The history of the Moscow Kremlin
Border fortress (XII-first half of the XIIIth century)

Meeting of Suzdal Prince Yuri Dolgorukiy and Prince Svyatoslav on April, 4th, 1147 in Moscow.Miniature of a manuscript corpus. XVIth century
In 1147, Suzdam Prince Yuri Dolgorukiy (i.e. Long Arms)  invited to Moscow his ally – Novgorod-the Northern Prince Svyatoslav. This event, marked in the Ipatyev manuscript became the first mentioning of the city’s name in the historic chronicle of Ancient Rus. According to the tradition, the city of Moscow is considered to exist since that time.

 

 

Construction of fortifications in the time of Yuri Dolgorukiy. Reconstructed by M.G.Rabinovich and D.N.Kulchinski
In 1156, as it is marked in the Tver manuscript, Vladimir and Suzdal Prince Yuri Dolgorukiy (i.e. Long Arms). Founded Moscow fortress in the mouth of the Neglinnaya River, higher the Yauza. The new fortress united the two forced centers on the Borovitskiy (Grove) Hill. The names of the rivers point the exact location of the fortress on the triangular area between the present-day Borovitskiy (Grove), Trinity and Secret Gate.


 

Tartar invasion and devastation of Moscow. Miniature of a manuscript corpus. XVIth century
In 1237-1240, hordes of khan Batyi invaded the North-Eastern and the Southern Rus. Fourty nine of archaeologically known towns of that time were blown up. In 1238, Moscow rubbed trough the tartar invasion. The manuscript tells the city’s population was eliminated, everyone, both babies and old people, the city itself was blown up and destroyed, so the Moscow land trembled at sorrow and pain. However, the city survived and started to renew and grow.