Monument of Glory of Battle of Poltava is main symbol of Poltava. It is situated in central part of Poltava in beautiful park at Circus Square. Not far from the monument on 28th of June 1709 were built wooden Triumphal Gate near which was a meeting of Peter the Great with heroic defenders of Poltava fortress led by commander Alexey Kelin. Initiator of the construction of Monument of Glory of Battle of Poltava was the first governor-general of Poltava - Prince Alexey Kurakin.

The basic idea of Monument of Glory of Battle of Poltava belonged to Poltava province architect Michail Amvrosimov. His project that was aimed in Academy of Fine Arts in Saint Petersburg was generally approved and some elements of it was modified by the famous Russian architect of French descent - Thoma de Tomon.

The final design of Monument of Glory of Battle of Poltava was approved for implementation on 9th of May 1805. For working on the sculptural decoration of the monument were brought famous Russian sculptor Theodosius Shchedrin and as a consultant was invited sculptor Ivan Martos.

The basis for the collection of funds for the construction of Monument of Glory of Battle of Poltava had revenues of farmers work belonging to Poltava Magistrate in the amount of 1147 people. Released in 1804 the decree gave the income from work of the farmers to Governor-General until the monument will be completely finished. Thus collected about 135 000 rubles of the Russian Empire. In addition the cast bronze eagle and a variety of ornaments was made in Saint Petersburg by master Vasily Ekimov and funds for it have been allocated by Emperor Alexander I.

The pedestal of Monument of Glory of Battle of Poltava in the form of a castle with built-in real guns was made of light gray granite mined near Kremenchuk. The upper part of pedestal had beautiful cast-iron fence as swords that their spikes set down as a symbol of the end of Russo-Swedish War (Great Northern War). Iron column of the monument which consists of four parts connected by three original bronze hoops that were cast at Luhansk Iron Foundry.

On two sides of the pedestal there is the inscription "July, 27 1709" and "completed in 1809". These labels are located inside the bronze rings formed by snakes holding the own tail as a symbol of the forever. The last inscription is false and the creators of Monument of Glory of Battle of Poltava shows their desire to open it up to 100th anniversary of Battle of Poltava. At the top of the column is a hemisphere topped by a gilded eagle with a laurel wreath in its beak and sharp arrows in its talons. The eagle eyes directed to the field of Great Battle of Poltava.

Official opening of Monument of Glory of Battle of Poltava was on 27th of June 1811.

In 1852 the Central Park founded by Emperor Nicholas I and Monument of Glory of Battle of Poltava was handed to Peter-Poltava Cadet Corps. An interesting fact is that in 1880 due to lack of funds for maintenance of Central Park and the monument - it was transferred back to Poltava Authority with the condition that all the entertainment in the park will be made only during the period from June, 10 to August, 10 when the cadets were in the camp. Over time the Central Park was surrounded by a beautiful cast-iron fence.

During Second World War and Nazi occupation of Poltava Monument of Glory of Battle of Poltava suffered a lot. During the retreat of Germans they were trying to overturn a column of the monument by tanks. Luckily they did not have time to implement this plan and the monument survived.

By 800th anniversary of Poltava which was celebrated in 1974 Monument of Glory of Battle of Poltava was restored to residents, visitors and tourists are able to see the monument in all its glory.

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