Trans-Kama and Penza Defensive Lines of the Russian State i n the Second Half of the XVII Century

Abstract

Borders of Russia have been gradually moving southwards since the end of the XIV century. Each movement of the frontier leads to its maintaining. In the second half of the XVII century, as a result of the consolidation of the Russian state, new fortifications were built in the Trans-Kama and Penza defensive lines. On open landscapes they had ramparts and fosses. The Penza fortified line ramparts were fixed with wooden blocks in addition to the earthen base. Probably, it is also typical for other Russian fortification systems. The study of these defensive structures allows the authors to consider their design features. Knowledge about the construction of these defensive lines became possible as a result of field works, conducted by the Mari State University. Trans-Kama line was examined in 2012 and the Penza line in 2014. While the Trans-Kama line was only examined near Mullovka, the Penza line was subjected to significant excavations, which corresponded to the study plans. The studies showed that the defensive lines of the second half of the XVII century, although they were not in keeping with the norms, nevertheless represented serious fortifications, capable if not to stop the cavalry, at least to delay it. The field works allowed us to better study the construction principles of Russian state defensive structures in the second half of the XVII century. To some extent, the changes that took place in the defensive sphere after the Time of Troubles were introduced into their construction. The construction of the defensive structures, presented in this article, took a great deal of labour and time and, nevertheless, the state had to build them.