Ivan III Veliky Rurikovich led the Muscovites into victory, and this victory united the Russians under one name. Russia. Ivan the Third was deemed as insane, who claimed to hear voices in his head to guide him through his victory. Everyone thought he was crazy, and that he was just a great leader. One day, he heard a voice in his head.
Ryazan must be destroyed, they are being friendly with our rivals, the horde. He just didn't know which horde. He only assumed the Kazan Khanate. He decided to save this for later.
It better not continue, or I will punish them with the iron fist of Russia!
His first mission was to bring his country out of the deficit that Ivan II left behind for Russia to deal with. He decided his best option was to centralize his nation a bit more and the people of his empire were against his policies and decided to revolt against him.
Those god damn rebel scum!
Rebels. The emperor absolutely detested rebels. He sent forth his army to attack them, with the power and might of the Russian Empire! After a while, he got an offer from Poland, asking for an alliance. Russia accepted, and the Poland-Russia Alliance formed. The emperor also asked Sweden for an alliance and Moldavia for a royal marriage, and both had accepted.
Is Ivan dreaming of destroying the world?
Sweden later asked Ivan to help them in a war that they were fighting against Denmark. When a peace deal came that ended the war, Ivan III thought Sweden had demanded provinces without Russia's permission, but it was actually Denmark who demanded the provinces. He instantly ended the alliance, and declared war on Sweden. The battles were devastating to Russia, but with the might of Russia, they still won. Poland hurt the Swedish as well, and Poland and Russia both partitioned Sweden between themselves.
Poland's hatred of Persia brought Russia into a war with Persia. Ivan III heard another voice in his head.
We can win. We know we can.