In this article we will look at the mainsights of the Moscow Kremlin. It is located on Borovitsky Hill, towering 25 meters above the adjacent territory at the confluence of the Moscow River with the Neglinnaya River. Borovitsky hill in ancient times covered the forest, thanks to which it got its name. The Moscow Kremlin can also be considered the progenitor of the current capital of Russia. After all, the first buildings of Moscow were located exactly on its territory. The sights of the Kremlin and Red Square were erected at different times. Therefore, we will begin the story about them from the very beginning, in chronological order.
We offer to get acquainted with the backgroundthe emergence of such an important place for our country as the Kremlin (Moscow). Scientists date the first traces of a person’s stay on Borovitsky Hill to the end of the 2nd millennium BC. e. At the beginning of the XII century, a settlement re-emerged here, which became the ancestor of modern Moscow. Vyatichi occupied a large area along Borovitsky hill. That is, there appeared two villages, protected by ring fortifications.
Period of Ancient Russia
Древнерусское государство первоначально состояло from individual principalities. The most extensive and influential was Rostov-Suzdal. Its capital was from the second half of the XII century, the city of Vladimir. Moscow bordered on this principality from the west.
In 1147, as they say in IpatievChronicle, Yuri Dolgoruky, Suzdal prince, invited his ally Svyatoslav, Novgorod, Seversky prince, to Moscow. This event was the first mention of the Russian capital in documentary sources, and this date is considered to be the beginning of the formation of the city.
In the 13th century, Moscow, like other Russian cities,suffered from the raids of Batu. However, after a while the city began to revive. The first dynasty of princes, founded by Daniel, the youngest son of Alexander Nevsky, appeared in Moscow during this period. The Tatar-Mongols failed to completely destroy the Russian state. The Russian princes continued to rule the lands, receiving letters from the Horde for this purpose. In 1319, the eldest son of Daniel, Yury Danilovich, received the same label for reigning in Novgorod. And Moscow was given to them by his brother.
Иван Калита, изображение которого представлено below, he did not move, as his predecessors did according to the tradition, to Vladimir. He decided to stay in Moscow. This event played a big role in the fate of the Kremlin and the whole city. Peter, the Metropolitan, moved to Moscow after Ivan.
The Kremlin becomes the residence of the Russian princes.
The Kremlin has since stopped being justprotective structure. The description of the Moscow Kremlin did not fit into this framework. He turned into the residence of the Metropolitan and the Grand Duke. The territory of the Kremlin was previously built only with wooden structures. Since this time, there began to build buildings of white stone. Thus, on the Borovitsky hill, at its highest point, the Assumption Cathedral was founded, which became the main church of the Moscow principality. The Church of St. John Climacus appeared in 1329, the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael - in 1333. These first stone buildings and defined the future architectural concept of the Moscow Kremlin, preserved to our time. The capital under Ivan Kalita has grown greatly. The Kremlin becomes an isolated central part of the city.
It should be said that the name "Kremlin" appeared for the first time in the Voskresensk annals, dated 1331. It means the fortified central part of the city.
Ivan Kalita before his death wrote a spiritualthe letter. In it, he bequeathed the symbols of the power of Russia (princely clothes, precious dishes, golden belts and chains), as well as all the lands of Moscow to his sons.
Kremlin white stone
In 1365, once again suffered from firewooden buildings of the Kremlin. Then Dmitry Donskoy, a young Moscow prince, decided to build stone fortifications on Borovitsky hill. In the winter of 1367, for this, limestone was brought to the capital from the village of Myachkovo located 30 versts from the city. Construction began in the spring. In the center of Moscow, as a result of it, a white-stone fortress appeared, which became the first in North-Eastern Russia. The territory of the Kremlin at the same time was increased at the expense of the hill, as well as its hem. By the end of the 15th century, its architecture acquired features that are characteristic of the modern Russian capital, and Moscow began to be perceived as the successor to Vladimir and Kiev.
Constantinople, the main city of Byzantium, wascaptured in 1453 by the Turks. Therefore, the role of the Orthodox capital began to fulfill Moscow. In order to bring the city in line with this status, Ivan III summoned to the capital Russian masters and Italian architects to restructure the Kremlin.
Formation of the Kremlin ensemble
Под руководством Аристотеля Фиораванти, Italian architect, in the period from 1475 to 1479 a new Assumption Cathedral was created, the main temple in Russia. At the other end of the square, opposite the cathedral, another Italian, New Aleviz, built the tomb temple - the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael. The palace of the Moscow prince was built in the western part of the Kremlin. It included the Medium Gold, the Embankment and the Great Faceted Chamber.
Annunciation Cathedral was built severallater, in the period from 1485 to 1489. Near him was founded the Church of the Deposition of the Robe. In the space, which was limited to the Cathedral of the Annunciation and the Archangel Cathedral, located State Palace. This was the main treasure of the prince.
The formation of the ensemble of the Cathedral Square wascompleted construction of the Ivan the Great Bell Tower. It was completed in 1505-1508. The ringing of Ivan the Great's bell tower has since begun to delight residents of the capital.
All new temples were traditionally built on the site.predecessors who were here at the time of Dmitry Donskoy and Ivan Kalita. The sights of the Moscow Kremlin erected in their place bore the same names. All burials and relics from old temples were carefully transferred to them. From Vladimir to the Assumption Cathedral was transported the most revered Russian shrine at the time - the icon of Our Lady of Vladimir.
Kremlin towers
The construction of new towers and walls was the finalstroke in the design of the ensemble of the Kremlin. Their restructuring and updating took place in several stages. Taynitskaya tower was created first. She had an underground passage to the Moscow River. The architect who carried out this project is Anton Fryazin, an Italian. His other compatriot, Marco Fryazin, created the Beklemishevsky tower, now called Moskvoretskaya. Then they created Sviblova, who also had a secret exit to the Moscow River. In Sviblovo tower in 1633 installed a special machine for lifting water and renamed it in Vodovzvodnaya.
In 1488 the Annunciation tower was built.Then erected and other sights of the Moscow Kremlin. These were two Unnamed towers, as well as Borovitskaya, Petrovskaya, Nabatnaya and Konstantino-Eleninskaya. The Spasskaya Tower was built to strengthen the eastern part of the Kremlin. Now she is his calling card. The Spasskaya Tower got its name in honor of two icons: the Savior, the Savior, and the Savior of Smolensk.
Nikolskaya was built at the same time.Between her and Spasskaya, another grew up, which later became known as the Senate. The Middle and Corner Arsenal Towers appeared by the end of the XV century. At the same time, Troitskaya, the highest in the Kremlin, emerged. To ensure the safety of the approaches to it, the Kutafya Tower was built. For the same purpose, the Armory and Commandant were erected along the Neglinnaya River. In 1680, the last tower in the Kremlin appeared - the Royal Tower.
The reign of Ivan the Terrible in the history of the Kremlin
In 1547 in the Assumption Cathedral Ivan the Terrible,The Grand Duke of Moscow, was proclaimed the first autocrat in Russia. The head of the Russian church, Metropolitan Makarii, officially declared him king, putting a Monomakh hat on the head of Ivan the Terrible. In order to give the Moscow kingdom more authority, it was decided to canonize many devotees and historical figures, and also the idea arose to decorate the walls of the Kremlin cathedrals with monumental paintings.
Military campaigns, which resulted inconquered Astrakhan and Kazan Khanate, strengthened the authority of the Russian state. In honor of these events, it was decided to build the Cathedral of the Intercession of the Virgin, also known today as St. Basil's Cathedral. It was erected in the period from 1555 to 1562 outside the Kremlin, which emphasized the special importance of this structure. It was here, not far from the Spassky Gate, that a new center of public life in Moscow gradually emerged - Red Square.
During the Livonian War Polotsk was returned,ancient russian city. In honor of this event, Ivan the Terrible ordered to rebuild the Temple of the Annunciation, which served as his home temple. 4 small churches (chapels) were built over the galleries of this cathedral in the years 1563-1566.
The reign of the king, moreover, was notedthe appearance of orders in the Kremlin. So called controls. Their buildings were located on Ivanovskaya Square in the Kremlin, which at that time had become the administrative and business center of the capital. The ambassadorial order was considered the most important of them. His department included issues of foreign policy of the state, as well as control over the observance of embassy ceremonies.
The transformations of the Kremlin, made in the XVIII century
The first detailed map of the Kremlin, preserved at the present time, dates from the year 1663. On it you can roughly imagine how this place looked then.
Кремль (Москва) на рубеже XVII-XVIII веков experienced the time of its highest bloom. The capital of the state was transferred by decree of Peter the Great from Moscow to St. Petersburg in 1712. However, the Assumption Cathedral continued to be the main temple in Russia. It was here that the government was consecrated. But the new conditions dictated a different way of life, so the territory of Borovitsky Hill was rebuilt. New sights of the Moscow Kremlin appeared, in particular, palaces that replaced monasteries and ancient boyar chambers.
Так, разобрали построенные в XV веке палаты Gosudareva yard. They were replaced by Baroque architect Rastrelli stone Winter Palace. The Tsar Bell was also cast by decree of Anna Ioannovna. It took two years - from 1733 to 1735. However, he was not destined to serve his purpose. In 1737, during the Troitsky fire that engulfed the Kremlin, water was shed on the bell while extinguishing wooden structures. Due to the temperature difference, a significant fragment has broken away from it. The bell remained in the foundry pit for about a hundred years, but in 1836 it was installed on a pedestal, on which it is still located.
Creating a description of the Moscow Kremlin, shouldto mention that its building was not always justified and rational. So, on the place where the Kazennyi Dvor was located, in 1756-1764 a gallery of the Armory was built, where treasures of the treasury were to be placed. A few years later it was decided to reconstruct the Kremlin, and the Armory was demolished along with other ancient buildings. Because of this, the south-eastern part of Borovitsky hill became bare and was no longer built up.
M.F.Kazakov played an important role in changing the appearance of the Kremlin. The bishop's house was built under his leadership. And in the years 1776-1787 the Senate was erected. The building fit into the space between Nikolskaya Street and Chudov Monastery. It completed the ensemble of Senate Square.
Alexander I in 1806 issued a decree according to whichon the site of the Trinity Monastery and Tsareborisov Yard, it was decided to erect a museum building to store all valuables. Egotovym has developed a draft of this building. The construction of the museum was carried out from 1806 to 1810. As a result, a new building appeared in the Kremlin, as well as a small area between the Arsenal and the Trinity Tower, known as the Trinity.
The Kremlin after the Patriotic War of 1812
Plans for further restructuring of the Kremlin violatedPatriotic War. When Napoleon's army invaded Moscow, the city was engulfed in fires. Many values have been plundered. Petrovsky, the 1st Nameless, Vodovzvodnaya tower was blown up, practically nothing was left of Nikolskaya either.
The creation of the Moscow Kremlin, as well asthe restoration of his ensemble was continued after the victory. It was carried out by Russian architects. The blown-up walls of the Kremlin and its towers were rebuilt. In 1838-1851, by order of Nicholas I, a palace complex was erected on the site of the Winter Palace. It included the Moscow Armory Chamber, the Grand Kremlin Palace and the Apartments. The construction was led by K. A. Ton. The ensemble of Palace Square decorated the complex of new buildings.
Cathedral Square since the demolition of orders andremained open. It was conducted in the XIX century, reviews of the troops. She became known as the Dragoon Parade. In this place in 1989 a monument to Alexander II was erected.
Kremlin in Soviet times
We invite you to familiarize yourself with the plan of the Moscow Kremlin, dated 1917.
In March 1918, the government of the RSFSR was located in the Kremlin. The building of the Senate was located office-apartment, first Lenin, and then Stalin. The halls of the Kremlin have become closed to the public.
At this time, irreparable damage was caused to temples.and monasteries throughout the country. The Kremlin ensemble did not escape this fate. The plan of the Moscow Kremlin has changed somewhat. In 1929, Ascension and Miracles monasteries were destroyed. The building of the Military School grew in their place.
During World War II, the architectural complex was almost not affected. It was opened for inspection as early as 1955. In 1961, the Palace of Congresses was built near the Trinity Gate.
Kremlin ensemble today
Today, many tourists from all over the world come to see the sights of the Kremlin and Red Square. These places have not lost their greatness even today.
In 1990, the Kremlin added to the World ListUNESCO heritage. The museums located here comprised the Moscow Kremlin reserve, which includes the Armory, the Annunciation, the Assumption and the Archangel Cathedrals, the Museum of Applied Arts and Life of Russia of the XVII century, the Deposition of the Church and the ensemble of the Ivan the Great Bell Tower. Since 1991, the Kremlin has become the residence of the Russian president.
To the 850th anniversary of the capital, which is Moscownoted in 1997, the Kremlin was restored again. As a result of these works, the Red Porch of the Faceted Chamber was restored, the building of the Senate was restored, and other works were carried out. Today in the Kremlin cathedrals during the great Orthodox holidays, divine services are held. There are also guided tours of the entire ensemble.
The Moscow Kremlin’s plan includes manyvarious buildings. Its area today is 27.5 hectares, and the length of the walls is 2235 m. There are 20 towers with a height of 80 meters. The walls of the Kremlin have a thickness of from 3.5 to 6.5 m. Their height is from 5 to 15 m.
Today in this place is interestingthe event - the divorce of the guard in the Kremlin. It is held at the Cathedral Square every Saturday at 12 noon. The period in which you can look at the divorce of guard in the Kremlin - from April to October. It is very convenient for tourists.
The Kremlin at the beginning of the 20th century was increasingly perceived.as an architectural, historical and cultural monument. At various international and All-Russian exhibitions, treasures from the Patriarch's sacristy and the Armory Chamber were often shown. The latter was already a palace museum in the 19th century. However, its history began much earlier. As early as 1547, the first mentions of the Armory Order created at that time were related. At that time, a military arsenal was stored here. After some time, the Armory Chamber began to be called a big treasury, and the name familiar to us appeared in the 1560s. The museum today holds unique historical exhibits, including the Monomakh's Hat, as well as ancient precious fabrics, thrones of Russian emperors, weapons, and much more.
The history of the Kremlin continues, as the history of our state, of which it is a symbol. And the XXI century will add its page to it.
