The Tsar Cannon

[Jack]

Although I took these photos of the "Tsar Cannon" in 1997, the canon has changed little in it's 419 year existence.
 
The name of the "Tsar Cannon" comes from the portrait of Tsar Fyodor Ivanovich (son of Ivan the Terrible) above the front right cleat. There is a depiction of Tsar Fyodor Ivanovich, riding a horse and holding a scepter, and an inscription "By divine mercy Grand Duke and Czar of all Russia Fyodor Ivanovich".
 
The cannon was cast by Andrei Chokhov, the talented Russian master. He started as a caster in Ivan Grozny's court, and later headed the school of casting art at the Moscow Cannon Yard, where he had worked for 60 years. He had cast many guns and bells and won recognition as the best caster of Moscow. That's why in 1586 it was he who received the order of Tsar Fyodor Ivanovich to cast the giant bronze weapon. The rapid development of iron casting, one of the oldest trades in Russia that was practiced from the 10th century onwards, was crowned with a truly unique piece of work created in the cannon yard. 

[Jack]

The cannon is decorated with inscriptions, and "2400 poods" is carved on the barrel. On the sides of the cannon are eight cleats for attaching ropes. At a weight of 40 tons, the barrel is excess of 5 meters with a caliber of 890 mm. The chassis decorates an allegoric scene, presenting a fierce Russian lion devastates a snake symbolizing Russia's enemies.

The cannon was placed on Red Square in front of the Spasky (Savior) Gate to defend the Kremlin and the Moscow-River. In 1591 when the troops of Kaza-Girei were approaching Moscow, the Tsar Cannon was positioned at Kitai-Gorod, but it hadn't been fired. In 1706, it was moved into the Kremlin, fixed at first in the Arsenal's inner yard and than at the main gate. Surprisingly enough that for 400 years of its existence this redoubtable weapon has not killed a man, moreover it has never been fired at all which is really miraculous, as the cannon was cast as a battle weapon. In the olden days, the Tsar Cannon also had another name: the "Russian Shotgun", as it was designed to shoot pellets. Nevertheless, the Tsar Cannon stays merely a unique monument of the 16th century defense technology and the largest bore of any cannon in the world.
 
 In 1835, the Tsar Cannon was fixed on the carriage specially cast for it at the Berdt's factory in St. Petersburg. Four hollow decorative cannonballs were made at the same time and although each of the cannonballs is hollow each still weighs a ton.
 
Today the Tsar Cannon is placed on Ivanovskaya Square, in front of the Church of Twelve Apostles.

[jb]

Jack,

I was very impressed with the Tzar's cannon when I first saw it at the Krimlin many years ago.  Did you also notice the size of the cast bell nearby, it reminded me of our own cracked Liberty bell in Philly, only the size of the chunk knocked out of the Russian version was almost big enough to walk through.  Old Russia seemed to do a lot of things on a grand scale.

A tour through the Armory should be a "must see" thing for anyone visiting Moscow, the diamond encrusted throne of Peter the Great is a national treasure, it's value staggers the imagination.  Which for some reason is in the Arnory and not the Diamond Fund.

One day I'll have to dig out and scan some of my old photo albums for posting.

[Jack]

jb I think photos do not accurately express the size of this cannon (or the bell). One usually stands in awe when standing so close to these two beautiful objects.   jb, break out some of your old photos!
 
Regarding the Tsar Bell.
 
The Tsar Bell, a masterpiece of the Russian casting of the XVIII century, stands on a stone base just to the east of the Ivan-the-Great Bell-Tower. The great bell was cast in the years 1733-1735 on the order of empress Anne Ioannovna by the casting-masters Ivan Motorin and his son Mikhail. The Tsar Bell is considered to be the biggest in the world. It weights about 220 tons and is 6.14 meter high and its diameter is 6.6 meter.
 
The Tsar Bell is decorated with portraits of Tsar Alexey Mikhailovich and empress Anna Ioannovna, also adorned with vegetation ornament and images of saints, angels and inscriptions telling the story of the bell.

In 1735, the Tsar Bell was finally cast however it still remained in the molding pit. In May, 1737, a terrible fire (the Trinity fire) broke out in Moscow and spread to the Kremlin buildings. When the flames on the scaffolding around the bell were being extinguished, cold water was thrown on the bell  and the difference in temperature caused it to crack, and a huge piece of 11.5 ton broke off.

The bell remained in the pit untouched for about 100 years when in the year 1836, the Tsar Bell was lifted up from the molding pit and placed on a stone pedestal by French architect Auguste Montferrant who also built the famous Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg.

[bbernard]

Jack,

Thanks for the history of the Czars "pooshka". Although I have not been to Moscow I did get a chance to see a replica. I have attached a picture of the monument in Donetsk. In the same park there was a bell that reminded me of the Liberty Bell as it did for JB. Unfortunately, I did not take a picture of the bell. It is always nice to find out the meaning behind the monuments.

bbernard