It is not always possible to determine the exact date of the founding of cities with a long history. Such settlements were not created in one day, but were formed over decades, if not centuries. This fully applies to Moscow as well. The day when the capital of present-day Russia was founded is the date when Moscow was first mentioned in the chronicle.
Year of birth of Moscow
Chronicle legends say that in the early spring of 1147, the Suzdal prince Yuri Dolgoruky went with a squad to Novgorod, after which he sent a message to his ally, Prince Svyatoslav Seversky. In a letter, the content of which is given in the Ipatiev Chronicle, Yuri invited his comrade-in-arms to come “to Moscow”. This is the first mention of Moscow that has survived to this day.
Accompanied by his son Oleg, Svyatoslav arrived in Moscow City with rich gifts. On April 4, 1147, a feast took place in the city, news of which quickly spread across the Russian lands. After this event, Moscow became widely known. Of course, the date of the formation of the city is very conditional, because Moscow existed as a fairly large settlement long before the meeting of the Russian princes.
From the history of Moscow
The settlement, which later turned into a city that became the capital of Russia, apparently existed on the banks of the Neglinnaya and Moskva rivers one and a half to two centuries before the first mention of it in the chronicles. It is to these times that researchers attribute the earliest archaeological finds discovered at the site of an ancient settlement. In these parts, most likely, in earlier times, the tribes of Krivichi and Vyatichi lived.
According to legend, for some time the Moscow lands were the fiefdom of the family of the boyar Stepan Kuchka, who ruled here with his sons. The handful subsequently fell out of favor, was accused of treason and executed by order of Yuri Dolgoruky. The prince turned the lands belonging to the boyar into his property. Few people now remember Kuchka, but the name of Prince Yuri is always mentioned when it comes to the founder of Moscow.
At the beginning of the 13th century, Moscow acquired the status of the center of the principality. During the invasion of the Mongol-Tatar army, the city underwent severe trials. The chronicles of those times contain references to villages, monasteries and churches located near Moscow, which were subjected to devastating raids by foreign invaders. By that time, the city was a rich settlement, administrative and economic center.
The growth of the city and the strengthening of its power were determined by geographic conditions. The Moskva River was a very convenient place militarily and economically, which determined the subsequent significance of the city for Russia. From here it was possible to get to the Volga trade route and even to the Baltic. Moving eastward from Moscow, the traveler found himself on the way to the Oka and Volga, from where he could even reach the Caspian Sea.
