Chernihiv fortres in the «Register of state fortresses of the Russian Empire» (1724 – 1799)

The article deals with the history of Chernihiv fortress of 1724 to1799. During this period it was a «Register of public fortresses of the Russian Empire». The final stageis characterized by the existence of Chernihiv fortress of great transformation sand reconstruction sthat are causing changes in the martial art of the eighteenth century. Archaic vestiges were liquidated as towers, it is built four valuable and two small bastions that covered large bastions. The defensive capacity of fortress rose considerably, it had begun to answer the requirements of military art of ХVIIIth century. However character of the carried out works and unrealization of part of the pre-arranged alterations testified to the gradual leveling of role of the Chernihiv fortress as a city formative factor. These processes are the cities of middle brightly illustrated on plans the second half of ХVІІІth century. If plans of 1730 – 1750th years consisted of aim of reconstruction of strengthening of fortress, then in 1760 – 1790th years in most they were taken off already for civilly-economic necessities (planning of municipal quarters, gasket of new streets and others like that). Chernihiv gradually transformed from a city-fortress on an ordinary city in a depthempires, and his habitants – from warriors on peaceful city-dwellers. In 1799 the fort was derived from the «Register», and during the early nineteenth century its fortifications were dismantled.

In the development of Chernihiv its fortress played a major role from all city forming institutions. Since ancient times, Detinets was the main fortified part of the city, where in the case of military danger, local citizens took cover.

At the time of entry of Chernigov to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Muscovia into the Old Detinets could accommodate almost all the urban population and the Upper Castle played the role of the citadel. By Polish domination late in late 1620s renewed fortifications of Detinets, that since more often called a fortress. By Hetmanate Chernihiv fortress has undergone radical rearrangements and become more adaptable for that time military requirements.

The unsatisfactory state of the fortifications of Chernihiv fortress at the beginning of  XVIII century led to its inclusion in the «State of government fortresses of Russian Empire» in 1724. Restoration of fortress tasked to engineer Adrian Debrynyi, who from 1730’s supervised  repairing and building of fortresses in the Ukrainian lands in the Russian Empire.

  1. Debrynyi made the plan of Chernihiv and Chernihiv fortress. Instead towers, at the entrance to the castle, were full pentagonal bastions located in front of Lyubetska and Pogorila gates. The third bastion was in the north-eastern part of the fortress, somewhat below the main defenses. It also defended the bridge over the river Stryzhen that was just near it. Besides three great classical bastion in fortress were built two small pentagonal projections for covering the most important strategic places and reinforce defensive bastion of the water gate in the middle of the seventeenth century . Named later plans «small bastions», they created a great flanking cover not only the Water bastion, but generally east side Castles. Opposite Catherine’s Church was built another full bastion. It was called Catherine and covered castle from the south-west side.

War with Ottoman Empire, which began in 1735, has prompted Military Collegium an order for urgent measures to repair the fortresses in the Hetmanate. However, from 1737 to the end of the war in 1739 on defensive measures in Chernihiv nothing was known , and after the war urgent need for them at all anymore. The features and constructive elements of Chernihiv fortress late 30’s – early 40’s eighteenth century. were reflected in the plan drawn up in 1740 by engineer Daniel de Bosquets.

Around the perimeter of the fortress vanished wooden tower, in an amount of four units survived only in the corners of the Upper Castle. Between Lyubetska and Pogorila the gates came Redan (open field fortifications in a notch in the wall), protecting both travel bastions.

In 1750 on the territory of Chernihiv fortress there was a great fire, which destroyed nearly all the buildings and damaged fortifications. Changes in the internal space fortress after recovery clearly shown on the plan in 1757 On the north side of the bastion was built a full earthen breastworks; The upper castle also had a new bastion finally disappeared wooden tower, replaced by open military sites. From that time until the liquidation of the fortress in 1799 radical changes and renovations in its territory was not happened.

Thus, from 1724 to 1799 Chernihiv fortress has undergone significant renovations and modernizations, was more suited for conducting contemporary artillery battle. Archaic remnants was gone in the form of towers, there were four full and two small bastions, covering large bastions. These processes were clearly illustrated on the plans of the city middle – second half of the eighteenth century.

If the plans of the 1730’s – 1750’s evolved for reconstruction fortress, then in 1760 – 1790’s most of them already starred for civil and economic needs. On them was the main focus on the planning of urban areas, construction of new streets, etc. Chernihiv gradually transformed from a fortified city to a normal city in the province of the empire and its inhabitants – with soldiers to civilians. All this could not affect the status of defenses, which gradually fell into decay, and only prevented the development of Chernihiv.

Chernihiv fortress eliminated in 1799, and between 1800 and 1803 in place of former fortifications established Boulevard. However, immediately wipe out all traces of the centuries-old defense construction in Chernihiv Detinets failed. Works to eliminate ramparts were also conducted in 1826, but they failed to fully complete the task remains of defensive structures of the city visible in the photos of the nineteenth century.