Pietro Francesco, known in Russian sources as Pyotr Fryazin, was an Italian architect of the late 15th — early 16th century who directed the construction of the stone Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin. He was sent from Moscow and led the bulk of the work on building the fortress in 1508–1515.
Construction of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin
The construction of the stone kremlin began in 1500 with the building of the Ivanskaya Tower of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin of the city. Alongside it and other fortifications, the Zachatievskaya Tower was also built — of red brick — with the participation of Pietro Francesco. The main works unfolded from 1508: within a short time, by 1515, the grand construction was completed. The result was a two-kilometer fortress wall reinforced by thirteen towers.
The new fortress on the Volga was built by the Muscovite state as its principal stronghold against the Kazan Khanate: under Ivan III, Nizhny Novgorod served as a mustering point for Moscow's campaigns against Kazan. The destruction of the earlier wooden fortifications was hastened by the fire of 1513. The "stone city" received a Nizhny Novgorod Garrison and substantial artillery armament, and over the course of its military service withstood numerous sieges and assaults.
Role in the tradition of Italian masters in Russia
The nickname "Fryazin" (from "fryag" — the term used in Rus for people from Western Europe, chiefly Italians) was borne by several Italian architects who worked on Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod building sites at the end of the 15th — beginning of the 16th century. Pietro Francesco belongs to this circle of masters invited by the centralized Muscovite state to build stone defensive structures in key cities of the country.
Sources
Materials used from articles (2)
The Kremlin, Zachatyevskaya Tower of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin