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French troops leaving Polotsk (Faber du Faur, 25.07.1812) Liozna: French soldiers between Vitebsk and Smolensk organizing something to eat (Faber du Faur, 4.08.1812) Napoleon and Poniatowski with the burning city of Smolensk The total length of the city wall around the Smolensk Kremlin was 6.5 kilometres, with a height of up to 19 metres and a ...
- 24 June – 14 December 1812, (5 months, 2 weeks and 6 days)
Smolensk Kremlin was built between 1595 and 1602, during the reign of Tsars Fyodor I Ioannovich and Boris Godunov. The length of the walls is about 6.5 kilometres, of which less than the half was preserved. The fortifications were built under supervision of the architect Fyodor Kon. The Smolensk Kremlin is classified as an architectural ...
- ulitsa Timiryazeva 40, Smolensk, Russia
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The Smolensk Kremlin is a fortified complex enclosing the center of the city of Smolensk in western Russia. The partially preserved fortress wall was built between 1595 and 1602, during the reign of Tsars Fyodor I Ioannovich and Boris Godunov. The length of the walls is about 6.5 kilometres , of which less than the half was preserved. The fortifications were built under the supervision of the ...
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- 19th Century
As one of the oldest cities in Russia, Smolensk was first mentioned in the Primary Chronicle in 863, when Askold and Dir passed it on their voyage from Novgorod to Constantinople. The city was the centre of the Krivich tribe and even then was said to be well defended with a large population. In 882Prince Oleg Veschy conquered the city and incorpora...
Principality of Smolensk
The first prince of Smolensk was Stanislav Vladimirovich who was a younger son of Vladimir the Great and who died before his famous father without leaving any issue. Two more princes of Smolensk followed, Vyacheslav Yaroslavich and Igor Yaroslavich, both sons of Yaroslav the Wise. The Lubech Conference of 1097secured Smolensk for Vladimir Monomakh who had his sons rule the city on his behalf.
Our Lady of Smolensk Icon
In 1101 Vladimir Monomakh ordered the building of the original Dormition Cathedral and installed in this cathedral an icon of the Virgin Mary, which legend has it was created by St Luke the Apostle and brought to Rus from Byzantium by Vladimir Monomakh's mother - the daughter of Emperor Constantine IX Monomachos. After the icon was installed in Smolensk's new cathedral it became known as Our Lady of Smolensk and was revered as one of Russia's most important relics.
Smolensk Dynasty
In 1127 Rostislav Mstislavich (son of Mstislav the Great and grandson of Vladimir Monomakh) became the originator of the Smolensk dynasty of Ryurikids, also known as the Rostislavichy. Rostislav Mstislavich served as grand prince of Kiev three times during a period of frequent internecine wars for the Kievan throne. Whilst he was in Kiev he left his son Roman to rule in Smolensk. After Rostislav's death the Smolensk throne passed among his sons and grandsons and these men also often became gr...
Mongol Invasion of Rus
'St Mercurius of Smolensk' by Nikolai Rerikh (1919) During the Mongol-Tatar invasion of Rus in 1237-1240, Smolensk was spared although it nevertheless submitted to the Mongols and started paying tribune. Legend credits the city's salvation to the Our Lady of Smolensk Icon and to the monk Merkuri who prayed before it. The Virgin Mary appeared to him and ordered him to ride out and meet the invaders. During the battle Merkuri was beheaded but the Mongols decided to not march on to Smolensk. Mer...
Grand Principality of Smolensk
In 1309 Prince Aleksandr Glebovich of Smolensk installed his brother Vasili Glebovich as prince of Bryansk after its branch of princes had died out. It is possible that Vasili was married to a princess of Bryansk. This can be seen as an event which led to the prince of Smolensk starting to call himself the grand prince of Smolensk. After Aleksandr's death in 1313, he was succeeded by his son Ivan Aleksandrovich. In 1334 Ivan's brother Dmitri Aleksandrovich of Bryansk led a Tatar army to besie...
Fall to Lithuania
In 1386 Smolensk troops began besieging the Lithuanian-controlled city of Mstislavl, but they were defeated at the Battle of River Vekhra and Grand Prince Svyatoslav Ivanovich of Smolensk was killed and his eldest son Gleb captured. Another son, Yuri Svyatoslavich, succeeded him in Smolensk, having sworn allegiance to Grand Duke Jogailo of Lithuania. In 1391 Gleb Ivanovich was eventually released from his Lithuanian captivity and in 1392 the people of Smolensk deposed Yuri and invited Gleb to...
Incorporation into Lithuania
In 1404 with the help of the Polish, Vytautas began besieging Smolensk, hoping to regain the city. However, during a break in the siege, Yuri Svyatoslavich left Smolensk to request help from Grand Prince Vasili I of Moscow, bringing with him as a gift the Our Lady of Smolensk Icon and even promising to leave him Smolensk in his will. In Yuri Svyatoslavich’s absence, the Smolensk boyars decided to open the city gates and welcome Vytautas. Smolensk would remain part of Lithuanian and then Polan...
Recapture of Smolensk
In 1514 Grand Prince Vasili III of Moscow marched to Smolensk and laid siege on the city, eventually recapturing it and absorbing it into his territory. To commemorate his victory Vasily III founded Novodevichy Convent in Moscow in 1524. However the city remained an issue of contention between Russia and Poland-Lithuania. So much in fact that Boris Godunov ordered the building of the Smolensk Kremlin in stone to replace the wooden fortress built under Ivan the Terrible. The Kremlin was constr...
Siege of Smolensk of 1609-1611
Siege of Smolensk during the Polish-Russian War of 1609-1618 Smolensk did not have to wait long to test its new Kremlin. In 1609 during Russia's Time of Troubles, Sigismund III Vasa of Poland-Lithuania started to besiege the city. The Siege of Smolensk lasted until 1611. Mikhail Shein was tasked with the city's defence. During that time Smolensk managed to withstand Polish-Lithuanian bombardment and to repel four attacks. On one occasion Polish-Lithuanian troops managed to breach the Kremlin...
Smolensk War
In 1632 Sigismund III Vasa of Poland-Lithuania died and Russia saw this as its chance to recapture Smolensk during Poland-Lithuania's perceived moment of weakness and Seige of Smolenskstarted the Smolensk War. An army led by Mikhail Shein started to besiege Smolensk, but the city's garrison managed to defend the city until the newly-elected Władysław IV was able to organise an army to relieve Smolensk. In the beginning of 1634 Shein and his army surrendered, an act which would result in his e...
Siege of Smolensk of 1654
Russia only managed to recapture Smolensk 20 years later in 1654 during the Russian-Polish War of 1654–1667. Tsar Alexis ordered the siege of the city in June and the Polish garrison inside the city capitulated in August. Russia had finally managed to wrestle control of Smolensk from Poland-Lithuania, this time permanently. In the Truce of Andrusovo, signed in 1667, Poland-Lithuania gave up all claims to the city and recognised Alexis as tsar.
In 1708 Smolensk became the centre of the Smolensk Governorate marking its important status among Russian cities. In 1780 a new coat of arms was adopted for the city depicting a bird of paradise sitting on a cannon against a grey background.
Battle of Smolensk 1812
In 1812 a new c'Battle of Smolensk on 18 August 1812' by Albrecht Adamhapter of Smolensk's military history was added with the attack of Napoleon's Grand Armée. Russia's General Pyotr Bagration and his troops were garrisoned in the city; this was subsequently reinforced by the troops of Field Marshal Mikhail Barclay-de-Tolly. Bombardment of the city started on 4 August 1812 (new style: 16 August), the French however could not penetrate the Kremlin's walls. Field Marshal Barclay-de-Tolly decid...
Battle of Smolensk (1941) Coordinates: 54°46′58″N 32°02′43″E. Battle of Smolensk (1941) First Battle of Smolensk. Part of Operation Barbarossa during the Eastern Front of World War II. German and Soviet movements near Smolensk, 10 July – 4 August.
- 8–31 July 1941, (German historiography): 267 , 10 July – 10 September 1941, (Soviet historiography): 267
- German victory
Here are just a few figures to outline the complex’s enormity: Total area: 27.7 hectares. Wall’s length: 2,500 m. Wall’s height: 5-19 m. Towers: 20. Tower’s height: Up to 80 m. Battlements ...
Beyond Smolensk. The Grande Armée’s march out beyond the gates of Smolensk and on towards Moscow raises a number of tantilising questions regarding Napoleon’s plans for Russia. Through analysis of a little-known French source for the campaign, Peter Hicks takes a look at the battle of wits that took place between Kutuzov and the French ...
