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The Kremlin

The history of thå Moscow Kremlin goes back to old times. The first written record of Moscow dates to 1147, when Great Prince Yuri of Kiev, Vladimir Monomakh's son, was the regent of Kiev. He was nicknamed "Dolgoruky" (Long-armed), because he reached out – far – to other principalities. The Kremlin was first mentioned in chronicles during this period. It was erected as a fortress, but very soon became the centre of Russian statehood, the residence of Russian tsars and hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Under Dmitry Donskoy in 1367-1368, the white-stone walls of the Kremlin were erected and Moscow began to be called "white-stone". In 1485-1495, the Kremlin was totally rebuilt. It was then that the first brick buildings appeared there and it largely acquired its present appearance and dimensions.

At the beginning of the 18th century, Peter I transferred the capital of Russia to St. Petersburg, however, according to tradition, the Russian tsars were coronated in the Moscow Kremlin.

In 1917 the Soviet government transferred the Russian capital back to Moscow. The Kremlin became the seat of the highest state bodies, a sort of preserve, where only those who lived or worked there were admitted. It was only in 1955 that its unique museums again became accessible to everyone. Church services have recently been resumed in the old cathedrals and the Kremlin bells which have been silent for over 70 years have come to life.

The Kremlin has been the residence of the President of the Russian Federation and his Administration since 1992.

The Kremlin has been and remains a unique monument of Russian culture and a symbol of Russian statehood.

The Kremlin has 20 Towers, erected one after another during 1485-1516 and each one with its unique history. In 1485 the architect Anton Friazin built the Tainitskaya (Secret) Tower, the first one there. Then were built the remaining 18 towers. The Kutafya Tower was the 20th to be built.

Among the many towers there is a very interesting one – the Tainitskaya Tower. It was said that a well was dug under the Tower and it had a secret passage to the Moscow river to get water during sieges. The name of the tower has to do with the legend of the secret passage – the word “taina” means “secret”. In 1930-1933 its secret well was destroyed.

In 1488 the Vodovzvodnaya (also called the Sviblova) Tower was built not far from the place where the Neglinnaya River flows into the Moscow River. The secret passage from the Tower led to the river. Originally it was called the Sviblova Tower after boyar Sviblov. In the 17th century a water-drawing machine was installed in the Sviblova Tower. This water-drawing machine pumped water from the well and distributed it by pipes throughout the Kremlin. Because of the machine the Tower was renamed and became known as Vodovzvodnaya (Water-Drawing).

The Borovitskaya Tower was built in 1490. According to some old legends, the Tower's name was tied up with a dense coniferous forest that existed for ages at the top of the Kremlin hill.

The Frolovskaya Tower, as it was originally called, was placed at the site where the Kremlin main gates were located in ancient times. Czars and ambassadors were greeted at these gates, regiments marched from there. The Kremlin main gates were considered sacred. When, in 1658, all Kremlin Towers were given new names, the Frolovskaya Tower was renamed Spasskaya. A large clock occupies the Tower's top three storeys. The total weight of the clockwork is about 25 tons. The length of the hour hand is around 3 meters and the length of the minute hand is 3.28 meters. The numbers are 72 centimeters tall.

The highest Tower and the second in importance (after the Spasskaya Tower) is Troitskaya Tower. It was built in 1495. There were gates that served as a passage to the palaces of Tsarina (the Tsar's wife) and Tsarevnas (Tsar's daughters) as well as to the yard of the Patriarch. Through these gates the clergy went out to meet the Tsar returning home from marches. In 1686 a clock was put on the Tower but it was never restored after the Moscow fire in 1812.

The Kutafya Tower (in the picture, above) is the only one remaining bridgehead fortification of the Kremlin. The Tower was built in 1516 by the architect Alevis Friazin of Milan. The Tower, not high but very solid, was surrounded by water on all sides. Getting through the Tower was possible only by the inclined bridge that led to the Troitskaya Tower. In times of danger the gates were tightly shut up by the lifting part of the bridge.

One of the largest palaces on the territory of the Kremlin is the Grand Kremlin Palace. It stands on the crest of the Borovitskiy hill and is the largest Kremlin architectural ensemble, incorporating secular and sacred edifices. The Palace served as a temporary Imperial residence of the tsars during their visits to Moscow. The Georgievsky (St. Georgy) Hall of the Palace is one of its most beautiful and impressive halls. It is named in honor of the Order of St. Georgy the Victorious, the highest order of the Russian army. The Ekaterinensky (St. Ekaterina) Hall was the Empress's throne-room. The Ekaterininsky Hall was so named in honor of Order of St. Ekaterina, the only female order in Russia instituted in 1714 by Peter the 1st. The first floor of the Grand Kremlin Palace is occupied by the so-called Own Half set aside for private use by the Emperor and his family.

The Kremlin will take you a long time to visit. Besides the Towers and the Grand Kremlin Palace there are a number of museums:

• The Patriarch’s Palace
• The Annuciation Cathedral
• The Ivan the Great Bell-Tower Complex
• The Assumption Cathedral
• The Armour Chamber
• Museum of the Archaeology of the Moscow Kremlin
• The Archangel’s Cathedral
• The Church of the Laying of Our Lady’s Holy Robe

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