The Armory for centuries combined the functions of a workshop and a repository of the Royal Treasury. One of the first references to the Armory dates to late 15th century. For some time (from late 16th century to early 17th century), these functions were separated, and the workshop fell under the authority of the Bronny Order for a short while. The workshop made armor, cold steel and firearms for the Russian Sovereign and his Court. With the relocation of the Courtyard to the new capital at early 18th century, the importance of the Armory as a workshop diminishes.