Astrakhan

Astrakhan (??????????; Ästerxan), a major city in southern European Russia and the administrative center of Astrakhan Oblast. The city lies on the Volga river, close to where it discharges into the Caspian Sea, at {{coor dm|46|22|N|48|05|E|}}. Population (1.1.2004): 502,800.

Modern history

For 17 months in 1670-71 Astrakhan was held by Stenka Razin and his Cossacks. Early in the following century Peter the Great constructed here a shipbuilding yard and made Astrakhan the base for his hostilities against Persia, and later in the same century Catherine II accorded the city important industrial privileges.

Related Topics:
Stenka Razin - Cossack - Peter the Great - Persia - Catherine II

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The city rebelled against the tsar once again in 1705, when it was held by the Cossacks under Kondraty Bulavin. A Kalmuck khan laid an abortive siege to the kremlin several years prior to that. In 1711, it was made a capital of a guberniya, whose first governors included Artemy Petrovich Volynsky and Vasily Nikitich Tatishchev. In 1702, 1718 and 1767, it suffered severely from fires; in 1719 was plundered by the Persians; and in 1830 the cholera swept away a large number of its people.

Related Topics:
1705 - Kondraty Bulavin - Kalmuck - 1711 - Artemy Petrovich Volynsky - Vasily Nikitich Tatishchev

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Astrakhan's kremlin was built from 1580s to 1620s from bricks pillaged at the site of Sarai Berke. Its two impressive cathedrals were consecrated in 1700 and 1710, respectively. Built by masters from Yaroslavl, they retain many traditional features of Russian church architecture, while their exterior decoration is definitely baroque.

Related Topics:
Kremlin - Sarai Berke - 1700 - 1710 - Yaroslavl - Baroque

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