History of the Kremlin of Tula

History of the Kremlin of Tula

• The Tula Kremlin is a unique monument to Russian fortification architecture. Its massive walls were eyewitnesses of courage and bravery showed by Russian warriors.  Built on the border line of Russian State of those times, it was one of the most important fortresses in the 16th century. For many times enemies tried to attack it but the Kremlin has never given up.  Today it’s a museum with fascinating history, a fortress that is perfectly preserved and a place that is loved by everyone who comes to Tula.

The Tula Kremlin is a sample of a well-fortified structure of the 16th century. Its walls stand on a powerful foundation of almost nine meters deep and are made of two materials: white limestone and red brick.

The Kremlin has nine towers in which its firepower was concentrated. The underground passage to the river was constructed in one of the towers, which was especially important during the long lasting sieges.

Within the Kremlin stands the Cathedral of the Assumption built in 1762-64. Its five domes are typical of Russian cathedrals of the 17-th century. Its frescoes, painted by masters from Yaroslavl are the last copies of frescoes in ancient Russian churches.

The Tula Kremlin of red bricks is the oldest building in Tula. The history of the city began with the appearance of the Kremlin. The fortress was originally wooden. It was built in the beginning of the XVI century by the orders of the Prince of Moscow Vasily III. The prince ordered to build a stone city inside the fortress.

The Tula Kremlin differs from others in that its outline is almost rectangular . The square lay-out of the Tula Kremlin walls is explained by the fact that when they were built because it was more convenient to deliver direct fire to artillery from symmetrically disposed towers.

In 1552, it was besieged by the Crimean khan Devlet Giray. At that time, Tsar Ivan IV as with campaign against Kazan. Urban population fought before the arrival of reinforcements from the tsar's army from Kolomna.

In 1605, when the Time of Troubles began, Tula for the whole two weeks became the pseudo capital city of Russia, and the boyars came to the Tula Kremlin to swear to the false tsar False Dmitry I. In the same decade the Kremlin survived the siege when it was occupied by the leaders of the peasant war that had begun. 

In 1607, during the Peasants' War, the Tula Kremlin became the refuge for Ivan Bolotnikov. Together with people loyal to him, he kept the Kremlin by his control for four months. In 1608 in the Tula Kremlin by Tsar Vasily Shuisky were besieged the leaders of the peasant movement - Ivan Bolotnikov and Ileyko Muromets. Kremlin stand very long siege but was taken due creation a dam of the bags to the ground on Upa River.

After the reunification of left-bank Ukraine and Russia in the middle of the 17th century, Kremlin completely lost its importance.

Repair work in the Kremlin were carried out at the end of the 18th and 19th centuries, in 1930 the walls of the Kremlin removed all the buildings in the 1950s had a partial renovation, and in mid-1960 was conducted complex complete scientific restoration in order to restore the original appearance of the Kremlin.