Moscow plague riot of 1771

The measures undertaken by the authorities, such as creation of forced quarantines, destruction of contaminated property without compensation or control, and closing of public baths caused fear and anger among the citizens.

Dvoryane (Russian nobility) and well-off city dwellers left Moscow due to the plague outbreak.

An attempt by the Archbishop Ambrose of Moscow to prevent the citizens from gathering at the Icon of the Virgin Mary of Bogolyubovo (Икона Боголюбской Богоматери) in Kitai-gorod as a quarantine measure served as an immediate cause for the Plague Riot.

Pushing aside a military unit, they burst into the Kremlin and destroyed the Chudov Monastery (archbishop's residence) and its wine cellars.

As soon as the Muscovites tried to attack the Kremlin's Spasskiye Gates, the army opened fire with buckshot, dispersing the crowd and capturing some of the rebels.

On the morning of 17 September, around 1000 people gathered at the Spasskiye gates again, demanding the release of captured rebels and elimination of quarantines.