Siege of Kazan
1552 · Kazan (in the present-day Republic of Tatarstan, Russia) · World · Modern
The Russians besieged the city for more than a month, breached the walls with explosives in mine tunnels and stormed in; Kazan fell and the khan was captured.
Belligerents
Tsardom of Russia
- Commanders
- Ivan IV, Vorotynsky, Kurbsky
- Strength
- About 150,000 according to the records (possibly exaggerated)
Khanate of Kazan
- Commanders
- Yadegar Muhammad Khan
- Strength
- About 30,000+ defenders in the city (estimated)
Background
The Khanate of Kazan was a Tatar state formed after the breakup of the Golden Horde, and it alternated between war and peace with Moscow for a long time. After Ivan IV began his personal rule, he resolved to settle the Kazan question once and for all, first building the fortress of Sviyazhsk nearby as a forward base.
Course of the battle
- At the city wallsIn August the Russian army reached Kazan, built siege works and cut off relief forces outside the city.
- Cutting off the water supplyThe Russians dug mine tunnels and blew up the passage to the city's water source, leaving the defenders in dire straits.
- Mining the wallsOn October 2 the Russians detonated a large quantity of gunpowder beneath the walls and burst into the city, where street fighting followed; Kazan fell.
Outcome at a glance
| Date | 1552 |
|---|---|
| Place | Kazan (in present-day Republic of Tatarstan, Russia) |
| Result | The Russians besieged the city for more than a month, breached the walls with explosives in mine tunnels and stormed in; Kazan fell and the khan was captured. |
| Winner | Tsardom of Russia |
| Casualties | The defenders and many of the city's residents were killed; no precise figures are recorded. |
| Territorial change | The Khanate of Kazan fell and the middle Volga was annexed by Russia; in 1556 Russia also annexed the Astrakhan Khanate, opening the way to the Caspian Sea and Siberia. |
Impact
The capture of Kazan marked the start of Russia's transformation from a national state into a multiethnic empire; St. Basil's Cathedral on Moscow's Red Square was built to commemorate the victory.
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