138 ANDREW J. SHIPMAN MEMORIAL 



famous Tretiakoff art galleries are situated here. There are 

 six bridges across the River Moskva connecting both parts 

 of the city. 



The name Moscow is mentioned in Russian chronicles for 

 the first time in 1147. In March of that year Yuri Dolgoruki 

 (George the Long-armed), Grand Duke of Kieff and son of 

 Vladimir Monomachus, is said to have met and entertained 

 his kinsmen there at the village of the Moskva. So pleased was 

 he with the reception which he had received and so impressed 

 by the commanding location of the situation that he built a 

 fortified place on the hill where the meeting took place, just 

 where the present Kremlin is situated. The word Kremlin 

 (Russian Kreml) seems to be of Tatar origin, and means a 

 fortified place overlooking the surrounding country. Many 

 other Russian cities dating from Tatar times have kremlins 

 also, such as Nizhni-Novgorod, Vladimir, Kazan, and Sa- 

 mara. 



In the beginning of its early history Moscow was nothing 

 but a cluster of wooden houses surrounded by palisades; in 

 1237 the Tatar Khan laid siege to it, and his successors for 

 several centuries were alternately victors and vanquished be- 

 fore it. In 1293 Moscow was besieged and burned by the 

 Mongols and Tatars, but under the rule of Daniel, son of 

 Alexander Nevsky, its fame increased and it became of im- 

 portance. He conquered and annexed several neighboring 

 territories and enlarged his dominions to the entire length of 

 the River Moskva. In 1300 the Kremlin was enclosed by a 

 strong wall of earth and wooden palisades, and it then received 

 its appellation. In 13 16 the Metropolitan of Kieff changed 

 his see from that city to Vladimir, and in 1322 thence to Mos- 

 cow. The first cathedral of Moscow was built in 1327. The 

 example of the metropolitan was followed in 1328 by Grand 

 Duke Ivan Danilovich, who left Vladimir and made Moscow 

 his capital. In 1333 he was recognized by the Khan of Kazan 

 as the chief prince of Russia, and he extended the fortifica- 

 tions of Moscow. In 1367 stone walls were built to enclose 

 the Kremlin. Notwithstanding this, the city was again plun- 

 dered by the Tatars two years later. During the rule of 

 Dimitri Donskoi in 1382 the city was burned and almost en- 

 tirely destroyed. Vasili II was the first Russian prince to be 

 crowned at Moscow (1425). 



