You are welcome to make a virtual visit to the exhibition hall the One-Pillar Chamber of the Patriarch's Palace of the XVIIth century, where the first part of the jubilee exhibition "Russian Emperors and the Armoury Chamber" is placed. It represents the prehistory of the Armoury Chamber as a museum establishment in the XVIIIth ventury (from Peter I to Paul I).

Each of the Emperors, during such an impetuous century, has made an important contribution to the Kremlin treasuries' developing; therefore the virtual visit is organized according to the periods of the Tsars' reign during the XVIIth century.

The first part of the display begins with exhibits, relative to Peter the Great. He laid the foundation for the museum, created its prototype. In 1718 Peter I ordered to arrange the exposition and place the items in glassed-in cabinets. War trophies and arms have been delivered to the Kremlin by his order. A lot of trophies, captured during the Poltavskaya Battle (among them the Swiss regimental badge, knobs of the flags' staffs), are represented at the exhibition. A goblet, granted to Peter Prozorovsky for the preservation of the Tsar's treasury at the time of the Great Northern War, is especially noteworthy.

Items, related to Empress Catherine I, consist of her coronation articles (medals), dish (where the crown was placed), and funeral implements.

You will see the coronation attires, sword with sheath among the items of Peter II.

The presentation of Anna Ioannovna is made by means of the items, brought to the Kremlin treasury by her order, Grand Imperial crown, decorated with diamonds, coronation medal.The gun with firelock, executed with the assistance of the very Empress, deserves your attention.

In the reign of Elizabeth Petrovna it was decided to construct a special building for the Kremlin depository and to organize an exposition there (according to the project of A. Argamakov). The design for the building was created by D.V. Ukhtomsky. Several years later, during the construction period of the Bazhenov's Kremlin Palace, it was demolished. The memorial items of Elizabeth Petrovna entered into the museum at different times: the pectoral military insignia and powder-flask were received in 1810, the child's purse (a gift of farther Peter I) - in 1813. The Empress took a great interest in porcelain manufacture and glasswork, thus the first production of the Imperial Porcelain Factory and Glass-works, related to the times of Elizabeth Petrovna, became a part of the display: vase, goblet, and cookware.

Among the items representing Peter III lots of his personal articles are exhibited, i.e. the officers' halberd, snuffbox, sword with sheath.

Group of the items representing Catherine the Great includes articles, which have been used during her coronation ceremonial: the coronation medal and knob for a wand of the supreme Master of Ceremonies. The portrait of the senator - head of the Workshop and Armoury office - Prince Grigory Potemkin of Tauris. The items, related to the occasion of the annexation of Crimea to Russia, are also displayed: i.e. the horse ceremonial harness (diplomatic gift of the Turkish Sultan) and the mace, kept by G. Potemkin in Iasi.

Noteworthy items of Emperor Paul I, i.e. the knob of a walking-stick, lorgnette, buttons, casket, are represented as the cabinet articles.

Please, take into your consideration a brief historical annotation for each exhibit, made under its enlarged image.

Have a nice trip!