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File:Kremlin from Bolshoy kamenny bridge.jpg
The Moscow Kremlin, which is the best-known one

A kremlin (Russian: кремль, romanized: kreml’, IPA: [ˈkrʲemlʲ], "castle", or "citadel"[1]) is a major fortified central complex found in historic Russian cities.[2] This word is often used to refer to the most famous, the Moscow Kremlin,[3] or metonymically to the government that is based there.[4]

The word perhaps shares a same root as kremen (кремень [krʲɪˈmʲenʲ], "flint").[5]

Short list of Russian cities with kremlins

World Heritage Sites

Intact

The bishop's residence in Rostov, sometimes called a kremlin

In ruins

Existing and unwalled

Traces remain

Modern imitations

[further explanation needed]

Kremlins outside borders of modern Russia

After the disintegrations of the Kievan Rus, the Russian Empire and the USSR, some fortresses considered Kremlin-type, remained beyond the borders of modern Russia. Some are listed below:

The same structure in Ukraine is called dytynets (Ukrainian: дитинець, from dytyna – child). The term has been in use since the 11th century. The term kremlin first appeared in 14th century in Russian territories, where it replaced dytynets.

Many Russian monasteries have been built in a fortress-like style similar to that of a kremlin. For a partial list, see Monasteries in Russia.

See also

References

This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please help improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (August 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
  1. ^ Pleshakov, Constantine (2006). Stalin's Folly: The Tragic First Ten Days of World War II on the Eastern Front. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. p. 24. ISBN 0618773614.
  2. ^ G, Frank, Ben (2010-09-23). A Travel Guide to Jewish Russia & Ukraine. Pelican Publishing. p. 150. ISBN 9781455613281.((cite book)): CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ Shubin, Daniel H. (2004). A History of Russian Christianity, Vol. I: From the Earliest Years through Tsar Ivan IV. Algora Publishing. p. 5. ISBN 9780875862873.
  4. ^ Barcelona, Antonio; Benczes, Réka; Ibáñez, Francisco José Ruiz de Mendoza (2011). Defining Metonymy in Cognitive Linguistics: Towards a Consensus View. John Benjamins Publishing. p. 234. ISBN 9027223823.
  5. ^ Russian Etymological Dictionary by Max Vasmer

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