September 26 marks the 500th anniversary of the founding of the Tula Kremlin.

In 1520, he became the first such structure, laid in the southern Russian borderland.

In the middle of the 17th century, after the annexation of the lands of the Great Zaporozhian Army to Russia, the Tula Kremlin was already firmly connected with the military affairs, turning into the capital of Russian armourers.

"Core and focal point"

The 16th century turned out to be turbulent for the Russian lands.

Internal conflicts gave way to attacks from neighbors.

The situation was especially difficult in the southern borderland, which was subjected to destructive raids by the Crimean and Nogai Tatars.

There were practically no natural obstacles capable of stopping the enemy on the southern border.

Therefore, in the 16th century, between the Meshchera and Bryansk forests, the construction of a huge complex of fortifications, known as the Tsar's commandment, or the Great Zasechnaya Line, began.

"Troubled times have led to the need to create a unique fortification," Elena Zykova, head of the branch of the Tula Kremlin museum, told RT in an interview with RT.

The system of fortifications of the southern borderland consisted of fortified towns, fortifications, ramparts, palisades and notches - artificial forest heaps of trees, laid in rows or criss-cross in the direction of the enemy.

Open areas of the terrain were partitioned off with ramparts up to four meters high, ditches and gaps: logs dug into the ground - vertically or at an angle.

In places of passages through the fortifications on the Great Zasechnaya Line, fortifications were erected - fortified settlements.

The fortifications stretch along the southern border of the Moscow State for more than 1000 km.

It consisted of about 40 cities, including Venev, Odoev, Belyov, Kozelsk.

Tula became the most important city of the Great Zasechnaya Line.

  • The complex of fortifications of the Great Zasechnaya Line or the Tsar's Commandment

  • © TulaKreml.rf

“The Tula Kremlin was the nucleus and focal point of the fortifications of the Great Zasechnaya Line.

Initially, it was the only stone fortress in the south of the Russian lands, the most significant fortress structure in the borderland, ”Elena Zykova emphasized.

"Stronghold of Moscow politics"

The construction of the Tula Kremlin, according to most historians, began in 1507 by the order of the Grand Duke of Moscow Vasily III and sharply intensified in 1514.

On the one hand, the fortress was covered by the banks of the Upa River, and on the other - a swampy lowland, crossed by streams.

Stone fortifications were located inside the defensive structures, which consisted of a stockade of pointed stakes, an earthen rampart and a ditch.

The area of ​​the Tula Kremlin was about six hectares.

Its walls were erected in such a way as to effectively use small arms and cannon weapons.

The main firepower of the Kremlin was concentrated in the nine towers carried out from the walls.

Special hinged loopholes were installed on them - mashikuli, which made it possible to fire at the enemy who was located at the very walls of the fortress.

An underground passage led from one of the towers to the river.

The garrison of the Tula Kremlin consisted of small-scale noblemen and “boyar children” (a special class of service people).

In addition to them, the garrison at different times included city Cossacks, archers and gunners.

The voivode carried out administrative and military leadership of the city.

He was appointed by the Discharge Order for a period of two to three years.

In addition to defending the city, its functions included maintaining public order, legal proceedings, tax administration, ensuring fire safety and repairing fortifications.

On the territory of the Tula Kremlin in the 16th-17th centuries there were administrative institutions: an order hut, a labyrinth hut (law enforcement agency) and others.

There were also churches: in the 16th century - a church in the name of the Archangel Gabriel and the Assumption Cathedral, in the 17th century - a stone cathedral in the name of the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos.

In many of its features, the Tula Kremlin resembles the Moscow one.

However, it is not known for certain whether Italian architects participated in its construction.

Researchers believe that it was originally two-thirds built of white stone and only the upper part was made of red brick.

After several severe fires, already in the 18th century, it was rebuilt with more active use of red brick.

  • Defensive structures of Tula in the 16th-17th centuries on the city plan

  • © TulaKreml.rf

Due to unreliable swampy soils, the Tula Kremlin had to be built on a strong foundation, reinforced with large oak piles.

According to historians, specialists from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania could be involved in this work.

The enemy never succeeded in taking the Tula Kremlin by storm.

Only in the period from 1531 to 1540 the nomads approached Tula 14 times, but they could not take it.

In 1552, the Crimean Khan Devlet-Girey was defeated under the walls of Tula.

Despite the support from the Turkish artillery and janissary detachments, the khan was unable to take the city and tried to flee after the approach of the main forces of the Russian army.

Later he was completely defeated in the battle on the Shivoron River.

In 1607, in the Tula Kremlin, rebels under the command of Ivan Bolotnikov defended themselves from the tsarist troops for about four months.

The tsarist forces failed to take the fortress by attack.

The besiegers were able to squeeze the participants of the uprising out of the Kremlin only by blocking the river and flooding the fortifications.

In the middle of the 17th century, the territories of the Great Army of Zaporozhye were annexed to Russia, the borders moved far to the south, and the Tula Kremlin lost its defensive significance, like other structures of the Great Zaporozhye Line.

However, by this time in Tula, according to Elena Zykova, military-industrial production had already begun to unfold.

  • Kazan embankment of Tula

  • © TulaKreml.rf

“Tula developed from the Kremlin.

It was built as a fortress to defend Moscow, a fortress to defend Russia as a whole, "said Marina Kuzina, first deputy general director of the Tula Museum of History, Local History and Art, in an interview with RT.

According to her, the Tula Kremlin is a unique historical ensemble.

Elena Zykova emphasizes that the Tula Kremlin has played not only a significant military, but also a huge political role in history.

“It was the mainstay of Moscow politics in the south of the state.

Nowadays, after the active archaeological research of the territory of the Tula Kremlin began, we got the opportunity to imagine the life of the people who lived here in the XVI-XVIII centuries, to reconstruct their appearance.

Today the Kremlin is a significant place for Tula, intimate for every Tula, "concluded Elena Zykova.