Syuyumbike Tower

Syuyumbike Tower is a watchtower and at the same time the most extraordinary structure of the Kazan Kremlin, which is of particular interest because of its original stepped silhouette and noticeable slope of the structure. The effect of striking contrast plays no small role in the popularity of Suyumbike. Against the background of snow-white Kremlin buildings “falling” tower of red brick looks unusual and somewhat alien, as if as a result of an unknown error fantastic time machine moved the ancient building in our hectic XXI century. Today, the former part of the powerful defensive system bears the proud title of the historical symbol of the city and is a protected architectural monument.

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Video: The Tower of Suyumbike

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History of the construction of the tower of Suyumbike: XVI or XVIII century?

In 1701 a fire raged in Moscow, the consequences of which affected the tower of Syuyumbike. In the fire destroyed almost the entire archive of the Kazan Palace Order, which contained documents describing the process of building the Kremlin watchtower. It was because of this accident that modern researchers are still unable to determine the exact date of construction of the tower of Suyumbike. For example, a famous in his time local historian N. P. Zagoskin claimed that the structure was erected in the times of the Kazan Khanate, by order of the ruler Mohammed-Amin. The young years of the progressive ruler spent in Moscow, where he became friends with the Russian tsar in order to protect himself from attempts of other Kazan heirs to the throne. Historians believe that it was during this period that the future khan witnessed the construction of the Borovitskaya Tower in the Moscow Kremlin.

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‘ class=”fancybox” >The tower in an early 19th century engraving by E. Turnerelli.

It is assumed that after ascending the throne of Kazan Muhammad-Amin wished to acquire an improved copy of the Moscow Strelnitsa, and for the realization of his grandiose plan he invited the elderly Italian architect A. Fioravanti to his court. The main argument in favor of the hypothesis is the bricks from which the architectural monument is built. Their sizes fully correspond to the standard introduced by the Italian genius (before that, a different shape of bricks was used in Russia). However, modern historians have found this fact unconvincing, as the drawings depicting the Kazan Kremlin in the era of the Khan’s rule, the tower of Suyumbike does not appear.

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After years of archaeological excavations in the walls of Suyumbike, researchers have come to the conclusion that the structure was erected not earlier than the end of the XVII century. This is clearly hinted at by the architecture of the tower in the style of the so-called “Moscow Baroque”. In addition, the upper part of the structure clearly copies the tents of the towers of the Volokolamsk Monastery and the Beklemishevskaya Tower in the Moscow Kremlin.

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