Tsar Cannon: symbol of military might of Russia and a favorite toy of the tsars

In the Moscow Kremlin, crowds of tourists can always be seen gathering around the Tsar Cannon. This masterpiece of military gigantism rarely leaves foreign guests of the capital indifferent. The enormous size of this monument to Russian casting art evokes awe and respect for the craftsmanship of its creators. The Tsar Cannon, one of the largest artillery pieces in the world, has never been used for its intended purpose. Evaluations of its significance range from admiration for the genius of the founders to criticism for its impracticality and ostentation.

Symbol of the Power of the Moscow Kingdom

The Russian artillery school, one of the strongest in the world, dates back to the 14th century when gunpowder and firearms appeared. The Moscow princes saw cannons as a way to achieve parity with the nomadic army of the Golden Horde, which happened in 1480 during the Stand on the Ugra River, marking the end of the nomads' rule over North-Eastern Russia.

Ivan the Terrible, the first Russian tsar, continued the modernization of the army and the fascination with gigantism. While the first cannons were more intimidating, under Ivan Vasilyevich, they became formidable weapons capable of destroying fortress walls. The successful siege of Kazan contributed to the creation of prototypes of the Tsar Cannon, although not all tests were successful.

The Tsar Cannon was cast in 1586 by order of Fyodor, the son of Ivan the Terrible, by master Andrey Chokhov. Boris Godunov, an advisor to the young tsar, used its gigantic size to bolster his authority. The cannon became a symbol of the state's power after the defeat in the Livonian War.

The weapon was installed on Red Square, where heralds read out royal decrees, and the cannon's barrel was directed at the Spassky Gates. Under Peter I, it was moved to the Kremlin Arsenal, where it stood until Napoleon's invasion. The French emperor, laughing, saw no practical use for it. During the retreat, the Napoleonic army set the Kremlin on fire, and the wooden carriage burned, but the cannon itself survived.

In 1960, the Tsar Cannon found a permanent place near the Ivan the Great Bell Tower next to the Tsar Bell. It is part of the collection of the Museum of Artillery, alongside four decorative cast-iron balls made in the 19th century.

The Tsar Cannon has repeatedly inspired engineers to create copies. In Perm, a copy was fired 300 times, but it did not participate in battle. Another copy was gifted to Donetsk, and similar monuments exist in Yoshkar-Ola and Izhevsk. However, none of the copies overshadowed the original, which continues to attract tourists in the center of Moscow.

Unique Characteristics and the English Connection in the History of the Tsar Cannon

Andrey Chokhov's work became his most grandiose, inscribing his name in history. The Tsar Cannon cannot be strictly classified as an artillery piece, as it was not fully completed. A hypothetical shot could have destroyed the cannon, as the touch hole was not drilled.

Originally, the Tsar Cannon was conceived as a defensive weapon capable of firing shot. Stone balls weighing 800 kg could have broken the cannon, so a carriage was not provided, and the weapon was buried in the ground. Special clamps and ropes were used for transportation.

The size of the Tsar Cannon amazed onlookers. It was made of copper and tin, measuring 5.34 meters in length and weighing just over 39 tons. The diameter of the barrel at the muzzle is 1340 mm, with a caliber of 890 mm. To install it on Red Square, 200 horses were required.

The townspeople attributed mythical properties to the cannon, exaggerating its size. Already under Nicholas I, a joke circulated that in rainy weather, sentries hid in the muzzle and played cards.

The cannon has retained its canonical shape and proportions, its barrel adorned with the image of the tsar, and inscriptions are engraved on the sides. The original carriage has not survived; the modern version was made according to sketches from the 19th century. The work was carried out at the foundry of the English Berdov family, who later moved to London.

So, was there a shot?

The Tsar Cannon, like the Tsar Bell, has never been used for its intended purpose. In 1591, it was made ready when Moscow was under threat from the Crimean Khan Kazy-Girey. For a long time, it was believed that the cannon had never fired, and its size was more for intimidation.

Legend has it that the ashes of False Dmitry were fired from the Tsar Cannon towards Poland. In 1980, during restoration, traces of gunpowder were found, but it turned out that the touch hole was absent, and no traces of balls were discovered. According to the official version, not a single shot was fired from the Tsar Cannon.

Address

The Tsar Cannon, the largest caliber weapon in the world, listed in the Guinness Book of Records, is located in the Moscow Kremlin. It is situated in Ivanovskaya Square next to the Ivan the Great Bell Tower. To visit the Kremlin and its attractions, a single ticket must be purchased. Ticket offices are located at Alexander Garden, and the nearest metro stations are "Alexander Garden," "Lenin Library," and "Borovitskaya."