The collection of artillery cannons of XVI-XIX centuries is located by the southern and eastern façade of the Arsenal’s building. It was initiated by Peter I, who planned the building of an armament and ammunition storehouse.

In old times, the artillery cannons used to be situated on Red Square, partly at the Kremlin’s Spasskiye (Saviour’s) and Nikolskiye
(St. Nicholas) pass-gates. After the Peter I’s decree of 1706 about the registration of all memorial cannons, the cannons sent to Moscow were located by the Kremlin’s Posolskiy prikaz (Ambassadorial department). In 1780-s, the other cannons were brought to the Kremlin and placed on the Ivanov Square’s hill. A stone marquee was built for big cannons.

In 1812, when the French army left Moscow, there were more than a hundred foreign cannons in the Kremlin. By 1819, other 875 guns abandoned by the Napoleon’s army at the fields of battle were transferred here. They were to form the exhibition of the Museum of Patriotic War 1812 However, the museum was not open and the cannons were placed on a special base in front of the Arsenal (The Armoury House).

In 1830-s, the collection of Russian artillery cannons was placed in front of the Armoury Chamber. Cannon bases were specially made. However, the building was dismantled in 1860 and the cannons were transferred back to the Arsenal.

Nowadays, in front of the Arsenal’s building there are 25 old Russian cannons of XVI-XVII centuries, 15 foreign cannons of the same time and 830 cannons, mortars and howitzers captured during the Patriotic War 1812. Among them there are guns of France, Austria, Prussia, Italy, Spain, Holland and other European countries.

Russian cannons of XVI-XVII centuries by Andrei Chokhov, Martyn Osipov, Jakov Dubina and other famous Russian casters are of special interest. Each tube has its specific features. Many of them are adorned with ornaments and are named according to the decor. Among them there are two cannons cast by Andrei Chokhov in 1590 called “Troilus” (with the image of the mythological king of Troy) and “Aspid” (from latin “aspis, aspidis” meaning “sword”), also “The Unicom” and “The Gamayun” with a bas-relief of a mythological bird, “Persian”and “Eagle” cast by Martyn Osipov (the XVIIth century).

Each cannon is marked with a stamp telling the weight, date of casting and the master’s name.