In Russia the word "city" was used to describe any fortified place surrounded by a fortress wall. The construction of defensive structures was vital, as it guaranteed protection from numerous external enemies.
Porkhov Fortress
One of the few surviving one-sided fortresses in the north-west of the country. Similar structures were erected in Russia from the middle of the 14th century to the end of the 15th century. Alexander Nevsky founded the Porkhov Fortress, like most of the entire defensive system of the Novgorod principality. For a long time, the fortress protected from the raids of the Lithuanians, who passionately wanted to capture both Novgorod and Pskov. Initially, the fortification was built of wood and earth. But already at the end of the XIV century, the Lithuanians increased the power of their attacks and their number so much that the Novgorodians urgently began to erect stone walls. It is curious that these walls are the first walls of a Russian fortress capable of withstanding the blows of gunpowder weapons. In the second half of the 18th century, the fortress came to such a state that, in order to protect the people from the stones falling out of the walls, it was decided to dismantle it. The fortress was saved, oddly enough, by bureaucratic red tape. Only "the most dangerous places" were dismantled. Today, a sample of Novgorod military architecture of the XIV-XV centuries is open to tourists.
Nizhny Novgorod fortress
In 1221, at the confluence of the Oka and Volga rivers, Prince Georgy Vsevolodovich founded a border fortress, which became the main defensive structure in the war with the Volga Bulgaria. Initially, the fortifications were wooden and earthen, and the fortress had an oval shape. The main feature of the fortress was that it was built on uninhabited territory. Soon the fortress found itself in the center of the struggle between the Suzdal princes and the Mordovian tribes. However, this war could not be compared with the disaster that would fall on Russia decades later - the country would plunge into the "Mongolian darkness." Nizhny Novgorod residents will repeatedly leave Novgorod at the mercy of the Tatars. The fortress will also be captured, however, it will happen in its "wooden" existence. In the future, along with the growth of the city, the expansion of the fortress will take place: stone walls and the Dmitrievskaya gate tower will be built. The stone Nizhny Novgorod fortress will never be captured by the enemy, despite the fact that he will repeatedly appear under its walls.
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Smolensk Kremlin
A remarkable example of the achievements of military engineering art of the late 15th century - the Smolensk Fortress - was erected according to the design of Fyodor Kon. A precious necklace of 38 towers, laid on the Dnieper hills - this is what this fortress is called today. It was built on the initiative of Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich, who sought to protect Smolensk from the Polish-Lithuanian invaders. The first stone in the foundation of the fortress was laid by Boris Godunov in 1595, and by 1602 the fortress had already been completed and consecrated. Its main feature was the ability to conduct a three-level battle. In 1609, the Smolensk fortress was able to withstand 20 months of the siege of the Polish king Sigismund III, in 1708 it stopped the Swedish king Charles XII, who was marching to Moscow. In 1812, the French lost many soldiers at the walls of the Smolensk fortress, blowing up 8 fortress towers in revenge. Initially, the length of the fortress walls was equal to six and a half kilometers. Unfortunately, today there are sections of no more than three kilometers in length. Impressive sixteen-sided towers not only acted as a defensive structure, but also served as the face of the city, as they overlooked the Moscow road.
Ivangorod fortress
Ivan III ordered to build a fortress protecting the Russian borders from the Teutonic knights in 1492. The location was not chosen by chance: the fortress was erected opposite the Livonian fortress of Narva. Repeatedly Ivangorod passed to the Swedes, then again returned to the Russians. In 1704, after the capture of Narva by the Russian troops, Ivangorod capitulated and was finally returned to Russia. The fortress was badly damaged during the Great Patriotic War. On its territory there were two concentration camps for Russian prisoners of war. Before retreating, the Germans managed to blow up six corner towers, large sections of walls, a cache and buildings in the inner courtyard of the fortress. However, 10 towers with stone walls and the ancient Orthodox Church of Ivangorod in the Leningrad region have been well preserved to this day.
Shlisselburg fortress
Founded at the sources of the Neva on Orekhovy Island, the fortress received its second name - Oreshek. The initiator of the construction was made in 1323 by the grandson of Alexander Nevsky, Yuri Danilovich. The fortress, built of wood at the age of 30, completely burned down, after which it was rebuilt from stone. After the annexation of Novgorod to the Moscow principality, the fortress was seriously strengthened, dismantled to the foundation and rebuilt along the perimeter of the entire island new defensive 12-meter walls 4.5 meters thick. The old rivals of Russia, the Swedes, repeatedly tried to take possession of the fortress, and in 1611 they succeeded. For 90 years the Swedes have ruled the fortress, which they called Noteburg. Only during the Northern War did it return to its old owners and was again renamed Shlisselburg, or "Key City". Since the 18th century, the fortress has lost its defensive significance and has become a prison of ill fame and harsh order. For the slightest disobedience, the prisoners were expected to be executed, the prisoners died of consumption and tuberculosis. For all the time, no one managed to escape from the Shlisselburg fortress.
Peter-Pavel's Fortress
The plan of the Peter and Paul Fortress in 1703 was developed by Peter the Great himself (not without the help, of course, of the French engineer Joseph Lambert de Guerin). The fortress was built on Hare Island and consisted of six bastions connected by fortress walls. Since 1730, the tradition of cannon shots has appeared, announcing the approach of noon. At the end of the 18th century, the Mint was built, on which all coins, orders and medals were minted until the end of the 90s of the last century. Despite the fact that the fortress is a unique historical defensive structure and, as it were, “locks” the Neva, its walls have never seen any assault or siege. From the very beginning of its existence, it had a different share - it became the main political prison of the country. One of the first to be imprisoned in it was Tsarevich Alexei, Princess Tarakanova, who claimed the throne,rebel "worse than Pugachev" Alexander Radishchev. At one time, the Decembrists, Narodnaya Volya, Petrashevists, including the young Dostoevsky, became prisoners of the fortress.
Vladivostok fortress
A unique monument of military-defensive architecture, which has no analogues in the world. The Vladivostok Fortress is the only Russian sea fortress that has survived since the 19th century, included in the UNESCO list. The tsarist government, according to experts, has invested very serious capital in its construction. In the 70s-90s of the XIX century, earth batteries were built, which served as the main defense of the city. The birthday of the fortress is considered August 30, 1889, when a naval keyser flag was raised over its walls. In 1916, on the territory of more than 400 sq. meters, about 130 different forts, strongholds, fortifications and coastal batteries with almost one and a half thousand guns were erected. All structures had telephone and visual communications, as well as the necessary communications, including ventilation and electricity. Thanks to the available reserves, the fortress could withstand a two-year siege. The immensity of the fortress frightened the enemies so much that they never dared to attack.