Russia in 1839 -Empire of the Czar: A Journey Through Eternal Russia

EXTRACTS FROM KARAMSIN.325

chose a guard, consisting of a thousand men, whom he called the elect—Oprìtchnina. To this infernal legion he gave up, during seven consecutive years, the fortune and life of the Kussian people; I might add their honour, if such a word had any signification among men whom it was necessary to gag, in order to govern them as they wished to be governed.

Karamsin thus describes Ivan IV. in the year 1565, nineteen years after his coronation:—

" This prince was tall and well-made ; he had broad shoulders and breast, muscular arms, beautiful hair, long mustachios, an aquiline nose, small grey eyes, but formerly bright and piercing, and in all respects a countenance that had once been pleasing : but at this period it was so changed as to be scarcely recognised. A sombre ferocity was depicted on his deformed features. His eye was dull, his head nearly bald, and only a few hairs remained on his chin — inexplicable effect of the fury that devoured his soul! After a fresh enumeration of the faults committed by the boyards, he repeated his consent to keep the crown, dwelt at great length on the obligation imposed upon princes of preserving tranquillity in their territories, and of taking, with this object, all the measures they may judge necessary ; expatiated on the nothingness of human life; the necessity of man carrying his thoughts beyond the tomb ; and finally he proposed the establishment of the Oprìtchnina, a name until then unknown.

" The Czar announced that he should choose a thousand satellites among the princes, the gentlemen,