1) Yuriy Dolgoruky founded Moscow in 1147
2) At the 13th century drew to an end, Moscow become the capital of the principality of Moscovia
3) That time, the head of the Russian Church moved to Moscow from Vladimir too. This way Moscow was becoming the political and religious centre of Russia
4) In the 15th century, after almost 250 years of Mongol domination Moscow became the most powerful of the Russian city-states.
5) In 1453, after Constantinople, the centre of the Orthodox Church, was taken by the Turks, Moscow was declared the Third Rome and true heir of Christianity.
6) In 1546, Ivan the Terrible was crowned in Moscow as the first Tsar of All Russia and Moscow became the capital of the new state.
7) In 1712, Peter the Great moved the capital to St Petersburg, but Moscow remained for some time the heart of Russia. That is why it became the main target of Napoleon's attack.
8) The great fire destroyed the most territory of the city, but by the mid-19th century, Moscow had been completely restored.