 1550. A main feature was the reorganization of Russia's government into departments, each with a specific function or responsibility.
Ivan IV was also known as "Ivan the Terrible," because he could be quite ruthless in achieving his aims. He is also known as the first tsar ("caesar" or emperor) of Russia, for consoildating and strengthening his power and expanding Russia's territory.