Khodynka Field (up to the 17th century "Khodinskiy Meadow") has been known as such since the 14th century. The first mention of this name dates back to 1389, when
Knyaz Dmitry Donskoy bequeathed 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 the 17th century, the army of Tsar
Vasili IV fought here against the troops of
False Dmitry II. During the reign of
Catherine the Great, in 1775, the field was the scene of grand festivities on the successful conclusion of the
war with
Turkey with the
Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca. In the 19th century, Khodynka was used to celebrate state occasions. In June 1883, the coronation of
Alexander III was celebrated here. The event was co-ordinated by
Mikhail Lentovsky and included four theatres, a circus, puppet shows, choirs, and orchestras. The climax was an allegorical procession entitled
Spring is Beautiful. In May 1896, the site was used to celebrate
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). 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 Tragedy The field is best known as the site of a tragic accident on May 30, 1896 during the festivities of the crowning of
Nicholas II. In the area of one town square, buffooneries, theaters, 150 buffets for distribution of gifts, and 20 pubs were built for the celebrations. Nearby to the celebration square was a field which had a ravine and many gullies. On the evening of May 17, people who had heard rumours of rich coronation gifts from the
tsar (the gift was actually a
bread roll, a piece of
sausage,
gingerbread and a
cup) began to gather in anticipation. At about 5 o'clock in the morning of the coronation day, several thousand people were already gathered on the field. A police force of 1800 men failed to maintain civil order, and in a catastrophic crush, and resulting panic to flee the scene, 1389 people were trampled to death and roughly 1300 were otherwise injured. The negligence of the imperial authorities caused public indignation in Russia, and a number of minor officials were dismissed. However, the new Tsar did not cancel the coronation
ball scheduled for later that day. Many mystic writers in Russia say that deed predestined the death of Nicholas in Soviet Russia. ==Khodynka Airfield==