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Moscow History
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Moscow’s roots begin in
the 12th century around 1147. The city has been destroyed several
times following either invasions, by the Mongols for example,
or uprisings. In 1610 during the Time of Troubles Moscow was
overtaken by Polish forces, but a prince and lowly butcher led
a revolt that reclaimed the city for Russia. Shortly after that,
the Romanov’s began their rule in Moscow that lasted until
1917. During that time the city saw great growth. The split
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between the Catholic Church and the Russian Orthodox Church also
happened during the Romanov’s rule.
Peter the Great came to power in 1682 as a 10-year-old and changed
Russia, and Moscow, forever. During his life he helped Russia become
a world power by founding a navy. He also toured throughout Europe
to meet other rulers and find a way to modernize Russia in a more
European way. Russians were told to dress like Europeans. Foreigners
were encouraged to move to Moscow. Peter pumped money into the military
and sincerely wanted Russia to be the greatest country in the world.
Peter’s efforts were successful, although his methods have
sometimes been called ruthless. He had to quell a rebellion among
the Kremlin guards and had several people brutally executed on Red
Square.
In 1812 Napoleon invaded Moscow and actually took control of the
nearly evacuated city. Russian forces fought the famous battle of
Borodino to defend the city. The bloody affair left more than 70,000
soldiers dead. The Russians were forced to retreat but lit Moscow
aflame as they ran. When the French took control of the burning
city they had to flee nearly immediately. Their trek back to Paris
through the bitter Russian winter proved fatal for Napolean’s
attempt to invade Russia.
Two revolutions, the first in 1905 and the second in 1917, helped
spur Soviet rule into the Duma. Slaves, called serfs, were emancipated
and tsarist rule ended and the Bolsheviks took control. Vladimir
Lenin led the revolution and was hailed as a leading revolutionary
thinker. When Lenin died in 1924, Joseph Stalin slowly took control
of the city and the country. Over his watch Moscow flourished. Lavish
monuments and buildings were built and in 1931 construction on the
Metro began. Outside the city was another story. Stalin’s
communal farming plans were disastrous for peasants, leading to
millions of deaths during famines and shortages.
Soviet rule lasted until Mikhail Gorbachev and Boris Yeltsin’s
power struggle capped growing unrest in 1991. Worker’s strikes
and demonstrations eerily similar to the 1917 protests sparked the
change. The current president, Vladimir Putin, has earned popularity
among voters, and is undeniably steering Russia toward its next
step, whatever that is, in its long history.
More Information
 www.state.gov
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Moscow Travel Guides
Frommer's Moscow
Lonely Planet Moscow
Let's Go Moscow
Fodors Moscow
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