Which of the following best explains why Ivan IV created the oprichnina during his reign?

Question

A. Ivan no longer had a good relationship with the Russian Orthodox Christian Church and wanted to destroy it
B. Ivan IV had been overthrown by the boyars and was trying to regain his power
C. Ivan was not popular in cities like Novgorod where people rose up against his rule
D. Ivan IV was struggling against the boyars and wanted to limit their power

Answer 1

The best explanation for why Ivan IV created the oprichnina during his reign is:

D. Ivan IV was struggling against the boyars and wanted to limit their power.

The oprichnina was a policy that involved the establishment of a separate administrative region and the creation of a loyal force of enforcers, the oprichniki, to suppress the influence of the boyar class and consolidate Ivan IV's power.