Astrakhan Kremlin

Just after he conquered the Khanate of Astrakhan Ivan the Terrible ordered to build there a wooden fortress for defense of southern borders on the side of the Volga. However, tension in relations with the Turks, as well as their military campaign against Astrakhan in 1569, forced him to change his plans and already in 1580 it was decided to erect a strong stone fortress in the city.