Founders of the first major industry in Kazan.

The Crusaders are a Russian merchant dynasty from which came businessmen and public figures, large philanthropists.

The founder of a dynasty of merchants of the 1st guild Kozma Vasilyevich Krestovnikov moved to Moscow from Pereslavl-Zalessky. His younger sons Alexander and twins Xenophon and Constantine in 1826 transferred to the 1st Moscow guild, in 1832 received hereditary honorary citizenship. Founded in 1831, the Fellowship on the faith «Brothers of the Cross», had offices in more than 20 provincial cities.

In 1849 it was transformed into a partnership «A. Krestovnikov with nephews», from 1851 - «Brothers Krestovnikovs», from 1855 - «Brothers Krestovnikovs and Co.», from 1870 - a unit factory-trade association of the Brothers Krestovnikovs.

The largest family enterprise was a stearine and soap factory in Kazan (1855), they also owned a paper-painting factory in Moscow and a weaving and spinning factory in the village Polyana of Moscow County. The company’s products were awarded a large number of awards at various exhibitions, including the Legion of Honour Medal of the World’s Fair of 1889. In 1861 the brothers' company was granted the status of «suppliers of the Court of His Imperial Majesty» with the right to place «on signs and products» the image of the state coat of arms.