The Konstantin-Eleninsky (Timofeevskaya) tower is located on the eastern side of the Moscow Kremlin. It was erected in the distant 15th century by an architect of Italian origin P.A. Solari, recorded in the annals as P. Fryazin. About the Constantine-Eleninsky tower, the history of its construction and features will be described in this essay.
History
The Konstantin-Eleninsky tower was built in 1490 on the spot where the Timofeevsky Gate was previously located, and became the 5th Kremlin tower. However, in the Spiritual Charter of 1498, it bears the old name - “Timothy Gate”. They, in turn, were named in honor of Timofey Vorontsov-Veliaminov - governor Dmitry Donskoy. In 1380, Dmitry Donskoy with his army rode through this gate to the Battle of Kulikovo.
Archaeologists of the historical and urban planning center of Moscow note that on Vasilyevsky Spusk, from the side of Kitay Gorod, there was a deep moat, which was lined with stone walls and passed near the Konstantin-Eleninsky tower.
Appointment
During the interval of the moat from Konstantino-Eleninsky to the Frolovskaya Tower, four locks were located in it. The presence of a moat explains the use of the tower, namely the provision of passage through it.
Some historians are of the opinion that the Konstantin-Eleninsky tower could be the main one, since it connected the Kremlin with the Great Posad (Moscow region), and also had access to Kitai-Gorod. At the end of the 15th century, the two largest streets led to the tower - Great and All Saints. In addition to the fact that the tower gates were used for the “military” passage of John III and John IV, in peacetime, residents of the posad passed through the Kremlin through them.
Also, the tower defended the access gate to the pier located on the Moscow River. Especially for the protection of the pier in the tower, the so-called diverting archery was created. This add-on allowed defending the nearby territory from an unexpected attack.
Archer tower device
Tower turret connected to the bridge, which had a lifting mechanism. After the bridge was lowered, the tower gates were closed with gers. The Germans are iron bars that sank and prevented the enemy from penetrating the Kremlin.
In the event of an attack, enemy troops that penetrated the lumbago after closing the iron bars found themselves in a trap ("stone sack"), where they were eventually destroyed by archers on duty at the upper galleries of the tower.
In 1508, the 2nd retiring archery was completed, which had a link with the bridge and the tower. After the attack of the Crimean Khan Mohammed-Geray, bridgeheads were built, which had towers leading to the tower. The author of the project was a German engineer N. Oberake.
Initially, the Konstantin-Eleninsky tower of the Kremlin, like the rest, did not have a conical top. The top of the tent type was built at the end of the 17th century. For works of this type, according to the palace order, master masons from all over Russia were assembled. Despite the fact that the tents and towers themselves were built at different times, they look very harmonious, like a structure erected in a single period.
In addition to defensive functions from sentinel towers, it was possible to view nearby surroundings for fires, which was very important for the capital, which had a huge number of wooden houses.
Rename Tower
The Konstantin-Eleninsky tower of the Moscow Kremlin got its modern name in the 17th century, after a church was erected near the Taynitsky Garden in the name of St. Konstantin and Elena. After some time, a stone church was built on the site of a wooden church. At the end of the 17th century, on the orders of Tsarina Natalya Naryshkina (mother of Peter I), the temple was rebuilt. In the mid-18th century, Prince D. Ukhtomsky participated in the creation of a new carved iconostasis and painting of the walls of the temple.
During the largest fire in 1812, the church escaped fire and destruction and helped shelter a large number of people who lost their home and property from the accident. To date, the temple has not been preserved, in its place there are various outbuildings, as well as a helipad.
Reconstruction and modernity
In 1772, the tower passage was destroyed. Today, from the Vasilyevsky descent on the facade you can see the blocked arch of the gate, as well as a niche for the gate face (icons). Overhaul and partial reconstruction of all towers were carried out at the beginning of the 19th century. At the same time, the diversion arrows were dismantled, the moat and the lower tier of the tower were filled up.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the Constantine-Eleninsky tower was renovated, while its original appearance was preserved. In the 50s and 70s of the 20th century, restoration and repair work was also carried out. Over its long history, this Kremlin building has suffered less than others. For example, in the war of 1812 it was almost untouched by French troops, and in the Great Patriotic War it received almost no damage from raids by fascist bombers.
Currently, restoration work is underway to help restore individual architectural details. Work is scheduled to be completed at the end of 2020. After that, Muscovites and guests of the capital will be able to see the pristine historical appearance of the Constantine-Eleninsky tower.