The Moscow Kremlin is a unique monument of Russian history and culture, as well as Old Russian defense architecture, because the words "Kremlin" and the word "fortress" in Russia meant almost the same thing. All ancient Russian fortresses belonged to the tower type, which means that the towers served as the main architectural and defensive element in them. Such towers are called flanking, as they give the opportunity to defend themselves not only on the far approaches to the edge, but also throughout the fortress wall.
Briefly about the Moscow Kremlin
The history of the Moscow Kremlin is very ancient and dates back to the beginning of the XII century - to the time of the reign of Prince Dmitry Dolgoruky. The first Kremlin, built by his decree on the banks of the Moskva River, was built of pine logs and often burned. After another fire at the beginning of the 14th century, which completely destroyed the old building, Ivan Kalita ordered the construction of a new wooden Kremlin in its place, now made of oak logs. In less than 30 years, the same fate befell him. Under Dmitry Donskoy, the Kremlin in Moscow was already rebuilt from white limestone. It took only a year to erect it, although it was almost the size of the existing one. However, limestone is an unstable stone, and by the middle of the 15th century it began to crumble heavily. The Kremlin was rebuilt again, now made of red brick. The construction was carried out by Italian architect Antonio Gilardi or, in the Russian manner, Anton Fryazin.
Place of the Vodovzvodnaya Tower of the Moscow Kremlin in the system of fortress walls
In total, the system of fortress walls of the Moscow Kremlin has 20 towers. The Vodovzvodnaya Tower is located in the southwestern corner of the system, exactly at the place where the Kremlin Embankment is connected to the Alexander Garden. It is through this tower that one of the entrances to the territory of the Kremlin passes. It is designed to drive government cars. However, the original function of the Vodovzvodnaya Tower was to guard the Neglinnaya River ford. And the name she bore was originally quite different - Sviblova. The tower previously had a raft on which the ports were rinsed, and therefore it is easy to guess what the raft at the Vodovzvodnaya tower was called - Portomoyny. Nearby was a portomoy log hut.
History of the Water Tower of the Moscow Kremlin
The name of Sviblov was fixed to the tower in the nearby courtyard of the boyar Sviblo. In addition, it was this man who oversaw the construction of the tower. But the second name, assigned to the structure - Vodovzvodnaya, is associated with the construction of a special water-lifting device at the top of the tower, which pumped water from the Moscow River. Through a system of lead pipes passing through a water supply tent, the flow of water was distributed throughout the Kremlin territory. The water-supply tent was located in the area of the old Monetary yard. With the help of such a water supply, Christopher Golovey intended to provide water to the Embankment Garden, the Bread and Feed orders. However, it is believed that a little later the water-supply tent was moved to the Clock Tower to supply water to the gardens of the new women's houses.
At the end of the XVIII century, due to severe dilapidation, Vasily Bazhenov proposed to dismantle it, but his initiative was not supported, and at the beginning of the XIX century the tower was dismantled and reassembled, preserving its historical features.
In 1812, during the retreat of Napoleon’s army from Moscow, on the orders of the French commander, the tower was blown up, but five years later it was rebuilt by Osip Bove. During the restoration work, the decor of the tower underwent some changes: details appeared on the facades, reminiscent of the medieval Gothic style.
In 1935, instead of a weather vane, a five-pointed star made of precious stones was installed on the tower tent, two years later replaced by a ruby one.
Architectural features of the tower
Description of the Vodovzvodnaya tower of the Moscow Kremlin is quite voluminous. Therefore, we will divide it into two parts: a description of the tower itself and a description of its tent cover.
Vodovzvodnaya is one of the highest towers in the system of defensive walls of the Kremlin. Its height reaches 61.25 m. Previously, before the construction of a tent covering on it at the end of the 17th century, its height was somewhat less. The tower is round in plan. In total, the tower has three tiers. The lower one has no windows or loopholes; the entire plane of the wall is decorated in the form of a rustication. Above the white rim of the cornice separating the second tier, there is a stone carved semicircular ornament. The blank wall of the second tier in its upper part has high narrow windows with a semicircular end. The third tier, separated from the second by the white rim of the cornice, has the shape of an inverted truncated cone, round in plan. Inclined consoles support a wide frieze ribbon and have semicircular endings. Above the frieze there is a serrated border, the shape of the teeth of which resembles a dovetail.
