Kremlin Timeline

(1156 - Present)

The Kremlin is a fortified complex in the center of Moscow, Russia, serving as the official residence of the President of Russia and historically the seat of power for tsars, Soviet leaders, and modern Russian presidents. Comprising palaces, cathedrals, towers, and walls dating from the 15th century, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a enduring symbol of Russian political authority. More Less

Go to: Timeline | Event List | Key Facts | Directory

Early History

Slavs occupy Borovitsky Hill

1000 - 1099

The Slavs occupied the south-western portion of Borovitsky Hill as early as the 11th century, a fact evidenced by a metropolitan seal from the 1090s unearthed by Soviet archaeologists in the area.

Image source: Kremlin

Grad extended by Prince Yuri Dolgorukiy

1156

The grad, known up to the 14th century simply as the 'grad of Moscow', was greatly extended by Prince Yuri Dolgorukiy in 1156, marking the site's emergence as a fortified stronghold.

Image source: Yuri Dolgorukiy

First recorded use of the word 'Kremlin'

1331

The word 'Kremlin' was first recorded in 1331, though etymologist Max Vasmer mentions an earlier appearance in 1320.

Medieval Moscow

Mongol destruction of the grad

1237

The grad was destroyed by the Mongols during their devastating invasion of the Russian principalities.

Image source: Mongol invasion of Kievan Rus'

Grad rebuilt in oak by Ivan I Kalita

1339

Following the Mongol destruction of 1237, Ivan I Kalita rebuilt the grad in oak, restoring Moscow's principal fortress.

Image source: Ivan I of Moscow

Founding of the Chudov Monastery

1365

Dmitri Donskoi's tutor, Metropolitan Alexis, founded the Chudov Monastery within the Kremlin. His widow, Eudoxia, later established the Ascension Convent in 1397.

Image source: Chudov Monastery

White limestone citadel built by Dmitri Donskoi

1366 - 1368

Dmitri Donskoi replaced the oak palisade with a strong citadel of white limestone in 1366–1368 on the basic foundations of the current walls; this fortification withstood a siege by Khan Tokhtamysh.

Image source: Dmitry Donskoy

Cathedral of the Annunciation painted

1406

The newly built Cathedral of the Annunciation was painted by the great masters Theophanes the Greek, Andrei Rublev, and Prokhor.

Image source: Cathedral of the Annunciation, Moscow

Tsarist Era

Cathedral of the Dormition completed

1479

The Cathedral of the Dormition was completed in 1479 to serve as the main church of Moscow and the site where all the Tsars were crowned.

Image source: Dormition Cathedral, Moscow

Church of the Deposition of the Virgin's Robe built

1484 - 1488

One of two domestic churches of the Metropolitans and Patriarchs of Moscow, the one-domed Church of the Deposition of the Virgin's Robe was built by Pskov artisans from 1484 to 1488 and features icons and frescoes from 1627 and 1644.

Image source: Church of the Deposition of the Robe

Kremlin walls rebuilt between 1485 and 1495

1485 - 1495

The existing Kremlin Wall and Kremlin towers were built by Italian masters from 1485 to 1495, giving the fortress its present-day appearance.

Image source: Moscow Kremlin Wall

Cathedral of the Annunciation completed

1489

The gilded, three-domed Cathedral of the Annunciation was completed in 1489, only to be reconstructed to a nine-domed design a century later.

Palace of Facets completed

1491

The oldest secular structure still standing in the Kremlin is Ivan III's Palace of Facets (1491), which holds the imperial thrones.

Image source: Palace of Facets

Ivan the Great Bell Tower construction begins

1505 - 1508

The highest building of the city and Muscovite Russia, the Ivan the Great Bell Tower, was built between 1505 and 1508.

Image source: Ivan the Great Bell Tower

John the Precursor church built by Aloisio the New

1508

John the Precursor was built by Aloisio the New in 1508 in place of the first church constructed in Moscow.

Cathedral of the Archangel Michael completed

1508

On the south-east of the square stands the much larger Cathedral of the Archangel Michael, where almost all the Muscovite monarchs from Ivan Kalita to Ivan V of Russia are interred.

Image source: Cathedral of the Archangel

Number of Kremlin towers increased to twenty

1600 - 1699

Originally there were eighteen Kremlin towers, but their number increased to twenty in the 17th century, when most of the existing Terem Palace was also built.

Image source: List of Moscow Kremlin towers

Bell tower augmented to its present height

1600

The Ivan the Great Bell Tower was augmented to its present height in 1600, reaching 81 metres (266 feet), making it the tallest structure in the city.

Polish forces hold the Kremlin

Sep 21, 1610 - Oct 26, 1612

During the Time of Troubles, the Kremlin was held by Polish forces for two years, from 21 September 1610 until its recapture on 26 October 1612.

Image source: Time of Troubles

Church of the Twelve Apostles built

1653 - 1656

One of the two domestic churches of the Metropolitans and Patriarchs of Moscow, the Church of the Twelve Apostles, was constructed between 1653 and 1656.

Image source: Church of the Twelve Apostles

Imperial Era

Peter the Great escapes the Kremlin

1682

After the death of Alexis's son Feodor and the Moscow Uprising of 1682, Tsar Peter escaped with much difficulty from the Kremlin and as a result developed a dislike for it.

Image source: Peter the Great

Arsenal built for Peter the Great

1701

The northern corner of the Kremlin is occupied by the Arsenal, which was built for Peter the Great beginning in 1701.

Image source: Kremlin Arsenal

Peter abandons the Kremlin for Saint Petersburg

1703

Three decades after escaping the Kremlin, Peter abandoned the residence of his forefathers for his new capital, Saint Petersburg, founded in 1703.

Image source: Saint Petersburg

Golden Hall destroyed for new Kremlin Palace

1752

The Golden Hall, a throne room with murals painted probably after 1547, was destroyed to make place for the Kremlin Palace commissioned by Elizabeth of Russia and designed by Italian architect Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli.

Image source: Grand Kremlin Palace

Catherine the Great commissions Bazhenov

1773

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

Image source: Vasily Bazhenov

French forces occupy the Kremlin

Sep 2, 1812 - Oct 11, 1812

French forces under Napoleon occupied the Kremlin from 2 September to 11 October 1812, following the French invasion of Russia.

Image source: French invasion of Russia

Explosions damage the Kremlin

Oct 21, 1812 - Oct 23, 1812

Explosions continued for three days, from 21 to 23 October 1812, damaging the Kremlin; the upper part of the Ivan the Great Bell Tower was destroyed and later rebuilt.

Restoration works supervised by Osip Bove

1816 - 1819

Restoration works were undertaken in 1816–1819 under the supervision of architect Osip Bove to repair the war damage inflicted on the Kremlin.

Image source: Joseph Bové

Terem Palace incorporates oldest extant structure

1838

The Terem Palace, commissioned by Nicholas I in 1838, contains reception halls, a ceremonial red staircase, private apartments of the tsars, and the lower story of the Resurrection of Lazarus church (1393), the oldest extant structure in the Kremlin and all of Moscow.

Image source: Terem Palace

Grand Kremlin Palace constructed

1839 - 1849

Commissioned by Nicholas I, the palace was constructed in 1839–1849, followed by the rebuilding of the Kremlin Armoury in 1851.

Kremlin Armoury rebuilt

1851

Built in 1851 to a Renaissance Revival design, the Kremlin Armoury is currently a museum housing the Russian state Regalia and Diamond Fund.

Image source: Kremlin Armoury

Assassination of Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich marked

1905

A stone cross was erected marking the spot where in 1905 Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich of Russia was assassinated by Ivan Kalyayev; it was one of the few monuments added after 1851, before being destroyed by the Bolsheviks in 1918.

Image source: Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich of Russia

Soviet and Modern Era

Bolsheviks destroy imperial monuments

1918

The Monument to Alexander II and the stone cross marking the assassination spot of Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich were destroyed by the Bolsheviks in 1918.

Soviet government moves to Moscow

Mar 12, 1918

The Soviet government moved from Petrograd (present-day Saint Petersburg) to Moscow on 12 March 1918, making the Kremlin once again the seat of power.

Kremlin closed to tourists

1920 - 1955

The residence of the Soviet government was closed to tourists until 1955, keeping the Kremlin off-limits to visitors for decades.

Chudov Monastery and Ascension Convent demolished

1920

The Chudov Monastery and Ascension Convent, with their 16th-century cathedrals, were demolished to make room for the military school.

'The Kremlin' as symbol of Soviet government

1947 - 1991

During the Cold War, the term 'the Kremlin' meant the Government of the Soviet Union, and 'Kremlinology' meant the study of the decisions of the Soviet leaders and of Russian and Soviet politics.

State Kremlin Palace built under Khrushchev

1959 - 1961

The State Kremlin Palace, alias the Kremlin Palace of Congresses, was commissioned by Nikita Khrushchev as a modern arena for Communist Party meetings and was built within the Kremlin walls between 1959 and 1961.

Image source: State Kremlin Palace

Kremlin Museums established

1961

The Kremlin Museums were established in 1961, opening the historic complex to greater public access.

Image source: Kremlin

Kremlin inscribed on World Heritage List

1990

The Kremlin complex was among the first Soviet patrimonies inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1990.

Image source: World Heritage Site

Presidential helipad completed

May 2013

A helipad was completed in May 2013 within the Kremlin grounds, allowing the president to travel without convoys disrupting traffic in central Moscow.

Key Facts

The first fortifications on the site were wooden walls built in 1156 by Prince Yuri Dolgoruky.
The red brick walls and 20 towers visible today were constructed between 1485 and 1495 by Italian architects under Ivan III.
The Kremlin served as the residence of Russian tsars until Peter the Great moved the capital to St. Petersburg in 1712.
It became the seat of Soviet government after Lenin relocated the capital back to Moscow in 1918.
The Kremlin was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1990 and now houses the office and residence of the Russian President.

Source

This Kremlin timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.

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