Scheme of the Smolensk fortress. Smolensk Kremlin. History and sights of Smolensk. Siege of the Smolensk fortress in the 17th century

04.12.2020

What do we expect to see when we come to some ancient Russian city? The Kremlin is in its center, streets diverging from it with historical buildings, as, for example, in Nizhny Novgorod or Veliky Novgorod, Tula or Kazan.

But in Smolensk everything is different.

There is no Kremlin in Smolensk, but there is fortress , inside which almost the entire historical center of the city is located. Wherever you go, being in the center of Smolensk, one way or another you will definitely see either the fortress walls (or what remains of them by now) or the mighty towers of the Smolensk fortress .

By the way, in my impression, in this respect Smolensk is similar to Moscow, if it had preserved the fortress walls of Bely and Kitai Gorod. However, why be surprised if Smolensk Kremlin was built by the same architect as the Moscow White City - Fedor Kon , and besides, almost at the same time when the last of the Rurikovichs, not fully capable, sat on the Moscow throne Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich , and his brother-in-law, a powerful and cunning boyar, ruled the state under him Boris Fedorovich Godunov .

However, first things first.

Smolensk Kremlin , an outstanding defensive structure of the endXVI- startedXVIIcenturies, the creation of the architect Fyodor Savelyevich Konya , for several centuries shaped the appearance of the city.

Monument to the architect at the walls of the fortress:

The history of its creation is connected with the beginning of the Time of Troubles, when the Moscow state really faced the threat of a Polish invasion.
Conscious of the need to strengthen the western borders, December 15, 1595 "sovereign and Grand Duke Fedor Ioannovich All Rus' ordered Prince Vasily Ondreevich Zvenigorodsky and Semyon Volodimirovich Bezobrazov and the clerks Posnik Shipilov and Nechai Perfiryev and the city master Fyodor Savelyev Konya to go to Smolensk. The Sovereign Tsar and Grand Duke Fyodor Ioannovich of All Rus' indicated that the city of Smolensk should be made of stone as his sovereign fatherland.”.

The importance of the fortress being built in Smolensk is emphasized by the fact that he himself came to lay its foundation Boris Godunov , the de facto ruler of the Moscow state, who ascended the Russian throne in 1598.

The laying ceremony was arranged with special solemnity: “singing at the Most Pure Mother of God Smolensk prayer service”, Godunov with his retinue “I went around the place where the city was, and ordered to build a stone city”.
The construction of the fortress wall began immediately “Okolnichy Ivan Mikhailov son Buturlin and Prince Vasily Zvenigorodsky and clerk Nechai Perfiryev and many nobles and boyar children in the bailiffs”, whom the king punished “do it hastily, without delay”.
Such a grandiose and hasty construction required the mobilization of all the forces of the country: "from all over the Russian land" craftsmen - masons and brickmakers, as well as working people - were sent to Smolensk. Both local and imported building materials were used ( “And they brought stone and lime from the distant cities of all the earth”).
Due to the importance of the construction of the Smolensk fortress and the short deadlines for the work, Tsar Boris Godunov issued a decree banning stone construction in other cities of the state.

In 1602, construction was completed and the new fortress was consecrated. By the way, it is interesting that many Smolensk residents, of course, those who at least somehow understand the past of their city, still call the Smolensk fortress “Godunovskaya”.

The fortress wall had a length of about 6.4 km (about 3 km have survived) and included 38 towers (today there are 17 of them left, some of which have survived in a heavily rebuilt form). The width of the spindle is 4.2 - 6 m, the height together with the battlements is 12 - 19 m. The base of the western and northern sections of the wall consists of oak piles driven into the bottom of the pit; in the south and east the wall is placed directly on the mainland.
The foundation of the fortress, made of large white stone blocks, tapers upward and ends with a layer of 3 to 10 rows of bricks, above which there is a white stone ridge, which, however, is not preserved everywhere.

A special feature of the Smolensk fortress is the presence of three battle levels, the loopholes of which are located in a checkerboard pattern. The “upper battle” was to be carried out from the wall platform, the width of which was 4 - 4.5 m. It was possible to climb to the platform along stone “shoots” - narrow internal staircases located near the gate towers. Outside, the battle area is fenced with alternating blind and battle (cut through loopholes) battlements with a dovetail finish; from the inside - square pillars supporting a wooden gable roof.
The loopholes of the middle and bottom levels were located in vaulted chambers in the thickness of the spindles.
The length of the spindles between the towers is on average 158 m.

On all sides (except for the northern one, facing the Dnieper), the fortress was surrounded by a deep moat filled with water. Some fragments of this ditch have survived to this day:

Among the towers of the Smolensk fortress there are multifaceted (round) and tetrahedral towers. All of them are basically three-tiered.
The following towers have survived to this day: Pyatnitskaya, Kopytinskaya, Bubleika, Gromovaya, Donets, Makhovaya, Nikolskaya, Zimbulka, Dolgochevskaya, Voronina, Zaaltarnaya, Avraamievskaya, Orel, Pozdnyakova, Veselukha, Kostyrevskaya, Volkova.
The rest were destroyed during the War of 1812, and also later, since the city authorities of SmolenskXIXcentury, they did not see any particular need for preserving the ancient fortress, and the local residents themselves actively stole the bricks of the fortress wall for their own economic needs.

The most magnificent was the rectangular five-tier Frolovskaya tower , which stood at the bridge over the Dnieper, so it was also called the Dnieper Gate.

It suffered greatly from wars and natural Disasters and already dilapidated by the beginningXVIIIcentury. In its place, a gate temple was built, first wooden (1728), and then stone (1793 - 1800), restored after Patriotic War 1812 (architect M. N. Slepnev, 1814).

Several views of the fortress wall and the Dnieper Gate from the bridge over the Dnieper and the embankment (the Volkov Tower is visible in the background on the left):

This building is designed in the forms of classicism. The symmetrical facades are designed in the form of a portico ending at the second floor level. On the sides of the temple there are two bell towers.

There is a legend that from the balcony of the gate church in 1812, Napoleon himself aimed a cannon, firing at the Russian army retreating towards Moscow.

Church of Tikhon of Zadonsk on the site of the Pyatnitsky Gate, built in 1815 - 1816, for a long time (until 1862) used as a prison church:

Some towers of the Smolensk fortress

Wolf Tower:

For me, a passionate history buff, there is nothing more beautiful and interesting than architectural monuments in the cities I visit. The walls of castles, estates, churches, and fortifications can tell about the city’s past better than any guide. The main thing is to be attentive and be able to listen to the whispering of the walls. When I come to a new place, I first of all look for ancient buildings, and the older the better. So, having arrived in Smolensk, I first of all decided to get acquainted with one of the oldest silent storytellers of history - the Smolensk fortress wall.

Unfortunately, most of the fortification was destroyed as a result of the wars, and only fragments of the wall and a few towers have reached us. But, nevertheless, they are well preserved, and the traveler, seeing this defensive object of amazing beauty, will receive a lot of impressions.

Historical reference

The stone fortress wall was erected at the beginning of the 17th century on the site of the old fortress by the “sovereign master” Fyodor Kon, famous throughout Rus' at that time. For hundreds of years, the wall protected the western borders Russian state from enemies and was a symbol of Smolensk.

The fortification had to be erected in Time of Troubles, when the Russian kingdom faced the question of protecting its borders from the invasion of Polish invaders. In the spring of 1596, the construction of the wall began in full swing in Smolensk: the Great Construction, in which tens of thousands of people from many cities of the country participated. It was decided to make the fortification so that the defenders could fire at the enemy from three points at once: from below (bottom battle system), from the center of the wall (called the middle battle) and from above (top battle).

Seven years later, the wall was completed, and already in 1609–1611 it successfully withstood a 20-month siege by the army of the Polish king Sigismund III. The diagram of the Smolensk fortress wall is presented below.

Explore the Smolensk fortress wall

As I already said, the fortress wall is located within the city: it surrounds the Leninsky district ( old Smolensk) and goes down the hills to the Dnieper. You should start exploring the fortification from the Volkov Tower (I’ll say right away that exploring the wall will take you about 4–5 hours). If you don't have a car, then get to the city center with railway station possible at public transport: you need to get off at the Sobolev stop. You can see how to get to this stop by public transport from the railway station.

We examine the Volkov tower and move to the next one - Kostyrevskaya - one of the few that stands apart (see the map above).

If you finished your route at the Kopytenskaya Tower, then you can get to the restaurant by bus No. 38 or minibus No. 38 n. Just cross the road (Dzerzhinsky Street) as shown on the map and wait for the necessary transport at the Dzerzhinsky stop.

We get to the Sobolev stop and go to the restaurant (shown on the map).

Towers of the Smolensk fortress wall

In terms of length, the Smolensk fortress wall ranks third in the world (after the Great Wall of China and Constantinople). Initially, its length was 6.3 km, and the wall itself connected 38 towers. Currently, the length of the surviving fortification is 2.5 km, and only 18 towers remain. The height of the Smolensk fortress wall in some places reaches 19 meters, but on average it is 14–16 meters. Thickness - 5–6 meters.

The western part of the fortification, where the Zaaltarnaya, Dolgochevskaya, Voronina towers stand, is in excellent condition. When you look at them, you get the feeling that this defensive area has not been touched by time.

The two most visited towers by tourists, the Eagle and the Thunder, are also well preserved.

Almost all the towers that have survived to this day are closed. Of course, if you want, you can get into them through secret loopholes, but you won’t see anything inside except building materials, garbage, and wooden beams. Over the past ten years, restoration work has been carried out repeatedly: something has been falsified, something has been repaired, but the interior of the towers has not been brought into complete order.

Eagle Tower of the Smolensk fortress wall

The multi-faceted, checkerboard-shaped Eagle Tower is located in the eastern part of the fortress on Timiryazev Street. Previously, it was easy to get into, but two years ago local authorities, for an unknown reason, decided to wall up the entrance. Because of this, residents and guests of Smolensk lost the stunning observation deck, the function of which was performed by the Eagle Tower: it offered an amazing panoramic view of the city. The only good thing is that not far from the tower, in the thickness of the wall, there is a steep staircase that allows you to climb the wall and look at the city.

Thunder Tower of the Smolensk fortress wall

Thunder Tower is located near the Blonier garden, and, in fact, is the only defensive structure of the wall where entry is allowed. It is impossible not to notice it, it stands apart right in the middle of a busy street. Address: street October revolution, 3. A small part of the fortification has been preserved nearby. You can walk along the wall: you can access it from the second tier of the tower. It is interesting that the building itself has reached us almost in its original form: part of the unique interior and a narrow steep staircase have survived.

Now the tower houses the Smolensk - Shield of Russia museum, dedicated to military history cities. The museum occupies three tiers, and on the fourth there is Observation deck, from which you can admire the panorama of Smolensk. The view may not be as breathtaking as from the tower, but it is also impressive.

The museum is open from Tuesday to Friday from 10:00 to 18:00. Ticket price - 80 rubles.

Secrets of the Smolensk fortress wall

The Smolensk Fortress is not only an architectural monument, but also a very mysterious structure, with many interesting secrets and legends associated with it.

The Legend of a Cheerful Girl

The legend about the name of the tower is very dark and ominous. It is connected with the story of a cheerful and cheerful girl nicknamed Veselukha. The legend says that the builders of the fortress had to sacrifice it in order to get rid of the constantly appearing crack in the tower. The chief builder had a dream in which the spirits told him: to prevent the crack from appearing again, he needed to find the most beautiful and cheerful girl in the city and wall her up in the wall. When the girl was killed, the crack disappeared instantly, but since then, for more than three hundred years, women’s laughter has allegedly been heard from the tower at night, which in rainy weather develops into ominous laughter. And on a calm and moonlit night, near the tower you can see the white silhouette of a lonely girl walking. They say that if you scare Veselukha, you can die. This is how she takes revenge for her own death.

Horse skull

Among the residents of the city there is a legend about a horse neighing coming from different parts fortress and always foreshadowing trouble. Legend has it that when they began to build the fortress, it was decided to wall up the skull of a horse, and not just any horse, but the war horse of St. Mercury of Smolensk, the patron saint of the city, who in 1239 stopped the invasion of Smolensk by the Mongol Khan Batu. Since that time, the horse allegedly warns the city residents of impending danger with its neighing.

Dishonest Count

There is also a legend associated with the tower. In the middle of the 18th century, the Polish Count Zmeyavsky arrived in the city and built a brick factory very close to the tower. But this plant was just a disguise. In fact, in the dungeon of the tower there was a workshop for the production of counterfeit coins, which were secretly delivered to Poland and exchanged for real ones. The Count came up with tricky way make sure people don't pry into his business. Every evening on the Eagle Tower a foreigner put on a performance - he depicted the presence of “ghosts” who were supposed to scare away the residents. Rumors quickly spread throughout the city about evil spirits “sitting” in the tower. But a few years later, Zmeyavsky’s plan was discovered, he was arrested and sent to hard labor. The count's factory was destroyed, and the entrance to the underground workshop for the production of counterfeit money was blocked. They say that even today on Christmastide or Kupala you can see strange shadows that, in some kind of hellish dance, rage on the battlements of the tower.

Dinner at the Pyatnitskaya Tower

After exploring the fortress wall, stop by the Temnitsa restaurant, which is located in the Pyatnitskaya Tower. You will not regret! Above I wrote how you can get to it. Address: Studencheskaya Street, 4. This establishment is famous for its specific game dishes. Very comfortable room, cozy interior and reasonable prices.

Finally

The Smolensk fortress wall is a huge and impressive structure, with which a large number of beautiful legends and secrets are associated. All the towers of the fortress are unique, have their own amazing history and are worth seeing with your own eyes. If you are a lover of antiquity, and defensive fortifications inspire your admiration, then I am sure that you will be delighted with the Smolensk Wall.

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The Smolensk Fortress, which is sometimes also called the Smolensk Kremlin, is one of the most powerful defensive structures of Rus'. Built in 1595-1602, having delayed the enemy more than once, it still gives the impression of a mighty stronghold. A little less than half has survived to this day: about 3.5 km of wall, 9 fragments of walls and 18 towers.

Ancient Smolensk occupied a profitable geographical position: the famous trade route “From the Varangians to the Greeks” went through it. True, the city stood a little to the side, in the area of the modern village of Gnezdovo, which is 14 km west of Smolensk along the Vitebsk highway. The first fortified settlements appeared there, on the right bank of the Dnieper, back in the 1st millennium BC. The first written mention of Smolensk in the Tale of Bygone Years dates back to 862. At that time it was the center of the Krivichi tribal union. The city was already very strongly fortified, as evidenced by the fact that in 863 Askold and Dir, on a campaign from Novgorod to Constantinople, bypassed Smolensk, not wanting to fight with the populous and well-fortified city. In 882, Prince Oleg annexed Smolensk to Old Russian state and gave it as an inheritance to the young prince Igor.

In Smolensk itself, the earliest archaeological layers date back to the 9th century. They were found on Malaya Shkolnaya Street on Sobornaya Hill. Heyday Smolensk Principality falls on the years 1127-1274, which then gave way to a period of decline. Over time, Smolensk came under the rule of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. In 1449, the Grand Duke of Lithuania Casimir and the Moscow Grand Duke Vasily the Dark entered into an agreement according to which Moscow renounced the Smolensk land forever.

Several times Russian troops unsuccessfully besieged Smolensk. In 1513, Russian troops again besieged the city. Only the third attempt was successful: after a fierce attack launched on July 29, 1514, the Lithuanian garrison surrendered. August 1, 1514 Grand Duke Vasily III solemnly entered Smolensk, appointing Vasily Shuisky as the first governor and governor. Local noble Smolensk residents, accustomed to Lithuanian liberties, tried to rebel against new government. The conspiracy was exposed, and its instigators were hanged on the city gates. From then on, Smolensk became part of the Russian state, becoming a powerful outpost on the western borders of Russia.

A section of the fortress wall near Victory Square

In the spring of 1554, by order of Ivan the Terrible, construction of a new wooden fortress began in Smolensk. However, the wooden walls were already vulnerable to artillery, which was actively developing at that time. Therefore, in December 1595, Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich “I ordered Prince Vasily Ondreevich Zvenigorodsky and Semyon Volodimirov Bezobrazov and clerk Posnik Shepilov and Nechai Perfiryev and city master Fyodor Savelyev Kony to go to Smolensk”(S. Platonov. The real case about the structure of the city of Smolensk).

In the spring of 1596, in the presence of Boris Godunov, the de facto ruler of Russia, the foundation of a new fortress began. A native of the Smolensk region, Fyodor Kon (about 1540-1606), who had previously built the walls of the White City in Moscow, was appointed head of the work. The Smolensk fortress was built on the model of the walls of other kremlins: Moscow, Kolomna, Zaraisk, Serpukhov. However, the walls of the Smolensk fortress are much higher, longer and have three battle tiers instead of two.

Monument to Fyodor Kon in Smolensk

The work was carried out under the most difficult conditions and in extreme haste: in January 1603, the ten-year truce with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was expiring. The weather was unfavorable for construction: in 1597, it rained all summer, which flooded all the trenches and ditches, as a result of which the sliding soil had to be strengthened with piles. In 1600, famine began throughout Russia due to crop failure caused by extreme heat and heavy rains. However, work did not stop for a minute.

The fortress rampart, a section of the fortress wall, the Bubleyka towers and the Kopytensky Gate

The whole country built the Smolensk fortress. For the first time, mercenary labor was used - due to the famine that broke out in the country in 1600-1602, many fled to build a new fortress in order to somehow feed themselves. More than 30 thousand people were employed at the work. The workers worked from dawn to dusk, lived in the most difficult conditions, experiencing numerous hardships. For the slightest offense they were severely punished. Many of them were injured and left crippled. In 1599, a riot even broke out, after which working conditions were somewhat relaxed.

A section of the fortress wall around

The first sections of the wall were erected on the western side of Smolensk, where there was maximum danger. In general, the new fortress repeated the configuration of the old wall, which, for security reasons, was left until construction was completed. The eastern part of the fortress, the construction of which was carried out in the rainy autumn of 1602, turned out to be less durable. The Poles subsequently took advantage of this.

Construction technology of the Smolensk fortress

At the base of the Smolensk wall there are oak piles located close to each other, driven into the bottom of the pit. The space between them was filled with compacted earth. Then new piles were driven into the compacted earth, on top of which longitudinal and transverse logs chopped into each other were placed. The resulting cells were filled with a mixture of earth and rubble. In places where the ground was hard, cobblestones held together with lime mortar were laid directly into the trenches. “Rumors” were built under the foundations, intended for forays outside the fortress during a siege.

The structure of the walls and towers of the Smolensk fortress. From the museum “Smolensk - Shield of Russia”

On this powerful wide foundation, external brick walls were erected on both sides. Bricks for construction were transferred along a multi-kilometer “human chain”. They built it “with the whole world” - they demanded two bricks from each yard in Russia: there are no bricks - there is no head on the shoulders either. Apparently, this incentive contributed not only to productivity, but also to the quality of the bricks - some are still, several centuries later, almost like new. In total, 100 million bricks were spent on the construction of the Smolensk fortress.

Tools and building materials used in the construction of the Smolensk fortress. Exhibition at the museum “Smolensk - Shield of Russia”

Special bricks were also used, called “two-handed” bricks. They were about one and a half times larger than ordinary bricks and, accordingly, heavier. You can’t hold them with one hand, that’s why they were called two-handed.

Section of the fortress wall near Victory Square

The space between the brick walls was filled with cobblestones and filled with lime mortar. Shallow niches in the form of arches were lined on the inside of the wall. Some were made deaf, others were equipped with combat cameras. In some of the blind arches, there were passages at the bottom, or, as they were called, “wickets” - small arched passages outside the fortress, which, if necessary, could be quickly blocked. In addition, the wall contained passages for communication between the towers, rifle and cannon loopholes, and ammunition storage rooms.

In the northern part of the wall, water flowed into the Dnieper through special pipes from numerous streams running down gullies and ravines. The pipes were covered with strong iron bars, through which enemy spies could not get through. Thanks to this engineering solution, excess water was drained from the city, which prevented the destruction of the wall.

The fortress wall turned out to be impressive. The thickness of the walls is 5-5.2, in some places up to 6 meters. It was possible to drive a troika freely across the combat area, which was 4-4.5 meters wide and lined with brick. The height of the walls depended on the terrain: where the wall was protected by ravines and ditches, it was lower, on flat terrain it was higher: 18 meters or more. In addition, the wall was protected from the outside by ditches and ramparts filled with water.

Walls and towers of the Smolensk fortress. Plan. From the museum “Smolensk - Shield of Russia”

The fortress walls and towers of Smolensk were originally whitewashed like the walls of the Moscow Kremlin and the White City. With their careful finishing, white stone pilasters with profiled belts, and colored painting of some architectural details, they produced a very strong visual effect.

An unspeakable beauty, the like of which is not found in all of heaven, for just as a valuable necklace rests beautifully on an important boyar, adding to her beauty and pride, so the Smolensk Wall will now become a necklace of all Orthodox Rus' to the envy of its enemies and the pride of the Moscow state... - Boris Godunov (A. Mitrofanov. City walks Smolensk.)

Combat system

The Smolensk fortress had a three-tier battle system. Foot combat was carried out from special chambers in which guns and squeaks were installed. To conduct a medium battle, vaulted chambers were equipped in the center of the wall, where the cannons were placed. On the combat platform, fenced with alternating blind and combat battlements in the shape of a “swallow tail,” the upper battle was located. Above it was a gable plank roof, protecting the guns and people from precipitation and more.

The upper battle of the fortress wall of Smolensk. Section of the wall near the Thunder Tower

Towers of the Smolensk Fortress

A total of 38 towers were built: 13 solid rectangular towers, 7 sixteen-sided and 9 round towers. Their height ranged from 22 to 33 meters. No two of them were alike: the architect Fyodor Kon sought to make the fortress as elegant as possible. The towers of the Smolensk fortress were located at a distance of 150-160 meters from one another.

Staircase up inside the Thunder Tower

Climbing to the top of the Thunder Tower

Area under the tent

Entry gates were installed in 9 towers. The Frolovskaya (Dnieper) tower served as the main gate to the city, from here there was a route to Moscow. The road to Kyiv and Roslavl went through the Molokhov Tower.

Other gate towers that were of secondary importance and therefore less ornate are Lazarevskaya, Kryloshevskaya, Avraamievskaya, Nikolskaya, Kopytenskaya, Pyatnitskaya and Voskresenskaya.

Siege of the Smolensk fortress in the 17th century

In the 17th century, the Smolensk fortress was besieged three times during the Russian-Polish wars, and never could it be taken by battle, only by betrayal. On September 16, 1609, Smolensk was besieged by the army of Sigismund III. The defense of the city was led by Mikhail Shein. The siege lasted 20 months. Despite the fact that the besieged could leave the city through “rumors” and receive reinforcements, dysentery and scurvy began among the townspeople. But the city did not give up. As always, a traitor was found. Andrei Dedeshin pointed out to the Poles the weak, eastern section of the wall, which was hastily built in the wet autumn of 1602. He was the most fragile.

On the night of June 3, 1611, the Poles, concentrating all their forces in this area, began shelling. The defenders of Smolensk locked themselves in the ancient 1101 and blew themselves up: a gunpowder warehouse was built in the cellars on Cathedral Hill. Part of the cathedral collapsed, burying people, others were killed by the Poles who burst into the city. Mikhail Shein was taken prisoner, where he remained until 1619.

The Poles took Smolensk. But exhausted by the long siege of the city, they no longer went to Moscow, since Sigismund spent all his funds and was forced to disband the army. We can say that in 1611, Smolensk saved Moscow at the cost of its capitulation: without receiving reinforcements, the Moscow garrison of Poles surrendered to the people's militia.

In 1613-1617, Russian troops tried to recapture Smolensk, but to no avail. According to the Deulin truce of 1618, Russia recognized Smolensk as the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. In 1633-1934, the Russian army under the leadership of Mikhail Shein, by that time freed from Polish captivity, again besieged Smolensk. But the troops of King Vladislav IV arrived in time and were able to besiege the besiegers themselves, as a result of which they were forced to capitulate.

Shein's bastion, built in 1633 by the Poles, which Mikhail Shein could not break through, and a section of the fortress wall near Victory Square

Upon returning to Moscow, Mikhail Shein was accused of treason and executed on Red Square. He was accused, in particular, of the fact that during his captivity he “kissed the cross of King Sigismund III and the young prince Vladislav.” Historians are still arguing whether Shein was a victim of a boyar conspiracy or whether he actually made a number of gross tactical mistakes that cost Smolensk.

On August 16, 1654, Russian troops led by Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich again launched an assault on Smolensk. The first assault was unsuccessful, Russian losses were 7,000 killed and 15,000 wounded. However, on September 23, 1654, the Smolensk garrison, having exhausted all means, capitulated.

Smolensk was finally annexed to Russia. The Truce of Andrusovo in 1667 legally secured this annexation, and the Eternal Peace of 1686 between Russia and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth confirmed it.

A section of the fortress wall, now part of the Lopatinsky Garden

Smolensk Fortress during the Patriotic War of 1812

On August 17-18, 1812, the Battle of Smolensk took place between Napoleon’s army and Russian troops, as a result of which both sides lost about 20 thousand people. The Russians were forced to retreat. Napoleon's army occupied Smolensk in flames. At the beginning of November 1812, retreating from the city, Napoleon ordered to mine and blow up all the towers of the Smolensk fortress. On November 5, 9 towers were blown up, the rest were recaptured and cleared by the Don Cossack Corps led by Ataman M.I. Platov.

Photo of the Nikolsky Gate, Museum “Smolensk - Shield of Russia”

After the Patriotic War of 1812, the entire city lay in ruins; at least 80% of the buildings were burned. The total loss was estimated at a huge amount for those times: 6.6 million rubles. Therefore, it is not surprising that local residents dismantled the dilapidated fortress in order to restore their homes.

A section of the fortress wall near the Lopatinsky Garden. Photo by S.M. Prokudin-Gorsky, 1912

Smolensk Fortress in the 20th century

In 1930, when active construction was underway in Smolensk, some sections of the wall were demolished to clear new construction sites. Bricks and cobblestones from the dilapidated fortress were used to construct new buildings. The Smolensk Fortress suffered both during the Great Patriotic War and post-war period when Smolensk was raised from the ruins. As a result, only 18 towers and 9 fragments of the wall have survived to this day. However, even the preserved sections of the Smolensk fortress are amazing.

Eastern section of the fortress wall, view from Cathedral Hill

The following towers have been preserved: Volkova (Semenovskaya, Strelka), Kostyrevskaya (Red), Veselukha (Luchinskaya), Dnieper Gate, Pozdnyakova (Rogovka), Orel (Gorodetskaya), Avraamievskaya, Zaaltarnaya (Belukha), Voronina, Dolgochevskaya (Shembeleva), Zimbulka, Nikolskaya tower (Nikolsky Gate), Mokhovaya, Donets, Gromovaya (Tupinskaya), Bubleika, Kopytenskaya Tower (Kopytensky Gate), Pyatnitskaya Tower.

Lost towers: Antifonovskaya, Pyatnitsaya Tower (Water), Bogoslovskaya, Ivorovskaya (Verzhenova), Water Gate (Resurrection Gate), Granovitaya, Gurkina, Frolovskaya, Evstafievskaya (Brikareva), Kassandalovskaya (Kozodavlevskaya, Artishevskaya), Round No. 11, Round No. 13 , Kryloshevsky Gate, Lazarevsky Gate, Molokhovsky Gate, Mikulinskaya Tower, Stefanskaya, Kolominskaya (Sheinova), Gorodetskaya (Semenovskaya), Quadrangular No. 8, Quadrangular No. 12, Quadrangular No. 19.

The longest section, more than 1.5 kilometers long, is located in the eastern part of Smolensk. It runs along from the Nikolsky Gate in the southeast to the Veselukha Tower in the north. On both sides, the wall is limited by ravines up to 30 meters deep, which, coupled with magnificent panoramic views, creates an extremely strong visual effect. A particularly impressive view opens from the top platform of the Eagle Tower.

Plan.

1. Introduction.

2 Smolensk Fortress is an outstanding architectural and fortification structure

a) the need for construction -

historical reference

b) architect Fyodor Kon

c) construction of a fortress

d) defensive capabilities of the fortress

3 Conclusion.

4 Applications.

1. Introduction

This is a chronicle of battles, This is a story about the destinies of Rus'! This is a stone shield

What does her heart keep in Moscow!...

A working city, a warrior city, a city of Russian glory!

This is what historians call Smolensk. For the second millennium, it stands unshakably on the steep Dnieper hills, at the crossroads of many roads, honestly and courageously accepting everything that history has assigned to it. In the entire centuries-old history of the city, there has not been a century when Smolensk residents did not have to take up arms.

Smolensk is the very history of our Motherland,

his fate has always been inextricably linked with

the fate of the state.

M.S.Gorbachev

At the turn of the 16th-17th centuries, Smolensk, as an important strategic point, was fortified with a powerful stone wall. For six years, from the spring of 1596 to the autumn of 1602, the Smolensk fortress was built. Four hundred years ago, builders were working on creating a wall. The wall was erected under the leadership of the outstanding Russian architect Fyodor Savelyevich Kon.

He was nicknamed the Horse for his strength:

The power of the beater played in him!

Tsar Ivan Vasilich the Terrible himself

The kid was christened Horse.

Indeed, accurate, albeit unflattering,

That nickname stuck with him:

His tousled mane

Exactly like a horse's...

Dmitry Kedrin.

The walls were built so skillfully that they became a reliable defense for the city. Smolensk is called the “key city”, the road to Moscow. Smolensk Fortress played important role not only for the Smolensk region, but for all of Russia. This wall has endured many sieges and wars.

On September 13, 1609, seven years after the completion of the fortress, the Polish king Sigismund 3 approached Smolensk with a huge army and besieged it. The defenders of the city, its entire population, selflessly held back the onslaught of a well-armed army of invaders for more than twenty months.

In the summer of 1708, the troops of the Swedish king Charles 12 approached the southern borders of the Smolensk land; it was through Smolensk that he threatened to advance to Moscow. But Peter I arrived in the city, and the most energetic measures were taken to repair the fortress and meet the enemy at the distant approaches. Having encountered well-equipped fortifications, having suffered several major defeats and almost being captured, Charles 12 realized that it was impossible to get through Smolensk to Moscow, so he turned south, to Ukraine, where the famous Battle of Poltava took place (1709).

The ancient city increased its military merits in the Patriotic War of 1812. On Smolensk land two Russian armies united - M.B. Barclay de Tolia and P.I. Bagration. This ruined Napoleon's strategic plan to break them apart. At the walls of the Smolensk fortress on August 4-5, 1812, it happened major battle, in him French troops suffered heavy losses, but the Russian army was able to carry out a strategic maneuver and maintain its combat effectiveness. When the city was abandoned, in its vicinity, throughout the entire Smolensk land, guerrilla warfare. By this time, 38 towers had been preserved in the fortress wall. At the end of the war, during Napoleon's retreat, his army blew up 8 towers.

The most difficult trials befell Smolensk during the Great Patriotic War. On the distant and near approaches to ancient city, on its streets and squares, throughout the surrounding land, the largest battle of the initial period of the war, the Battle of Smolensk, thundered for two months, destroying Hitler’s “blitzkrieg” plans. When the city found itself under temporary occupation, the remaining population continued to fight the enemy. On September 25, 1943, Smolensk was liberated.

Ruins of buildings, mountains of crumbled bricks, charred trees, brick chimneys on the site of former homes were seen by the Red Army soldiers upon entering the city. A new heroic feat was required to overcome the devastation and revive life in the ashes and ruins. And this feat was accomplished.

Today's Smolensk is one of the most beautiful cities in the country. In it, hoary antiquity coexists with modern buildings; the revived buildings delight the eye with their architectural appearance. History here reminds of itself either with an earthen defensive rampart, or an ancient temple, or a fortress tower... Smolensk residents are proud of their heroic past, building a new life.

Smolensk Kremlin -

an outstanding architectural and fortification structure.

Someone is moving the arrows slowly

On the earth's dial of centuries,

Yes, on a white thread

A series of golden clouds .

Drop your necklace onto your shoulders

Dnieper green hills

The harsh thread is torn

Nothing

To patch up the injuries of these spinners,

And tie these word beads:

Zaaltarnaya, Strelka, Belukha,

Shakhovskaya, Zimbulka, Donets,

Thunder, Eagle, Veselukha -

Father's blood crown of thorns .

In these arches, openings, spaces,

A flock of scattered days is circling,

Only the wind within Russian borders

Only painting of colorless stones .

2.a) The need for construction - historical background.

In the second half of the 60s of the 16th century, a difficult time came for the Russian state . The grueling Livonian War, which lasted a quarter of a century (1558 - 1583), had a very hard impact on the country's economy. . Costing enormous sacrifices and not solving the main state task - access to the Baltic Sea, it also fell heavily on the shoulders of the peasantry . But in the 80s of the 16th century, the economic power of the country began to gradually level out . Construction, which had greatly declined during the period of desolation, is also reviving . The question of the urgent implementation of large construction orders of national importance became especially acute at that time. . Weakened by an inconclusive long-term war and internal social contradictions, the country has become a tempting bait for aggressive neighbors. . Crimean Tatars constantly threatened from the south , received support from the Sultan's Turkey . In the west, danger threatened from the gentry of Poland - the natural ally of Crimea in the fight against the Moscow state, and in the north-west the Swedes were waiting for an opportune moment to attack . Every precaution had to be taken to prevent the possibility of external invasion . Some outer cities also required protection, the fortifications of which were either lost or simply became unusable in the south and southeast, and to try to regain Votskaya Pyatina, that section of ancient Novgorod territory on the coast of the Gulf of Finland that was lost in the Lebanon War . It was finally necessary to satisfy other, already internal construction needs of the country, not related to defense tasks . However, the government did not have enough skilled labor to carry out all this construction. . Attempts to change the current situation in the construction business were made during the Lebanese War . At that time, Russia, blocked from the west, was establishing relations with England, and Ivan the Terrible, in a letter to Queen of England Elizabeth asked for a call to temporary duty as an architect . The need for specialist builders did not disappear even during the reign of Boris Godunov (1598-1605). . Replenishment of Russian architects from time to time with invitees from abroad could not meet the growing construction needs . A strong reorganization of the construction business was needed . Therefore, at the end of 1583 or the beginning of 1584, during the life of Ivan the Terrible, a special construction department was created in Moscow - « Order of stone affairs ». The Order of Stone Affairs acquired particular significance under Boris Godunov: under him it turned into the largest specialized organization that took into its own hands all state construction . It can be said with almost certainty that at the same time the Order of Stone Affairs also regulated the extraction of stone in the long-famous Myaikovo quarries . At the end of the 16th century, monasteries were also involved in construction duties. . The implementation of the above measures allowed the Moscow government to carry out enormous construction in the country in a short period of time. . The initiator of this construction was Boris Godunov . The reign of Ivan the Terrible is also characterized by great construction activity . Particularly large construction work took place in Moscow . In 1565, like many others, Savely Petrov came to Moscow to work with his son Fyodor, who later became a great Russian architect , who built the Smolensk fortress .

2.b) Architect Fyodor Kon.

Fyodor Kon was born on July 4, 1556 in Dorogobuzh . Fyodor Kon's father , Saveliy Petrov , was a carpenter . And in 1565, Savely Petrov came to Moscow to work; he brought his nine-year-old son Fedor with him to the capital to teach him the craft of ward construction . Savely Petrov was one of the “black people” who had almost no rights . At that time, a new royal palace was being built across the Neglinnaya River, where Savely Petrov settled . The work was supervised by an experienced master - foreigner Johann Clairaut . In Moscow, Fyodor Kon was delighted with the almost fabulous charm of “St. Basil” and the greatness of “Ivan the Great” . He was greatly impressed by the harsh walls of the Moscow Kremlin and Kitay-gorod . At first he helped his father : carried boards, dug ditches for foundations, got used to the craft of ward construction, but in the fall of 1568, a fireweed epidemic swept across Moscow: many townspeople and newcomers died . Carpenter Savely Petrov also died . Johann Clairaut left his son Fyodor at the construction site, assigning him as a junior assistant to the carpenter Foma Krivousov . Soon a stranger from his native place informed Fyodor about the death of his mother and younger brothers. . The orphaned Fyodor Savelyev left the construction of the royal chambers and continues to work in Moscow, erecting stone walls and log huts, which were built at that time according to « samples" developed by experienced carpenters and masters of ward construction . In 1571, Moscow was attacked by the hordes of the Crimean Khan and almost all wooden buildings were destroyed by fires. . Fedor « with friends » continued to build . A tall and smart young man becomes a senior in a carpentry team . He stood out among his comrades for his extraordinary strength and endurance. . It is no coincidence that already sixteen-year-old Fyodor Savelyev received the nickname Horse . « Black » Human Fedor the Horse loved Rus' with all the soul of the simple Russian people and gave all his knowledge and strength to strengthen its power . Wandering around Moscow and half-starved life « stink » did not develop in Fyodor Kon an insatiable interest in stone city buildings . Fyodor lived at that time on Arbat in the courtyard of the parish priest Gur Agapitov, from whom the inquisitive young man learned to read and write, gleaned some information from sacred history . Fedor continued to walk around the yards in search of odd jobs . The thirst for knowledge led Fedor to the master Johann Clairaut . The educated engineer Clairo undertook to teach the Horse mathematics and the principles of structural mechanics . Stories about great architects, about ancient Greek and Roman architecture, about castles and fortresses, revealed a new unknown world to the young carpenter . From Clairo the Horse learned German and Latin, independent reading foreign books . The friendship of Fyodor Kon with the cannon master Andrei Chekhov dates back to this time. . Meanwhile, the life of the artel carpenter went on as before . Huts, barns, chambers - rarely did a large order come up . The spring of 1573 has arrived . Fedor Kon « with friends » built mansions for the German Heinrich Staden, who served at court . Horse hasn’t had much work for a long time, and he devoted himself enthusiastically to completing an interesting order. . The work was coming to an end; the carpenters erected a high fence around the new mansion. . The Horse himself cut the gate patterns . But the German owner did not like the magnificent Russian carvings . Without saying a word, he struck the Horse and turned to walk away . Fyodor Kon flared up and, overcome with anger, knocked the German to the ground . A fight broke out ... Fedor was accused of rebellion and atheism . Knowing well that severe punishment awaited him, Fyodor Kon fled from Moscow . A refugee hid in the Boldinsky monastery near hometown Dorogobuzh . At the time of Fyodor Kon’s arrival, the Boldinsky Monastery was one of the richest in Rus' . The monks wanted to surround the monastery with stone . Fedor had the opportunity to try his knowledge and experience on the big business of stone construction . Standing out for his knowledge and courage of artistic thought, the Horse led the monastery construction . Under the leadership of Fyodor Kon, a cathedral with three altar niches, a monastery belfry, a refectory with a small church next to it, and chopped oak walls were built . But Fyodor Kon did not escape for long in the monastery . He was forced to leave him . The participation of Fyodor Kon in the construction of the Boldinsky Monastery is confirmed by many researchers of Russian architecture . Analyzing the architectural details of the Odigitrievskaya Church of the Ivano-Predtechensky Monastery in Vyazma, one cannot help but be convinced that they were made by the hand of the same master as the stone buildings of the Boldinsky Monastery . Simultaneously with the construction of the Ivano-Predtechensky Monastery, Fyodor Kon was entrusted with the construction of the Vyazemsky City Cathedral, which later received the name Trinity . The Trinity Cathedral in Vyazma has survived to this day without significant changes and testifies to the great creative talent of the architect . Fyodor Kon clearly imagined what Russian fortresses should be like . Based on the experience of Russian fortification art, he paved his own path in this area . Longing for big work forced Fyodor Kon to leave Vyazma in March 1584 and secretly return to Moscow . There he wrote a petition addressed to Tsar Ivan the Terrible . But Grozny could not forgive the escape from the sovereign’s justice . That's why a week later Fedor Kon received an answer: « The city master Fyodor, the son of Savely, is allowed to live in Moscow, and for escaping he will be beaten fifty times. ». Fedor endured the punishment for escaping with fortitude. . Thus began a new stage in the life of Fyodor Kon, who was destined to increase the power and glory of Moscow Rus' . In Moscow, Fyodor Kon met with his old friend - foundry master Andrei Chekhov, who was casting the Tsar Cannon at that time . Again the ward master had to leave Moscow . This time Fyodor Kon worked in the Moscow region on the construction of the Pafnutiev Monastery in Borovsk . The reign of Boris Godunov continued the policy of Ivan the Terrible to strengthen the Russian state . Godunov paid great attention to the defense of the Fatherland and especially the capital . At his suggestion, in 1586, work began on the construction of a new Tsarev city around Moscow. . Godunov remembered the city master Fyodor Kon . Dream « black » man's dream came true - he was entrusted with the construction of Tsarev-city . Fyodor Kon set to work with great energy; judging by the excavations carried out during the construction of the Moscow Metro, the depth of the foundations of the White City was 2 . 1 meters . The width of the walls at the foundation level reached six meters, and in the upper part it was 4 . 5 meters . Loopholes were built in the walls for short and long-range shelling , 28 towers rose above the walls . In 1593, the construction of the White City was completed . As a reward for his work, Fyodor Kon received from boyar Godunov a piece of brocade and a fur coat, and Tsar Fyodor Ivanovich allowed the city planner to take his hand . The construction of the White City brought honor and wealth to Fyodor Kon . Fyodor Kon married the widow of a merchant from « cloth row » Irina Agapovna Petrova and he is accepted into the cloth hundred . At the same time, he erected the Church of the Don Mother of God in the Moscow Donskoy Monastery . Upon completion of construction Donskaya Church Fyodor Kon begins the construction and strengthening of the Simonov Monastery - one of the brightest pages in the history of Russian fortress construction . Upon completion of work in the Simonov Monastery, Fyodor Kon was entrusted with the construction of the Smolensk fortress wall. In 1595, Fyodor Kon arrived in Smolensk on the orders of the Tsar to build a fortress. The Smolensk Fortress is the second large structure of Fyodor Savelyevich Kon.

Smolensk is the oldest Russian city, which constantly suffered from attacks from its European neighbors. It has always had an important defensive significance for the country, so the Russian tsars took care of its strengthening.

During the reign of Boris Godunov and Fyodor Ioannovich, the Smolensk Kremlin was built. This is a unique building in every sense. For several centuries it was considered the largest and most reliable in Europe.

History of the Smolensk Kremlin

In 1554, Ivan the Terrible issued a decree in which he ordered the construction of a new, very high wooden fortress. However, in those days the development of artillery began, and wooden fortresses were no longer impregnable. For this reason, at the end of the 16th century, it was decided to begin construction of a fortress made of stone. Since December 1595, active preparatory work was carried out.

The construction was supervised by the outstanding Russian architect F. S. Kon, who was the author of the White City in Moscow. The prototype of this structure, according to experts, was the Moscow Kremlin, as well as similar buildings in Tula, Nizhny Novgorod, Zaraysk, Kolomna, Serpukhov.

Construction was very active. The workers worked from morning to night, living in the most difficult conditions - in damp, cold dugouts, which were heated with black heat and very often flooded with water. For the slightest disobedience, the overseers severely punished them.

Due to hard work, cold, hunger, and epidemics, many died or became crippled. Because of this, a riot broke out in 1599. Officials had to make some concessions, slightly improving the working conditions and living conditions of workers.

Nature also gave her surprises. In 1597 the summer was very rainy. All the ditches and trenches were filled, and the sliding soil had to be additionally strengthened with piles. In the summer of 1600, incredible heat alternated with torrential rains. Almost the entire grain harvest was lost, and famine began in Rus'. But despite this, construction did not stop for a day.

The appearance of the structure was influenced by the shape of the old wooden wall. It was saved to repel enemy attacks. The construction of the Smolensk Kremlin in many places was carried out parallel to the old fortifications. In some places the wall ran right along them, and in some areas it went beyond them. The first sections were built on the western side of the city.

Architectural solutions

When planning the construction of the fortress wall, Fyodor Kon decided to use ancient elements and techniques of Russian architecture: fencing the battle passage with battlements in the form of a swallowtail, masonry of the plinth with a bolster, half-ruble masonry, arrangement of arches located on the inside of the wall, the shape of intermediate and corner towers, white stone details etc.

Features of the structure

In addition, the famous architect introduced many new products into his brainchild. He decided to make the stone walls of the Smolensk Kremlin much higher than those that were then being built. Previously, fortresses were equipped with two tiers of battle. The Smolensk Kremlin became three-tiered. Many more towers were built than in the old fortresses.

Oak piles were driven into the bottom of the pit. The space between them was completely filled with tightly compacted earth. Additional piles were driven into it, and thick transverse and longitudinal logs, cut into each other, were laid on top of them. The cells formed by them were filled with rubble and earth. In places where the soil was particularly hard, cobblestones were laid at the bottom of the trench and secured with lime mortar. The result was a strong and wide foundation.

The foundations of the towers are made of huge stone blocks. Galleries were built under the foundations, which were intended for forays outside the structure. They were called "rumours". The brickwork was horizontal. Only the northeastern section of the wall, descending rather steeply to the Dnieper, was inclined. The middle part of the wall was a kind of stiffening belt, consisting of two vertical brick walls. Cobblestones were poured between them and lime mortar was poured on top.

The Smolensk Kremlin walls have passages that communicate with the towers, cannon and rifle loopholes, and ammunition storage rooms. The thickness of the walls exceeds five meters. They end with fighting platforms, which are covered with bricks. The height of the walls ranges from 13 to 19 meters. Behind the ditches and ravines the wall is slightly lower, in the flat areas it is higher.

Towers of the Smolensk Kremlin

Initially, thirty-eight towers were built in the Smolensk fortress. Of these, only seventeen have survived to this day. The Volkov Tower (Semenskaya, Strelka, Volkhovskaya) was rebuilt during a large-scale restoration in 1877. Kostyrevskaya (Red) was rebuilt after complete destruction. Today it has been restored, and now there is a cozy cafe inside.

One of the favorite vacation spots for city residents and its guests was the Luchinskaya Tower (Veselukha). The view from its foot is fantastic beautiful view to the surrounding area. The following towers have been preserved in various ways:

Gorodetskaya;
Pozdnyakova;
Behind the altar;
Avraamievskaya;
Zimbulka;
Shembelevka;
Nikolsky Gate;
Voronina;
Flywheel.

What should you pay attention to?

Tourists show great interest in the Thunder Tower, which today houses a historical museum, as well as in the Donets Tower, near which memorials are located, dedicated to defenders Smolensk, heroes of the wars of 1812 and 1941-1945.

The Kopytitsky Gate, fortunately preserved in its original form, received its name in honor of the road along which, even before the construction of the Kremlin, livestock was driven to pasture. Another tower, Bubleika, also received an unusual name. Legend has it that sound signals were given from it when enemies approached.

Where the Pyatnitsky Gate used to be located, today there is the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker (1816). Kassandalovskaya is another tower of the Smolensk Kremlin. Today it houses a museum dedicated to the war with Nazi Germany (1941-1945). A temple was built on the site of the Dnieper Gate (1793), and today there is a Sunday school.

Are there plans to restore the complex?

The Smolensk Kremlin is an invaluable monument of the 16th-17th centuries. It has already been restored several times, but, unfortunately, there is no talk of restoring this landmark completely. The surviving buildings are in different states. Some of them house museums, others house commercial and public organizations. It is worth noting that even in its current form the Smolensk Kremlin