Cannons of the Petrine Epoch

Two cast-iron cannons of the Petrine epoch (first third of 18th century) can be found on Ascension Square in Kolomenskoye Park. These two guns with a caliber of 127-128 mm and weighing about 100 pounds (1.6 tons) are contemporaries of the Battle of Poltava in 1709. The cannons did not participate in the legendary battle, however, they have a direct relationship to the Northern War between Sweden and Russia. They were brought to Kolomenskoye during the reign of Catherine II from the Moscow Kremlin Arsenal in purpose to decorate a palace for tsarina that was not built.

The Battle of Poltava (8 July 1709) was the decisive victory of Peter I of Russia, also known as "the Great," over the Swedish forces under Field Marshal Carl Gustav Rehnskiöld, in one of the battles of the Great Northern War (1700–1721).