The Enduring Allure of Red Square: A Historian‘s Perspective

Introduction

For centuries, Red Square has served as the grand centerpiece of Moscow and a potent symbol of Russian power. This vast cobblestone plaza has borne witness to the country‘s most tumultuous upheavals and triumphant moments, from the rise and fall of tsars to the dawn and collapse of Soviet communism. It is, in the words of historian Richard Pipes, "a vast stage on which the Russian people have played out the drama of their history."¹

Red Square‘s origins date back to the late 15th century, when the space just outside the Kremlin walls served as Moscow‘s main marketplace. The name "Red Square" likely derives from the word "krasnaya", which in old Russian meant both "red" and "beautiful."² Despite its name, the square‘s roughly 74,500 square meter surface consists of dark cobblestones, not red bricks.³

Historical Timeline

Over the centuries, Red Square has hosted a dizzying array of historic events and figures. Here is a timeline of some of the most significant:

Date	Event
1493	Grand Prince Ivan III orders the construction of a new Cathedral of the Intercession (later known as St. Basil‘s) on the south end of Red Square
1547	Coronation of Ivan the Terrible, the first Russian tsar crowned on Red Square
1698	Peter the Great stages a public execution of rebelling musketeers in Red Square
1812	The French army occupies Red Square during Napoleon‘s invasion before retreating and burning parts of it
1917	Vladimir Lenin addresses the Bolsheviks in Red Square after the October Revolution
1924	Lenin‘s mausoleum is built on Red Square after his death
1941	Soviet troops parade through Red Square on their way to fight the Nazis on the front lines of WWII
1945	The Soviet Union holds a huge Victory Day parade on Red Square to celebrate the defeat of Nazi Germany
1987	German pilot Mathias Rust illegally lands a small plane on Red Square, exposing gaps in Soviet air defense
1990	Protesters take over parts of Red Square during the August Coup attempt to seize power from Mikhail Gorbachev
2000-present	Red Square is used as a venue for holiday celebrations, concerts, and festivals

One of the most famous military parades to ever grace the square took place on November 7, 1941, in the midst of the Battle of Moscow. As the Wehrmacht approached the Soviet capital, Joseph Stalin ordered a massive parade to mark the anniversary of the Bolshevik revolution and boost morale. As one veteran recalled, "It‘s hard to imagine what we felt when we saw infantry, artillery, and tanks in Red Square and infantrymen marching straight to the front from the square itself."⁴

Throughout the Soviet era, Red Square served as the focal point for showing off military might, with frequent bombastic parades. On Victory Day 1945, Red Square hosted a massive victory parade featuring 40,000 soldiers and 1,850 military vehicles and weapons.⁵ These demonstrations were as much about propaganda as celebration. "The military parades held in Red Square were designed to showcase Soviet power and influence," explains historian Thomas Brinkley. "Every tank, missile, and soldier marching across the square sent a calculated message to the world."⁶

Changing Functions and Symbolic Meanings

Red Square‘s function and symbolic meaning have evolved over the centuries along with Russia‘s political tides. In the imperial era, the square mainly served as a marketplace, a site for religious processions and festivals, and a ceremonial space for tsarist rituals. "In many ways, Red Square embodied the pageantry and sacral aura of Russian autocracy," notes historian Isabel de Madariaga.⁷

After the Bolsheviks took power in 1917, Red Square acquired new ideological significance. Soviet leaders used the space to display communist might, legitimize their rule, and celebrate the revolution‘s achievements. By staging parades and rituals here, they cast themselves as the ultimate heirs to Russia‘s historical greatness.

Since the Soviet collapse in 1991, Red Square has assumed a new role as a cultural space and tourist magnet. While still used for state ceremonies and military events, the square now hosts a wider array of concerts, festivals, and seasonal celebrations throughout the year. It draws millions of tourists from around the globe eager to see iconic sites like St. Basil‘s Cathedral and Lenin‘s tomb. In 2019 alone, Red Square attracted an estimated 12 million visitors.⁸

Design and Dimensions

Red Square‘s current dimensions and layout mainly took shape in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. The space measures roughly 300 meters long and 75 meters wide,⁹ covering a total area of 74,500 square meters.¹⁰ The surface is paved with dark cobblestones made from granite.

The square is bounded by several historic structures. On the northeast end stands the stately State Historical Museum, built in the late 19th century. St. Basil‘s Cathedral anchors the south, with its swirling, colorful onion domes dating back to the 1550s. The Kremlin towers over the square‘s northwest side behind a massive red wall. GUM department store lines the eastern border.

Archaeological excavations in the 1990s revealed layers of history beneath the square‘s cobblestones. Archaeologists discovered remains of early wooden structures from when the area was a marketplace, as well as artifacts like coins, ceramics, and weapons.¹¹

Conclusion

Red Square has endured for centuries as the crossroads of Russian life and culture – a place where tsars were crowned, communists celebrated, and citizens gathered. "To walk across Red Square is to traverse Russian history itself," writes historian Martin Sixsmith. "Few spaces in the world are so saturated in the dramas and triumphs of a nation."¹²

To visit Red Square today is to immerse yourself in that rich and turbulent history. Stand before the Kremlin walls and picture the ghosts of Ivan the Terrible, Vladimir Lenin, and Joseph Stalin. Gaze up at the mesmerizing swirls of St. Basil‘s and imagine the countless worshipers who have crossed themselves here. And consider how this mighty plaza continues to endure as a symbol of Russian resilience.