# Mozhaysk Kremlin

- **Country:** Russia
- **Coordinates:** 55.509390, 36.010740
- **Year Built:** 1624-1626
- **Location Text:** Moscow Oblast

Mozhaysk is a historic town located in the Moscow Oblast of Russia, situated approximately 110 kilometers west of Moscow along the ancient road connecting the capital to Smolensk and Poland. First mentioned in historical records in 1231 as an appanage of the Principality of Chernigov, the settlement likely derives its name from the Mozhaya River, which may have Baltic linguistic origins. Throughout the thirteenth century, it served as a crucial stronghold for the Smolensk dynasty under rulers like Theodore the Black before being seized by Muscovite forces in 1303. For nearly two centuries, the town functioned as a distinct principality often governed by younger brothers of the Grand Dukes of Moscow until the practice ceased in 1493.

The town holds significant historical importance as a defensive bastion protecting the western approaches to Moscow during various conflicts spanning the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. It was also the site of diplomatic activity, notably hosting the signing of the Treaty of Mozhaysk between Denmark and Russia in 1562 during the Livonian War. In 1708, under the administrative reforms of Peter the Great, Mozhaysk was officially granted town status. While specific details regarding a standalone "Mozhaysk Kremlin" structure are limited in this text, the town itself acted as a fortified center and administrative hub for the surrounding district for centuries.

Today, Mozhaysk serves as the administrative center of the Mozhaysky District and remains an inhabited locality with a population exceeding thirty-one thousand residents. Although the provided text does not detail the current architectural condition of specific kremlin walls or towers, the town retains its legacy through its historic layout and role as a regional hub. The area continues to be recognized for its strategic location on the historic route to Poland and its enduring presence as a key component of the Moscow region's cultural and administrative landscape.

![Photo of Mozhaysk Kremlin](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/69/Luzhez1.jpg)

**Source:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mozhaysk (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)