Alexandrov Kremlin
The tsar’s residence in the Alexandrovskaya village (also known as the Alexandrovsky Kremlin) is an old Russian fortress which served as the actual capital of the oprichnina in the Moscow state from 1564 until 1581. It was situated on the current territory of the city of Alexandrov, Vladimir Oblast.
| Alexandrov Kremlin | |
|---|---|
| Near Alexandrov in Russia | |
 Alexandrov Kremlin by Sergey Prokudin-Gorsky, 1911 | |
 Alexandrov Kremlin in the 16th century | |
| Type | Fortress |
History
Alexandrovskaya village dates back to the middle of the 14th century. Grand Duke Vasily III had a country palace built there and used to bring his family and the entire court to it. The palace did not survive.
The Pokrovsky (Intercession of the Virgin) cathedral was sanctified in 1513 and later it was blessed anew as the Trinity (Troitsky) Cathedral.
Ivan the Terrible moved to the Alexandrovskaya fortress in 1565. The residence was immediately fortified with a bulwark, wooden walls, and a moat.
As Novgorod was looted Ivan brought the famous gates of its Saint Sophia Cathedral (1336) to the village and had them installed at the southern entrance of the Assumption (Trinity) cathedral.
The tsar left the fortress in 1581 and never returned there again. The Assumption (Uspensky) nunnery was opened on its territory in the second half of the 17th century.