Kremlin, Moscow, Russia

The Moscow Kremlin usually referred to as simply the Kremlin, is a historic fortified complex at the heart of Moscow overlooking the Moscow River to the south  Saint Basil’s Cathedral and Red Square to the east, and the Alexander Garden to the west. It is the   best known as Kremlin and includes five palaces, four cathedrals, and the enclosing Kremlin Wall with Kremlin towers. The complex serves as the official residence of the President of the Russian Federation.

The name Kremlin means fortress inside a city, and is often used as metonym to refer to the government of the Russian federation in a similar sense to how White House is used to refer to the Executive Office of the President of the United States of America. It had previously been used to refer to the government of the Soviet Union (1922 – 1991 ).

The site was continuously inhabited by Finno – Ugric peoples since the 2^nd century BC. The Slavs occupied the south – western portion of Borovitsky Hill as early as 11^th century, as evidenced by metropolitan seal   from the 1990s, which was unearthed by Soviet archaeologists in the area.  Vyatichi   built a fortified structure on the hill where Neglinnaya River flowed into Moscow River.

Up to the 14^th century, the site was known as the grad of Moscow. The word Kremlin first was recorded in  1331.

The Assumption Cathedral was the site of coronation of Russian Tsars

Grand Prince Ivan III organized the reconstruction of the Kremlin, inviting a number of skilled   architects from Renaissance Italy, like Petrus Antonius Solarius, who designed the new Kremlin wall and its towers, and Marcus Ruffus who designed the new palace for the prince. It was during his reign that three extant cathedrals of   Kremlin, the deposition Church and the Palace of Facets were constructed. The highest building of the city and Muscovite Russia was the Great Bell Tower built in 1505 – 1508   and augmented to its present height  in 1600. The Kremlin walls as they now appear were built between 1485 and 1495.

After construction of the new Kremlin   walls and churches was complete, the monarch decreed that no structures should be built in the immediate vicinity of the citadel. The Kremlin was separated from the walled merchant town by a 30 m wide moat, over which Saint Basil’s cathedral was constructed during the reign of Terrible Ivan. He added a new cathedral for his sons.  

During the Time of Troubles the Kremlin was held by the Polish forces for two years between 21 September 1610 and 26 October 1612. The Kremlin’s liberation   by Prince Dmitry and his army paved the way for the election of Mikhail Romanov as the new Tsar.

Although still used for coronation ceremonies   the Kremlin was abandoned and neglected until 1773, when  Great Catherine engaged Vasili Bazhenov to build her new residence there.

During the imperial period from the early 18^th and until the late 19^th century, Kremlin walls were traditionally painted white, in accordance with the time’s fashion.

Following the French invasion of Russia in 1812 the French forces occupied the Kremlin from 2 September to 11 October. When   Napoleon retreated from Moscow, he ordered the whole Kremlin to be blown up. The Kremlin Arsenal several portions of the kremlin Wall and several wall towers were destroyed by explosions and fires damaged the   Faceted Chamber and churches.

After 1851 Kremlin changed little until the Russian Revolution  on 1917. The Soviet government moved from Petrograd to Moscow on 12 March 1918 and Lenin selected Kremlin Senate as his new residence. Stalin also had his personal rooms in Kremlin.

The existing Kremlin walls and towers were built by Italian masters over the years 1485 to 1495.

Cathedral Square is the heart of Kremlin. It is surrounded by six buildings , including three cathedrals

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