The Dmitrov Kremlin, located in the town of Dmitrov approximately 65 kilometers north of Moscow in Russia's Moscow Oblast, is a historic fortified complex that serves as the foundational heart of the city. Founded in 1154 by Prince Yuri Dolgoruky (also known as Yuri Long-Armed, the founder of Moscow), the kremlin was established as a defensive fortress on the site of an ancient Slavic settlement. It was named in honor of Dolgoruky's son, Vsevolod (later known as Vsevolod the Big Nest), whose patron saint was St. Demetrius—thus deriving the name "Dmitrov" from the Russian form of Demetrius. The kremlin originally functioned as a strategic outpost along trade routes and the residence of local princes, reflecting the medieval Russian practice of building fortified citadels (kremlins) to protect settlements from invasions.
According to historical records, Prince Yuri Dolgoruky established
the Dmitrov fortress in 1154 as a strategic border outpost atop an
ancient Slavic settlement. The town derived its name from Dolgoruky's
son, Dmitry, who was born at the site and would later rise to prominence
as Prince Vsevolod the Big Nest. This made Dmitrov one of several key
settlements founded by Yuri in the mid-12th century, contributing to the
expansion of what became the Moscow Principality. Archaeological studies
reveal that the extant earthen rampart, stretching 990 meters and rising
7 to 9 meters, was built over a span from the mid-12th to the late 13th
century.
Over its history, the fortress faced repeated devastation,
suffering destruction at least seven times by invading forces: it was
set ablaze by Prince Svyatoslav of Kyiv in 1181, pillaged by Batu Khan's
Mongol-Tatar armies in 1238, ravaged by Duden in 1293, Tokhtamysh in
1382, and Edigey in 1408, and demolished by Prince Mikhail Alexandrovich
of Tver in 1373. In 1610, amid the chaos of the Time of Troubles, the
wooden Kremlin was torched by the armies of Jan Sapieha and Aleksander
Lisowski, marking the end of its reconstruction efforts as its military
significance waned. Later, in 1812, the site was temporarily seized by
Napoleon's Grande Armée during their Russian campaign.
In 1301, the
Dmitrovsky Kremlin served as the venue for a pivotal assembly of four
Russian princes: Grand Duke Andrei Alexandrovich of Vladimir-Suzdal, his
younger brother Prince Daniil Alexandrovich of Moscow, their cousin
Prince Mikhail Yaroslavich of Tver, and Andrei's nephew, Prince Ivan
Dmitrievich of Pereyaslavl. As the chronicle recounts, "There was a
congress by all the princes in Dmitrov about reigns and there was a
great rumor." The discussions yielded mixed results: the three elder
princes forged a military pact, but Ivan opted out due to deep-seated
enmity with Mikhail. This historic summit is immortalized in Dmitrov's
coat of arms, awarded in 1781, which features the Moscow emblem above
and four princely crowns on an ermine field below, symbolizing the
gathering of these influential rulers.
From 1310 to 1334, the
Dmitrovsky Kremlin functioned as the primary residence for Boris
Davydovich, the inaugural appanage prince of Dmitrov, highlighting its
role as a center of princely administration during this era.
In 1388,
the Kremlin witnessed the birth of Yaroslav (also known as Afanasy), son
of the appanage prince of Dmitrov and Serpukhov, Vladimir Andreevich the
Brave. This event marked only the second princely birth in Dmitrov,
following that of Dmitry (Vsevolod Yurievich). Likely tied to this
occasion, the Boriso-Glebsky Monastery was established that year,
honoring the holy princes Boris and Gleb—Boris being the celestial
patron of Boris Davydovich. Scholars suggest Vladimir envisioned
Yaroslav as the potential third prince of Dmitrov, though fate
intervened otherwise. The monastery, an ancient male institution
dedicated to Russia's first saints, remains a key historical site in the
area.
The 1647 "Mural of the city of Dmitrov" documents nine wooden
towers that once stood in the fortress prior to its ruin, detailing
their names, positions, and noting that two served as entry gates.
During the Time of Troubles, following their failed siege of the Trinity
Monastery on February 6, 1610, Jan Sapieha's forces fell back to
Dmitrov. Prince Mikhail Skopin-Shuisky launched an assault on the
Dmitrovsky Posad, compelling Sapieha to fortify within the Kremlin.
Marina Mnishek joined them there on February 23, but as Skopin-Shuisky's
troops initiated a blockade, she escaped toward Kaluga. Left isolated,
Sapieha abandoned the position, incinerating the Kremlin and sabotaging
its cannons. Excavations have uncovered abundant relics from the Polish
and Lithuanian occupiers on the grounds. This period of upheaval,
triggered by the death of Tsar Boris Godunov in 1605 and the end of the
Rurikid dynasty in 1598, plunged Russia into widespread disorder, with
Dmitrov suffering further from Polish incursions.
Dmitrov entered a
golden age under Prince Yury Ivanovich (1503–1533), son of Ivan III,
when the black-domed Assumption Cathedral (also known as the Dormition
Cathedral) and the smaller Boris and Gleb Monastery cathedral were
constructed, enhancing the Kremlin's architectural splendor. The town
later passed to Andrey of Staritsa, but in 1569, it was incorporated
into Ivan the Terrible's Oprichnina, leading to a period of decline amid
political intrigue and suspicion. In the 1930s, Soviet archaeologists
excavated the Kremlin, unearthing valuable insights into its past.
During World War II, German forces occupied the town in November 1941
and advanced across the Moscow-Volga Canal from there. Today, the
Dmitrov Kremlin is a museum-reserve featuring the remains of its
fortifications, the early 16th-century Assumption Cathedral, ruins of a
moat and rampart, a comprehensive history museum, and the reconstructed
Nikolsky Gate, offering visitors a window into Russia's medieval
heritage.
Unlike the more famous Moscow Kremlin with its brick walls, the
Dmitrov Kremlin is characterized by its earthen ramparts and lack of
surviving stone fortifications, giving it a more modest, ancient
appearance. The primary defensive feature is a nearly one-kilometer-long
earthen wall (val), constructed in the 12th-13th centuries, standing 7
to 9 meters high and originally surrounded by a moat and wooden
palisades. This rampart, measuring about 980 meters in circumference,
encloses the kremlin mound and provides a picturesque, undulating
landscape that visitors can walk along. The main entrance is the
Nikolsky Gate, a modern reconstruction that evokes the original wooden
gateways.
At the center of the ensemble stands the Cathedral of the
Assumption (also called the Dormition Cathedral), the kremlin's
architectural crown jewel. Built between 1509 and 1533 under Prince Yuri
Ivanovich, it was crafted with the involvement of Italian architects,
blending Russian Orthodox traditions with Renaissance influences evident
in its proportions and details. Constructed from white stone, it was
originally a five-domed structure but underwent reconstruction in 1841,
adding four smaller domes at the corners to create a nine-domed
pyramidal composition—a unique feature that enhances its vertical
emphasis and silhouette against the sky. The exterior includes three
notable tiled bas-reliefs: two depicting crucifixions and one showing
St. George the Victorious slaying the dragon, adding colorful decorative
elements to the facade. Inside, the cathedral preserves ancient
artifacts, including a 12th-century icon, an ornate 18th-century carved
wooden iconostasis spanning five tiers with icons from the 15th to 19th
centuries, and a tent-like episcopal seat adorned with intricate
carvings.
The kremlin territory now encompasses 12 buildings from the
19th and 20th centuries, integrated into the museum-reserve ensemble.
Nearby, though not strictly part of the kremlin, is the 15th-16th
century Boris and Gleb Monastery, featuring its own cathedral built
around the same era as the Assumption Cathedral. Other monuments include
the Yuri Dolgoruky Monument and various sculptures along Kropotkin
Street, which add to the site's historical ambiance.
Transformed into the Museum-Reserve Dmitrov Kremlin in the 20th
century, the site houses extensive exhibits covering the region's
history from medieval times to the present. Collections include
paintings, iconography, graphics, porcelain, furniture, rare books,
historical documents, weapons, and other artifacts that illustrate daily
life, craftsmanship, and cultural evolution. A dedicated section honors
Peter Kropotkin, displayed in the house where he lived until his death
in 1921; Kropotkin played a key role in founding the museum, blending
his anarchist legacy with local heritage. The museum is open daily from
9:00 to 18:00, and entry to the grounds is free, making it accessible
for visitors interested in Russian history.
Overall, the Dmitrov
Kremlin stands as a testament to Russia's medieval fortifications,
offering a quieter, more intimate contrast to grander sites like the
Moscow Kremlin. Its blend of natural earthen defenses, Orthodox
architecture, and museum exhibits provides a comprehensive window into
centuries of political, military, and cultural developments in the
region.