By the late 1550s, the Reformation and Counter-Reformation had caused internal conflicts in Livonian Confederation, while its Eastern neighbour Russia had grown stronger after defeating the khanates of Kazan and Astrakhan.
I slutningen af 1550'erne havde Reformationen og Modreformationen forårsaget interne konflikter i den Livlandske konføderation, mens dets nabo i øst, Rusland, var blevet styrket efter at have besejret khanaterne, Kazan og Astrakhan.