Elena Vasilyevna Glinskaya, the second wife of Prince Vasily III and mother of Ivan IV, governed the Russian state during his minority. She began to rule in 1533 but was unpopular among both the people and the boyars. Elena is known for her financial reform and the end of the Russo-Lithuanian war.

Elena was born in 1508 to the family of Vasily Lvovich Glinsky and Anna Yakshich. The exact date of her birth has not survived. Her paternal uncle was an important official in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania but fled to Moscow with his family after a rebellion. The Glinsky family is believed to descend from Mamai.

Elena grew up as a beautiful red-haired girl, studying languages, political structure, painting, and art. In 1526, she married Grand Prince Vasily III, who divorced his first wife due to her infertility.

After her husband's death in 1533, Elena became a widow and seized power, ousting the appointed regents. Although Vasily III entrusted her with the care of the state until Ivan came of age, he did not grant her authority. Elena prohibited the purchase of land from serving people and strengthened control over monastery lands to combat the boyars who sought to expand their holdings. She aimed to pass on a stable and prosperous state to her son.

Elena's main assistant was Prince Ivan Fyodorovich Ovchina Telepnev-Obolensky, with whom she reportedly had a romance, despite his marriage. Ivan Fyodorovich had significant influence over Elena and state affairs, which caused discontent among the subjects.

Elena harshly punished those who criticized her or Prince Ivan Fyodorovich. For instance, she imprisoned her uncle Mikhail Glinsky, who died there from starvation. In 1537, Elena made peace with Polish King Sigismund I, achieving favorable terms thanks to a strong army.

During her rule, many defensive structures were built, including the Kitai-Gorod wall, which protected Moscow from the Crimean Tatars. Elena's most important reform was the monetary reform, which introduced a single silver coin. This reform strengthened the country's economy.

Elena ruled for five years, laying the foundations for Ivan's reign. She began the gubernatorial reform, transferring lands from governors to gubernatorial elders, subordinate to the Boyar Duma. Ivan the Terrible observed his mother's rule, which shaped his cruel and secretive character. He understood that the struggle for power leads to the decline of the state.

Ivan was the only contender for the throne, as his brother was deaf-mute and posed no threat. Elena died on April 4, 1538. Some historians believe she was poisoned by the Shuisky boyars, as traces of rat poison were found in her body. However, this is not the main version, as mercury used in cosmetics could have caused her death. Elena was buried in the Kremlin, in the Ascension Monastery. After her death, scholars repeatedly studied her remains, creating a portrait from her skull.

At the beginning of her rule, Elena was viewed with suspicion, but after five years, she was loved for strengthening the borders, financial stability, and weakening the power of the boyars.