Khodynka Field

Khodynka Field (Russian: Ходынское поле, Khodynskoye pole) is a large open space in the north-west of Moscow, at the beginning of the present day Leningradsky Prospect. It takes its name from the small Khodynka River which used to cross the neighbourhood. Major constructions on the field included the 19th century military barracks and the Botkin Hospital, the largest in Moscow at the time of its inauguration in 1910.

Khodynka was the site of the first Russian powered flight, and became a regular airfield, in use through the late 1980s. The Russian National Air & Space Museum is at Khodynka.

Khodynka field (up to 17th century "khodinskiy meadow") has been known since the 14th century, the first mention of which dates back to 1389, when Knyaz Dmitry Donskoy bequeathed the Khodyinsky meadow to his son Yuri Dmitrievich.

For a long time the field was undeveloped, placed it on arable land Tver coachmen settlement. At the beginning of XVII century the army of Tsar Vasily Shumsky fought here with the troops False Dmitry II.

When Catherine the Great in 1775 at the field was held a grand festivities on the occasion of the war with Turkey, and the conclusion of the Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca.

In the 19th century, Khodynka had been used to celebrate state occasions. In June 1883 the coronation of Alexander III. The event was co-ordinated by Mikhail Lentovsky and included four theatres, a circus, puppet shows choirs and orchestras. The central point was an allegorical procession entitled Spring is Beautiful. In May 1896, the site was used for the ill-fated coronation of Tsar Nicholas II. Rumours about a shortage in food and that the coronation mugs contained a gold coin resulted in a stampede in which more than 1000 (some sources say 1500) people were trampled to death (see Khodynka Tragedy).

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