The Kremlin is a type of city fortification. Such buildings arose for the first time in Kievan Rus. The topic of the article is the history of ancient Russian buildings, as well as the etymology of the concept of "Kremlin".
Meaning of the word
What is the definition of this concept in explanatory dictionaries? The Kremlin is, according to Dahl's dictionary, a fortress located inside the city. The Russian lexicographer gives this concept a number of definitions. Among them are such archaisms as detinets, fortresses.
Morphological composition
"Kremlin" is a masculine noun. This linguistic unit consists of a root and a zero suffix.
In artistic and journalistic texts, such a means of expression as personification is used. Its principle is based on the image of an inanimate object as animate. Examples:
- Kremlin issues final warning.
- The Kremlin has expressed a desire to limit the screening of this documentary.
In the given examples, the noun, the meaning of which is considered in the article, is identified with the concept of "power". The Kremlin in Moscow has long been the personification of the state power of the country. This word is often found in journalistic literature, but it is in this interpretation that it acquires a far from always positive connotation.
Single-root words
Dal's dictionary contains several adjectives derived from the noun discussed in this article. For example: "Kremlin". This concept is often found in modern Russian. As for the adjective "Kremlin", which Dal also mentions, this word has nothing to do with the fortress. The Kremlin was a tree standing alone in the open air.
What is the "Kremlin"? The meaning of this word, in contrast to the etymology, does not cause controversy among linguists. This is a type of medieval structure, which once upon a time was customary to erect from wood. But due to numerous fires, the architects of Ancient Russia, like their European counterparts, made a reasonable decision to replace wood with stone. There are only two single-root words for this word. At the same time, only one of them is found in modern speech. Examples:
- The Kremlin secrets of the twentieth century have remained unsolved.
- The Kremlin wall inspired fear in him from childhood.
- A documentary film dedicated to the Kremlin wives was released.
Synonyms
What concepts close in meaning can be matched to the noun "Kremlin"? The meaning of the word is fortress, fortification. These terms are also synonymous. Examples:
- Moscow Kremlin –a fortress located in the heart of the capital and of high historical and artistic value.
- The Kremlin is a fortification consisting of walls and several towers.
History
The capital's landmark is one of the most famous in the world. “Kremlin… What kind of structure is this?” Almost every resident of Moscow, having heard such a question, will only remember that ancient fortress, which is located in the center of his native city. Whereas the word "Kremlin" has a more general meaning. What it is, long before the Muscovites knew, according to some researchers, the inhabitants of Astrakhan. And the origin of this word is by no means Russian. In the old days, there were fortresses in every Russian city. Nevertheless, this type of structure is associated, first of all, with the majestic architectural ensemble located in the very center of the capital.
The Moscow fortress was erected in 1156. Fires in those years were not uncommon. And therefore, until the inhabitants of the Moscow principality learned to use more reliable material in construction, they had to erect new fortifications more than once, designed to save them from enemy invasions.
Building solid walls of stone occurred to Dmitry Ivanovich for the first time. For these purposes, limestone was delivered. And after the new fortress was built, the center of Moscow acquired a look thanks to which the capital is still called Belokamennaya today. The modern view of the Kremlin took shape at the end of the fifteenth century. Architects from all over Russia arrived in the city in order to participate in the construction of the landmark, which even today, in the 21st century,pleases Russians and excites the minds of foreigners.
Pskov
The word "kremlin", the meaning of which we examined in this article, denotes the type of structure that is present in many ancient Russian cities. In Pskov, it is also called Krom. It is located near the confluence of the Velikaya and Pskov rivers. The original wooden structure originated in the eighth century. The first stone fortifications appeared presumably in the tenth century. The Pskov Kremlin served for a long time to store food supplies. Nobody lived here. Theft from this vault was considered a state crime and punishable by death.
Other cities
The Kremlin in Tula was built in the sixteenth century. This building was erected for more than ten years. Unlike its counterparts, the Tula Kremlin never surrendered to the enemy. Under its walls, foreign troops suffered more than one defeat.
The wooden Kremlin in Astrakhan was built in the middle of the sixteenth century. Stone was erected under Ivan the Terrible. At first, the fortifications were very modest. Additional buildings arose over several centuries. Initially, this Kremlin had eight towers. Seven have survived to this day.
In addition to Moscow, Pskov, Astrakhan and Tula, the Kremlin is in such cities as Kolomna, Zaraisk, Tobolsk, Kazan, Suzdal. Each of them has a high historical value.
