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Moscow At the beginning of the 12th century, near the mouth of the Neglinnaya and Moscow Rivers, existed international routes that connected many politically estranged lands. In 1147 a market-place was developed and in 1156 a fortress erected on what is now known as the Kremlin Hill. The name of this fortress became Moscow around the time of the Grand Duke of Vladimir Yuri Dolgorukiy. About a century and a half passed before this small town of the Vladimir Principality became a centre of its own. Moscow would inherit the mission of unification of Russia from Vladimir. The first Moscow dukes: Daniel, Ivan I the Kalita, Dimitry Donskoy, Metropolitan Peter and Alexiy, and the Reverend Sergius of Radonezh were all elements of the origin of Moscow. A century after the death of Reverend Sergius and fifty years after the death of Andrew Rublev, reigned the famous Third Rome of Ivan III. It was this Ivan that ruled Russia in its entirety. At this point in history, we find the Russian-Italian K-remlin; where the Middle Ages met the Renaisance, the East met the West, and a new culture vas born. Moscow has its own Golgotha, that is the Scaffold (Lobnoye Miesto), which constitutes the centre of the architect's pair of compasses. |
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It has its own Cathedral of the God's Tomb, which we call the Belfry of Ivan the Great. In truth, the entire Kremlin is a great Cathedral, with the Red Square as its Altar. A battling and victorious Russia brought the symbols of its victories to this Altar.In the middle of the 16th century the Tartar East was conquered, upon which Ivan the Terrible built the Cathedral of Saint Basil the God's Fool to commemorate. At the beginning of the 17th century the Disturbance (smuta) was defeated, the interregnum overcome, the Lithuanian invasion suppressed and all impostors (the False Dimitries) expelled. The new dynasty of the Romanovs was elected, and in connection with these events, the Cathedral of the Kazan Icon of Saint Virgin was erected and the monument to Minin and Pozharsky was founded to mark the Russian victory. More than once this city has been destroyed by fire, more than once it was devastated by invasions from the East and the West. Tyrants and pretenders reigned the country, insurrections raised only to be drowned in blood. Through all of this chaos and ruin, Moscow has survived. Even now it is possible to see a great many churches. Such masterpieces as the Church of Saint Triphon the Martyr in Naprudnaya, the Church of Saint Trinity in Nikitniky, the Church of Saint Virgin's Nativity in Putinky and the Church of Christ's Resurrection in Kadashy are all beautiful places to explore.
Other outstanding survivors from the 17th century are the country estate of Averky Kirillov, the Mint, the Loom, and the Pharmaceutical Yards with its house and church. In addition to these are the homes of Boyarin Troyekurov, Duke Yusupov, merchant Sverchkov, clerk Ukraintsev, and Count Rostopchin. Some of these structures already show specific features of the 18th century architecture. The first monuments of the 18th century are also of Moscow origin. The Church of Saint Gabriel the Archangel - the Menshikova Bashnya (tower) - is the father of the European Baroque style of Peter's era. It is the roseate sunrise of the Golden Age, and the Menshikov Palace was the premature apparition of the remote future of Classicism. At this climactic moment in Moscow's development, everything stopped! St. Petersburg was built, and its construction halted the growth of Moscow. The founder of St. Petersburg and its empire humiliated and demeaned Moscow at its architectural peak. It would be a half a century before Moscow would regain its original role as the capital of the nonmilitary class. The late Baroque style of the Apraksin Palace would reflect this role of Moscow. The full effect of Moscow's position however, is found in the architecture of Classicism. The city resembled a kind of country estate. The chief architect, master Kazakov, arranged many constructions and amusements. Some examples are the Temple of Legislation (the Kremlin's Senate), the Temple of Knowledge (the oldest University in Russia), the Temple of Solitude (Peter's Empire Palace), the Monastery of Mercy (the Golitsin Hospital), the Forum (the Noble Assembly with its famous Hall), and many scattered rotundas (summer houses) of the aristocratic estates. The great fire of 1812, the so-called «Napoleon Fire», concluded this era and began a new one.
It evolved into the centre for patrons of Modern art. The Silver Age of Russian culture brings to mind the Tretyakov Gallery and the Mamontov Opera. This in turn evokes Shalyapin, the theatre of Stanislavsky (sponsored by Sawa Morosov), the collections of Schukin and Bakhrushin as well as the art of Serov, Vrubel, Levitan, Scryabin and Rakhmaninov. Groups of philosophers and architects, including the world famous Fyodor Shekhtel, are radiant reminders of a thriving era of Russian history. With great wealth often comes great conflict. Skirmishes throughout Moscow in 1905 foreshadowed the events of 1917. St. Petersburg surrendered to the Bolsheviks rather easily. Moscow, however, resisted up until November. The Military Colleagues and their best military corps stood firm until the bitter end. The Kremlin they fiercely defended was fired upon and captured. At the beginning of 1918, Moscow again became the capital of Russia. But which Russia? The Russia of Lenin and Stalin. Unlike its previous existence, Moscow became the city of Lefortovo and Butyrky, Lubyanka and the Sailor's Silence (the names of the well-known prisons). Those names that once evoked beauty became symbols of horror.
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