Moscow

Danilov Monastery

Thought to be the earliest of the monasteries (forts) in the Moscow principality and founded by Prince Daniel as one of the six fortified complexes guarding the southern approaches to Moscow against Tatar attack. The foundations of the monastery were laid no later than 1282 and perhaps as early as 1272. On his death bed, Prince Daniel asked to be buried in the monastery which he founded and he was so laid to rest, as is recounted in the Troitskaya chronicle, "Not in the church but within the grounds." This information is directly contradicted by L.A. Belyayev: "In as much as can be understood, the Troitskaya chronicle also did not contain any notes of the foundation of the Danilov monastery. It contains, as does the Lavrentyev chronicle, a note on the death of Daniil Aleksandrovich, and the place of his internment was the Archangel Michael cathedral in the Kremlin. The date of his death is given as March, 1303. The first mention of the existence of the Danilov monastery we learn from the article pertaining to 1330 in the Troitskaya chronicle, written not earlier than the beginning of the XVth century. It was an outpost to defend against raids by the Horde.

free link exchange