Fili (Moscow)

Fili ( _ru. Фили) is a former suburban village and present-day neighborhood in Western Administrative Okrug of Moscow, Russia, notable for the events of September, 1812, following the Battle of Borodino. The village was located between Moskva River and Poklonnaya Hill, near present-day Fili station of Moscow Metro and the extant the Church of the Intercession at Fili. The territory is administered by Filyovsky Park District (another related territory, Fili-Davydkovo District, lies south-west from historical Fili).

First mention of Fili is dated 1627. Since 1689, Fili, Kuntsevo and adjacent settlements were owned by Lev Naryshkin, brother of tsaritsa Natalia Naryshkina. By 1694, he completed the Intercession Church, with donations by Peter I of Russia; its style is now known as Naryshkin Baroque. Naryshkin also established a new Fili village, closer to present-day Kutuzovsky Prospekt; the old Fili was remodelled into his personal estate.

After the Battle of Borodino (September 7, 1812), Russian army retreated east, to Moscow, and camped near Fili September 12. Military council led by Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov assembled in wooden hut in Fili; despite objections from younger generals, Kutuzov enforced his plan to abandon Moscow, saving the remains of Russian army. They marched through Moscow September 14, followed by Joachim Murat vanguard. The city was destroyed in the Fire of Moscow (1812) which started on the same day; Napoleon took over Kremlin but eventually lost the war.

By 1926, Fili had 396 households and 1342 residents; in 1935, the territory was annexed by City of Moscow and was heavily industrialized in 1900s-1930s. A notable resident of Fili is Khrunichev aerospace plant; its first stage was built before World War I by Roman Klein. In the 1920s, renamed State Aircraft Plant No.7, it acquired German technology in a joint venture with Junkers, producing local copies of Junkers K30 bomber, and vastly expanded afterwards.

ee also

* Church of the Intercession at Fili
* French invasion of Russia (1812)
* Kutuzovsky Prospekt

References

* District administration, official site [http://filpark.zao-mos.ru/rayon/]