Why was the Moscow Kremlin built? The construction of the Moscow Kremlin. History of the Moscow Kremlin

The Moscow Kremlin by right can be called the main attraction of the capital of Russia. Everyone can reach it quickly and easily. There are metro stations, the exit from which you can pretty soon reach the building of the Moscow Kremlin. We think, it is worthwhile to list them.

Where do you need to get off the metro to get to the Kremlin?

Station "Alexander Garden"

Going out at this stop, you will get, as already, probably, guessed, in the famous Alexander Garden. Here you can also see the Kutafia Tower, where tickets are sold to the territory of the Kremlin itself and to the Armory Chamber. Nearby there are many souvenir shops, where you can buy memorabilia and gifts to friends.

Station "Lenin Library"

You will be able to admire the tower near Kutafia, which will be located very close - it will only go to the other side.

Station "Revolution Square" and "China Town"

They will lead you straight to Red Square, only from different sides. In the first case you will leave the side of the Historical Museum, and in the second - from the Pokrovsky Cathedral.

Okhotny Ryad station

Going out at the Okhotny Ryad station, you can also walk along the well-known shopping areas. Only it is necessary to prepare in advance for the fact that prices will be very "unusual" for a common citizen ...

What about prices?

What are the prices for the person who decided to visit the Kremlin Museum? It should be noted immediately that such pleasure is not cheap. Walking around the Armory, which lasts about an hour and a half, will cost about 700 rubles. A visit to the Diamond Fund will cost 500 rubles. If you just want to stroll through the territory and look at the cathedrals, then you will have to pay 350 rubles. Excursion without seeing the cathedrals will cost 200 rubles. But most likely, there are people who are interested: why was the Moscow Kremlin built?

What is included in the sights?

Under the name "Kremlin" is meant not only the walls and towers, as some people may think, but all that is inside it. Behind the wall you can see magnificent cathedrals, famous squares, museums and palaces. In addition, recently in the summer on Saturdays at 12 pm you can see the solemn change of the guard of the Kremlin regiment, which will demonstrate military skills.

And now let's talk about the history of the emergence of the famous architectural complex of the capital and answer the question about why the Moscow Kremlin was built.

A bit from the history of the construction

It is necessary to understand that the word "kremlin" is quite old. Under it was meant that part of the city center, which was fortified. In other words, the Kremlin is a fortress. In ancient times, times were not considered calm. So why was the Moscow Kremlin built? There were situations when cities had to fight off unexpected attacks by countless enemy troops. It was from those times that the tradition began to collect absolutely all the residents of the city under the protection of the Kremlin. Regardless of age, absolutely all people were hiding behind powerful and high walls. Who was able to keep arms in hand - defended, taking up positions on the walls of the structure.

The appearance of a fortress on a hill

The history of the Moscow Kremlin began counting about 4 thousand years ago. This fact was established by archaeologists. They were guided by fragments of clay pots, stone axes and flint arrowheads, which they found. All these things were once used by ancient settlers.

The place where it was decided to begin the construction of the Moscow Kremlin, was not chosen at all by chance. Construction took place on a fairly high hill, around which flowed the river - Moscow River and Neglinnaya. Thanks to its high location, the fortress managed to see enemies from a distance and prepare for defense. In addition, the rivers acted as a natural obstacle on the way of enemy troops.

Was the Kremlin wooden ?!

The history of the Moscow Kremlin began with the construction of a wooden structure. Around him settlers created a shaft from the ground, thus increasing the reliability of the fortress. The remnants of all these old fortifications were found during the construction works, which were already under modern conditions.

Not so long ago it became known that the first walls were built in 1156. The order for the construction of the fortress was given by Prince Yury Dolgoruky. How do we know this? From the monuments of written culture - ancient chronicles. At the very beginning of the 14th century Ivan Kalita ascended the throne. Such a nickname he was given for the untold riches that he always carried with him in a small sack - the kalite.

The prince decided to continue not only the construction of the Moscow Kremlin, but also to begin decorating and strengthening the walls to increase the reliability of the entire city as a whole. He gave the order to create completely new walls. After some time, the fortress was built of oak logs of such thickness that it was impossible to clasp them with your hands.

Strengthening the construction of stone

The history of the construction of the Moscow Kremlin was supplemented with new data with the arrival of the next ruler. Dmitry Donskoy completely remade the walls. It was during his reign that they became stone. From all over the city, masons were assembled. In 1367, work began on the construction of new walls of the Kremlin. Workers worked without interruptions, and after a while a powerful fortification, completely made of stone, appeared on the Borovitsky hill . The thickness of the walls reached two, and in some places, three meters. During the construction, limestone was used, the extraction of which took place not far from the city. The Kremlin so amazed everyone with its white walls that Moscow was nicknamed white stone.

Prince Dmitry was known as a brave man. He fought only in the forefront, and it was he who was led by the army against the Mongol yoke. In 1380, the army under his leadership in a crushing battle won a victory in the Kulikovo field near the Don river. It was after the landmark battle of the prince and began to call Donskoy.

The white stone wall was unshakable for a long period of time

The Kremlin with white walls stood about 100 years. During this period, a lot has changed. The Russian lands finally united in a fairly strong state, and Moscow became the capital. All these changes occurred during the reign of Prince Ivan III. From that moment on it was called Great. Historians called him "the collector of the Russian land."

It was Ivan III who were called upon by the best masters. In addition, he invited the best architects from Italy - Aristotle Fioravanti, Anthony Solario and other equally well-known experts in his field. Under the guidance of invited masters the history of the emergence of the Moscow Kremlin began to be replenished with new events. To the city did not remain without a fortress during the work, the Kremlin was built in parts: first a certain section of the white stone wall was dismantled, and then a new brick building was built in its place. The clay, which was used during construction work, was taken not far from the capital. Brick before laying passed the firing procedure, as a result of which it hardened.

For those years, while the construction was going on, the Italian masters have already ceased to be perceived as outsiders. Their names have even been remade in Russian. For example, Antonio became Anton Fryazin. Such a name was given to him only because the Italian lands by our ancestors were called Fryazhsky. Naturally, people from this land were called Frians.

Construction of new structures

The construction of the new Kremlin lasted about 10 years. The fortress was protected by rivers from both sides. At the very beginning of the 16th century a fairly wide ditch was dug from the third side, which connected the two rivers with each other. At present, the Kremlin is fully protected from all sides by water barriers.

What can tell the story of the towers of the Moscow Kremlin? Such structures were erected one after another. They were immediately equipped with diverting strelnitsy in order to increase the defensive capacity. In addition to renovation of the fortress walls, the master immediately rebuilt such famous cathedrals as Blagoveshchensky, Arkhangelsk, Uspensky.

Accelerating the construction of the Kremlin

After the throne was occupied by the Romanovs, the construction of new walls of the fortress became new, more intensified. The masters designed Filaretov's belfry next to the bell tower of Ivan the Great. Also there were such buildings of the Moscow Kremlin as Teremnaya and Poteshny Palaces, the cathedrals of the Twelve Apostles and the Patriarchal Chambers. During the reign of Peter I, the Arsenal building was erected. But at the moment when the capital was decided to be transferred to St. Petersburg, the construction of new structures ceased.

When Catherine II ascended to the throne, some buildings of the Moscow Kremlin were demolished, as well as one of the parts of the southern wall. This was done in order to have the opportunity to build a new palace. But the work was later canceled. Most likely, the reason for this was the lack of funds. But there is an unofficial version. It concerns the negative attitude of people towards work of this type. Between 1776 and 1787, the Senate building was erected.

Without damage, it did not work out

The description of the Moscow Kremlin has also negative data. The enormous damage to the entire structure was caused by the invasion of Napoleon. At this time, numerous churches were plundered and desecrated by enemy troops. During the retreat, the wall, towers and buildings were partially destroyed. After the war, restoration work began, and by 1917 on the territory of the Kremlin, about 31 churches were rebuilt.

During the October Revolution, the Kremlin was bombed. 1918 was marked by the transfer of the government of the RSFSR to the Senate building. During the reign of Soviet power, the Palace of Congresses was erected in the Kremlin. In addition, the stars were installed on the towers, and the Tsar Cannon and Tsar Bell were placed on the pedestal. During this period, the restoration of both individual walls and all the structures of the Kremlin.

Powerful and majestic property of Russia

Now you understand why the Moscow Kremlin was built? Naturally, over time it began to be perceived not as a fortification position, but as a landmark of the whole country.

The process of building the Moscow Kremlin lasted for about eight centuries, and we can say that during this time there were quite a lot of significant events. Far from all of them favorably affected the fortress. However, the Kremlin was able to withstand all adversity. He continues to amaze people from all over the world with his greatness. The power and beauty of this building can not be described in any words, and it is not for nothing that the Kremlin was listed in the UNESCO heritage list.

The history of the Kremlin is very closely intertwined with important events in the life of the state. With the growth of this structure, the city first grew, and then the entire state. The life of the Kremlin is firmly connected with political upheavals: it is in it that the highest authorities are located and the most important decisions of a historical nature are made. The structure is one of the most beautiful monuments of Russian culture, which lost a lot in the history of its formation, but also acquired a lot. This did not stop him from becoming a real attraction.

In the article we made an attempt to explain who built the Kremlin of Moscow, and what role this structure played and is playing to this day in the history of the Russian state.