Brief History of Moscow in Dates




1147 - The first mention in the Historical Chronicles is made about the city of Moscow, which was founded by Russian prince Yury Dolgoruky.
Eight centuries ago there were some successful negotiations finished and guys just wanted to make a feast at some place to celebrate it. So they just looked for some place to eat and the nearest place was a small town - Moscow, that's how and why it was first mentioned
1328 - Moscow became the capital city of the Great Moscow Principality and of all Russian Lands.
Moscow's Princes bought many others Principalities, those princes who didn't want to sell theirs were killed - the way politics was usually made that time.
1612 - A people volunteers' corps under the commandment of Minin and Pozharsky liberated Moscow from the Polish invaders.
That's important -- we have a monument in their honor in the Red Square, so now you know who is who (Pozharsky is sitting, Minin is standing, because Pozharsky was a prince). Minin was a rich merchant in Nigniy Novgorod and when Polish occupied Moscow his business was almost ruined, so he collected some money and paid it to the famous general Pozaharsky, who gathered the army and liberated Moscow. Even then business made the politics.
1672 - Peter I, All - Russian Emperor, was born in the suburbs of the city (I do not like him because of the next date)
1713 - Under the reign of Peter I the capital city of Russia was moved from Moscow to Petersburg
1755 - The first Russian university called Moscow University (MSU now) was founded.
It is the oldest university in Russia, and the education there is great. If somebody is from MSU - he is very smart (guess where I'm studying).
1812 - The Patriotic War with Napoleon. Big fires in Moscow. During that fire almost all the buildings were destroyed and few ancient buildings keep intact.
What's interesting we do not know who set the fire: Russian historians say - French army did, and French historians say - Russian patriots did.
1872 - The first horse-drawn tram line called "Konka" along the Tverskaya Street was put into service
1918 - On the 12th of March the city of Moscow became the capital of the Soviet Russia . Communists were afraid to stay in St.Petersburg which was closer to the borders.
1935 - The first line of Moscow Metro was opened and put into operation. Moscow metro is very deep; they wanted it to be an air-shelter. In the Chistie-prudi station ( Чистые пруды) there was a special Stalin's shelter.
1939 - The commencement of regular TV transmissions
1941 - Defeat of the German forces in the battle of Moscow
1980 - Organization and carrying out of the XXII Olympic Games. It was a great perfomance of Soviet Union. They wanted to show to the world that Soviet system is the best. Especially for the Games government for the first time produced beer in the aluminum cans (they stopped producing it after the games), pushed out of Moscow all the prostitutes, and only those people who were loyal to the soviet system were allowed to communicate with foreigners.
1991 - In august 21 there was a small revolution set in Moscow. The government was changed and there had been tanks for several days in the centrum of Moscow. At this time the Soviet Union was over, but it was a strange time for some period. Also a little earlier there were the first democratic mayor elections in Moscow. 1991 was the beginning of the Democracy, people were excited, waiting for changes, but it turned out to be hard process.
1997 - National holiday - 850th Anniversary of Moscow.
It was a great holiday. Central part was overcrowded, people were drunk and one out of every two was a policeman. Pity, you weren't here.
2001 - WayToRussia.Net site was launched to help you feel free and good in Moscow!