Ivangorod Fortress, Ivangorod, Leningrad Oblast, Russia, 188490

Ivangorod Fortress, Ivangorod, Leningrad Oblast, Russia, 188490 

Ivangorod Fortress, a monument of Russian defense architecture dating back to the 15th – 18th cc., is situated on the right bank of the Narova River, 12 km from the place where it flows into the Gulf of Finland.

1492 Ivangorod Fortress is founded by the sovereign of all Russia, Ivan III (1462–1505).

1496 Swedish troops land, besiege, take and partially destroy Ivangorod Fortress. In the autumn of the same year, the fortress is retaken from the Swedes and restored.

1499 The Four-Angled Tower is reconstructed and the Big Boyar City is built.

1507 The second stage of Ivangorod Fortress construction is started. The newly constructed Castle encircling Four-Angled Tower by stone walls is joined to the Big Boyar City from the north-west.

1509 Construction of the city’s main defense facilities is completed. Ivangorod becomes a well-fortified outpost at the north-western border of Russia.

1509 Russian-Livonian trade begins in Ivangorod. The city becomes the centre of Russian trade. A settlement of Danish merchants emerges outside the fortress, while residential, business, religious and production facilities are built inside it.

1556 – 1558 The third construction period in the history of Ivangorod. The last part of the fortress – Hornwork or Boyar rampart – is built to defend the fortress from the north-eastern direction.

1558 The Livonian War begins. Narva is taken by Russian troops under the command of voivode (general) I.A. Buturlin and becomes part of the Russian state.

1581 Ivangorod is captured by the Swedes.

1583 The Livonian War ends with the defeat of Russia.

1590 Ivangorod is liberated by Russian troops under the command of Boris Godunov.

1612 During the Time of Troubles the Swedes occupy Ivangorod again and hold it for a century. A powder room and an arsenal are built in the fortress under the Swedish rule. The Assumption (Uspenskaya) Church is adapted to Protestant service.

1700 The Northern War begins. The army of Peter I is severely defeated near Narva.

1704 The Russian army takes Narva by assault; two weeks later, the Swedish garrison in Ivangorod Fortress surrenders.

18th – 19th cc. For almost 250 years Ivangorod Fortress stays on the Russian military service and keeps developing. A two-storey Food (Army) Magazine, a guardhouse and a garrison school are built.

1863 Based on the Military Minister’s order, Narva Fortress, including the Ivangorod fortifications, ceases to be a military facility and its works (bastions) are transferred to the city.

In addition, the order provided: “… and the ancient constructions of Ivangorod and Vyshgorod (Narva Castle) are to be left in the care of the military department as monuments of antiquity”.

1941 – 1944 During World War Two the Nazis occupy Ivangorod and use the fortress as a concentration camp. When retreating they attempt to fully destroy the fortifications.

1947 The fortress is taken under the state protection as an architectural monument.

Epic Russia Culture & Adventure Route © Monika Newbound