Fyodor Kon
Encyclopedia
Fyodor Savelyevich Kon was a 16th century Russian military engineer
and architect
, the builder of Smolensk
Kremlin
(1597–1602) and the Bely Gorod
fortification ring of Moscow
(1585–1593).
Exact year and circumstances of his birth and early years remain unknown. Kon, as a mature man, and his relatives living in Moscow appear to be affiliated with the Boldino Monastery near Dorogobuzh
, as evidenced by records of their donations to the monastery. Thus it is assumed that Kon's ancestors came to Moscow from Dorogobuzh area.
The architect used nickname Kon (Russian
for stallion
) as early as 1584, as evidenced by his written plea to Ivan the Terrible
. According to this account, Kon ran away to "foreign land", learned construction crafts there, specifically emphasizing his skills in fortifications like city walls, dams, ponds, moats and "secrets" (underground tunnels). Kon received a public beating for his defection but was soon assigned to lead the construction of Bely Gorod - a 10-kilometer outer ring of Moscow fortress that stood on the path of present-day Boulevard Ring
. His best known project, the Kremlin of Smolensk, was launched by Boris Godunov
in 1597.
Fyodor Kon has been the subject of an eponymous poem by Dmitri Kedrin
(1940).
Military engineer
In military science, engineering refers to the practice of designing, building, maintaining and dismantling military works, including offensive, defensive and logistical structures, to shape the physical operating environment in war...
and architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
, the builder of Smolensk
Smolensk
Smolensk is a city and the administrative center of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Dnieper River. Situated west-southwest of Moscow, this walled city was destroyed several times throughout its long history since it was on the invasion routes of both Napoleon and Hitler. Today, Smolensk...
Kremlin
Kremlin
A kremlin , same root as in kremen is a major fortified central complex found in historic Russian cities. This word is often used to refer to the best-known one, the Moscow Kremlin, or metonymically to the government that is based there...
(1597–1602) and the Bely Gorod
Bely Gorod
Bely Gorod is the central core area of Moscow, Russia. The name comes from the color of its defensive wall, which was erected in 1585-1593 at the behest of tsar Feodor I and Boris Godunov by architect Fyodor Kon...
fortification ring of Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
(1585–1593).
Exact year and circumstances of his birth and early years remain unknown. Kon, as a mature man, and his relatives living in Moscow appear to be affiliated with the Boldino Monastery near Dorogobuzh
Dorogobuzh
Dorogobuzh is a historic town and the administrative center of Dorogobuzhsky District of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, straddling the Dnieper River to the east of Smolensk and west of Vyazma. Population:...
, as evidenced by records of their donations to the monastery. Thus it is assumed that Kon's ancestors came to Moscow from Dorogobuzh area.
The architect used nickname Kon (Russian
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
for stallion
Stallion
A Stallion is a male horse.Stallion may also refer to:* Stallion , an American pop rock group* Stallion , a figure in the Gobot toyline* Stallion , a character in the console role-playing game series...
) as early as 1584, as evidenced by his written plea to Ivan the Terrible
Ivan IV of Russia
Ivan IV Vasilyevich , known in English as Ivan the Terrible , was Grand Prince of Moscow from 1533 until his death. His long reign saw the conquest of the Khanates of Kazan, Astrakhan, and Siberia, transforming Russia into a multiethnic and multiconfessional state spanning almost one billion acres,...
. According to this account, Kon ran away to "foreign land", learned construction crafts there, specifically emphasizing his skills in fortifications like city walls, dams, ponds, moats and "secrets" (underground tunnels). Kon received a public beating for his defection but was soon assigned to lead the construction of Bely Gorod - a 10-kilometer outer ring of Moscow fortress that stood on the path of present-day Boulevard Ring
Boulevard Ring
The Boulevard Ring is Moscow's second centremost ring road . Boulevards form a semicircular chain along the western, northern and eastern sides of the historical White City of Moscow; in the south the incomplete ring is terminated by the embankments of Moskva River...
. His best known project, the Kremlin of Smolensk, was launched by Boris Godunov
Boris Godunov
Boris Fyodorovich Godunov was de facto regent of Russia from c. 1585 to 1598 and then the first non-Rurikid tsar from 1598 to 1605. The end of his reign saw Russia descend into the Time of Troubles.-Early years:...
in 1597.
Fyodor Kon has been the subject of an eponymous poem by Dmitri Kedrin
Dmitri Kedrin
-External links:*...
(1940).