The story of the opera , set in 1612 , is about a poor peasant Ivan Susanin who dies to save the life of the Tsar ( the Tsar was the ruler of Russia , like a king or emperor ) . Set in 1612 , it tells the story of the Russian peasant and patriotic hero Ivan Susanin who sacrifices his life for the Tsar by leading astray a group of marauding Poles who were hunting him . The Tsar himself followed the workâ s progress with interest and suggested the change in the title .