In this book, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor V.V. Pensky, based on a scrupulous analysis of a wide range of sources and literature, analyzes the fate of Russian servicemen of the 16th century who occupied middle command positions in the military hierarchy of the Russian state of that era. They can be called “centurions” of the Moscow army. Until recently, people like the heroes of the essays in this book rarely became the object of attention of historians. However, such inattention to the “centurions” is clearly unfair. Step by step, the author of the study, talking about the lives of his heroes, reveals a picture of the history of the Russian state in a complex and ambiguous era, the creators of which were not only sovereigns, boyars, church hierarchs and others, “standing in a greedy crowd at the throne,” but above all “initial people" of average quality. They led hundreds of boyars' children into battle on horseback, carried out diplomatic missions, built and defended fortresses, and served as governors in cities. Through their labors, sweat and blood, a great power was built, but they themselves were deprived of the attention of both their contemporaries and descendants. This work is intended to correct this injustice, at least in part. Written in a lively, but at the same time scientific language, the study is intended for teachers, students and anyone interested in the military history of Russia in the 16th century, the history of Russian military affairs and the everyday life of Russian society of that era.