German Quarter

The Nemezkaja sloboda (Russian Немецкая слобода, " German suburb " ), also called Sloboda Kukui ( слобода Кукуй ), was a foreigner district in the north- east of Moscow and is now part of the district Lefortovsky.

History

Foreign, particularly first - German Hanseatic merchants, who were given the official status of "guests " (Russian гости ), later craftsmen and professionals since the 15th century came in the days of Ivan III. into the country. German miners were looking for natural resources and built the first smelting. Since Russia had no private universities, were also physicians, pharmacists and scholars from all over Europe. Foreigners were considered to be non- true believers, with those believing Orthodox could have contact only under strict security measures. As habitat foreign professionals a special venue on the other side of the river Jausa about two kilometers northeast assigned from Moscow city center away. Since the majority of foreigners were German, the German Foreign suburban suburbs ( Nemezkaja Sloboda ) was called. Nemzy is also etymologically related to the dumb, Russian немые: so all foreigners were called who do not speak Russian, so to speak, "mute" were. Here the first pharmacy was opened in Russia. In Sloboda High German was spoken language. The inhabitants of the Sloboda could since it was founded according to their own customs and traditions live and undisturbed celebrate their worship service.

After Hofzählung 1665 there were 206 farms in the German suburb with about 1,200 foreigners. In 1725 their number was already 2500, but proportionately they accounted for only 2% of the total population of the city.

At the time of Peter I the Sloboda played a major role as a center of the modern lifestyle. His first mistress, Anna Mons, the Czar found here. Peter Müller, the ironworks owner, gathered at his house the emissaries of pietism and wrapped up the business with August Hermann Francke in Halle from his office.

Peter I learned there as a young prince ( his sister Sofia was regent ) Carsten Brant, a Dutch carpenter, later know the " grandfather of the Russian fleet ". With it, the later Tsar repaired a boat and dreamed of a haven for Russia. Where he met the Swiss François Le Fort know, the later admiral of the fleet.