Moscow Travel Guide - History

In 1327, the city became the capital of the Great Moscow Principality and of all established Russian territories; it remained thus until 1713 when Emperor Peter I relieved it of said status and made St Petersburg the capital instead.

During this initial period as capital, Moscow prospered and saw a large influx of Russian refugees from all corners of the territories. It later suffered a setback however, when much of the city’s buildings were destroyed by fire during the Patriotic Wars. In 1918, after revolution came to the country and the monarchy was overthrown, capital status was returned to Moscow at the will of the communists.

In the wake of the collapse of communism and the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, Moscow experienced both positive and negative effects; however, with time the former outweighed the latter and the development of a free market economy spelled greater growth and prosperity.