Compiled by Staff Captain Azanchevsky 1st of the Life Guards Preobrazhensky Regiment. Moscow, in the printing house of Katkov and Co., 1859. , XXII, 232 pp. + “Appendices to the History of the Preobrazhensky Regiment.” Moscow, in the printing house of Katkov and Co., 1859, 142 pp. + color folding lithographed map 60x53 cm. In a dark green grand ducal Marrocaine binding of the era with gold embossing on the covers and spine. Triple gold edge. Matte moire endpapers with streaks. A copy on thick vellum paper of His Imperial Highness the Sovereign Heir Tsarevich Alexander Alexandrovich Romanov, the future Emperor Alexandra III(1845-1894), donated by him to the library of the First Pavlovsk Military School on February 4, 1866. There is a corresponding entry on this matter on a separate sheet. Interestingly, in the same year, the Tsarevich married the daughter of the Danish king Christian IX, Princess Dagmara, who became Maria Fedorovna in Orthodoxy. From birth, Alexander Alexandrovich was enrolled in the Life Guards Preobrazhensky Regiment. In the summer of 1865 he commanded the 1st battalion, and in the summer of 1866 he commanded the entire Preobrazhensky regiment during maneuvers, that is, it was his regiment, and it is no coincidence that he gave this book to the Pavlovsk cadets. Binding format: 25x17 cm. The first book on the history of the Life Guards Preobrazhensky Regiment, the most legendary regiment in Russia!

Bibliographical sources:

1. Grigorovich A. List of stories and memos of military units. Part I. 2nd edition, supplemented. St. Petersburg, 1913, p. 1.

2. Lyons M. The Russian Imperial Army. A Bibliography of Regimental Histories and Related Works. Stanford, 1968, no. 20.

3. International book. Antique catalog No. 22. Warfare. Army&Navy. Moscow, 1933, No. 4.

4. International book. Antique catalog No. 50. Military history. History of the Russian Army. Moscow, 1934, No. 4 - two magnificent grand ducal specimens!

5. International book. Antique catalog No. 77. Military history. History of the Russian Army. Moscow, 1935, No. 6.

Life Guards Preobrazhensky Regiment of His Majesty. Chronicle of the regiment:

Seniority - 05/23/1683. Regimental holiday - August 6, on the Transfiguration of the Lord.

Deployment - St. Petersburg: 1st battalion - near the Winter Palace, on the corner of Millionnaya Street and Winter Canal, the rest of the battalions - on Kirochnaya Street (now Saltykova-Shchedrin).

The regiment was staffed by tall blond men, and the 3rd and 5th companies wore beards.

1683 - an amusing regiment was formed in the village of Preobrazhenskoye.

04/25/1695 - Preobrazhensky elected amusement regiment.

1698 - assigned to 4 battalions with bombardier and grenadier companies.

06.1700 - Life Guards Preobrazhensky Regiment.

03.1703 - when the regiment advanced to the Nyenshantsu fortress, the regimental ranks, who turned out to be incapable of combat service, were left in Moscow and from them the Life Guards of the Preobrazhensky Regiment was formed, the Moscow Retired Company.

01/24/1722 - according to the Table of Ranks, the headquarters and chief officers of the regiment were granted seniority of two ranks compared to the army.

03/19/1726 - The Moscow retired company was expelled from the regiment and turned to form the battalion's Life Guards.

11/11/1727 - the Life Guards battalion was named the Moscow Life Guards Battalion.

11/26/1741 - the grenadier company, by order of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, was expelled from the regiment and named the Life Company, and a new company was formed in its place.

03/13/1762 - the bombardment company was assigned to form a special Bombardier battalion.

07/5/1762 - the order to form a special Bombardier battalion was canceled.

02/26/1763 - The Moscow Life Guards battalion was abolished; in its place, a disabled team was established in the city of Murom, called the Murom Life Guards.

1770 - a huntsman team of 93 people was established at the regiment.

1775 - another grenadier company was added to the regiment.

11/9/1796 - battalions No. 1 and 4 were added to the regiment from His Majesty’s own Gatchina troops (also called the Pavlovsk garrison), and then the regiment was brought into the 3 grenadier companies and 3 battalions. The Bombardier Company was separated to form the Life Guards Artillery Battalion; battalions and companies were ordered to be named after their chief and commanders: 1st battalion - His Majesty, 2nd - Lieutenant General Tatishchev, 3rd - Field Marshal General Count Suvorov and Consolidated Grenadier - Major General Arakcheev.

04/15/1797 - the regiment was reinforced by another battalion of 5 musketeer companies and one grenadier company, which with the first three became part of the Consolidated Grenadier Battalion.

12/3/1797 - The 1st battalion was transformed into a grenadier battalion, and the Combined Grenadier battalion was abolished.

03/17/1800-03/14/1801 - Life Guards of His Imperial Majesty Regiment. The third battalion was abolished, and instead of it, two grenadier wing companies were formed to join the remaining 20 companies, which were not included in the battalions.

04/15/1800 - the regiment was reinforced with another battalion of 5 musketeer companies and one grenadier company, which, with the previous 3, became part of the Consolidated Grenadier Battalion.

03/14/1801 - still named Preobrazhensky Life Guards; The wing companies were disbanded and then 4 grenadier battalions were formed.

02/22/1811 - the first companies of the battalions retained the name grenadier, and the rest were renamed fuseler; battalions and companies are named by numbers.

11/7/1811 - the 2nd battalion was assigned to form the Life Guards of the Lithuanian Regiment and then the regiment was reorganized into 3 battalions.

03/28/1811 - the Murom Life Guards team was abolished.

01/25/1842 - to form reserve troops, the 4th battalion was formed from lower ranks on indefinite leave.

03/10/1854 - The 4th battalion was transferred to the 4th active, and the 5th or reserve battalion was formed for the regiment.

08/20/1854 - the 5th reserve battalion was renamed into a reserve battalion and the 6th reserve battalion was formed.

09/17/1854 - the 4th, 5th and 6th battalions became part of the Life Guards Preobrazhensky Reserve Regiment.

02/09/1856 - rifle companies were formed from the best shooters for each battalion of the regiment.

08/06/1856 - the regiment was included in 3 active battalions, with 3 rifle companies.

08/19/1857 - the 3rd battalion was ordered to be called reserve and Peaceful time dissolve.

04/30/1863 - the 3rd battalion was formed and called active.

01/01/1876 - the regiment was reorganized into 4 battalions, each of 3 companies, and the first 3 battalions were from line ones, and the 4th from rifle companies (for which one new company was formed).

08/28/1877 - on the occasion of the march of the 4 battalions of the regiment, a 4-company reserve battalion was formed.

09/08/1878 - the 4-company reserve battalion was disbanded.

06/15/1906 - The 1st battalion was renamed Special Infantry and deprived of guard rights.

08/20/1906 - a new 1st battalion was formed (from St. George Knights and distinguished ranks - participants Russo-Japanese War 1904-05)

07/18/1914 - during mobilization, a reserve battalion was formed.

03/04/1917 - Life Guards Preobrazhensky Regiment.

05/09/1917 - the reserve battalion was deployed in the Life Guards Preobrazhensky Reserve Regiment (order for the Petrograd Military District No. 262 of 1917

12/2/1917 - regiment commander, Colonel A.P. Kutepov gave the order to disband the regiment.

05/20/1918 - the active and reserve regiments were disbanded (order of the Commissariat for Military Affairs of the Petrograd Labor Commune No. 96 of 05/24/1918).

1918 - revived in the Volunteer Army.

1919 - in the summer he had one company in the 1st Consolidated Guards Regiment. Another company of the regiment was part of the Consolidated Guards Battalion (Volkov).

10/12/11/6/1919 - a battalion (3 companies) was formed under the command of Colonel S.M. Leonova in Consolidated Regiment 1st Guards Infantry Division (Volkov).

11/19/1919 - the battalion was reduced to one company of 30-40 bayonets (Volkov).

12/3/1919 - the company was abolished (Volkov).

01.1920 - another Preobrazhensk company arrived at the front, surviving until the internment of parts of the regiment in Poland. Company commanders: Captain A.L. Benoit (killed on September 25, 1919), captain Evreinov, lieutenant Andryushchenko, captain Lvov, captain Baron Rosen (data from Volkov).

08.1920 - formed a company in the 1st battalion of the Consolidated Guards Infantry Regiment (Volkov).

1918 - in the summer, a group of regiment officers gathered in Kyiv, which laid the foundation for the “Union of Preobrazhentsev” and drafted its charter (Volkov).

1920-09.1921 - the regimental association in exile “Union of Preobrazhentsev” was located in Paris and numbered 182 full and honorary members in the 1930s. By 1930, more than 120 people who had ever served in the regiment were living in exile. Honorary Chairman - Prince A.P. Oldenburgsky (08/06/1921-09/06/1932) Chairmen: Lieutenant General A.A. Gulevich, chamberlain A.F. Girs, captain V.N. Timchenko-Ruban; Deputy Chairman - Colonel V.V. Svechin; secretaries: Prince N.A. Obolensky, Lieutenant Count D.S. Tatishchev; representatives in Yugoslavia - Colonel V.A. Storozhenko and captain B.A. Perrin, in the USA - Colonel P.N. Malevsky-Malevich. In 1939, the association consisted of 130 people (including 40 in France, 40 in Paris), in 1949 - 51 (18 in Paris and 8 in the USA), in 1951 - 47 people and 10 honorary members, in 1958 - 36 (13 in Paris). In 1938, the association also consisted of 4 competing members. 01.1936-04.1939 published the magazine "Preobrazhenskaya Chronicle" (9 issues were published, editor - Colonel V.V. Svechin), and then - until 11.1959 - "Notification of the Communication Service of the Preobrazhentsev Union" (4 issues were published, editor - Lieutenant Count D.S. Tatishchev ).

From left to right: Guards infantry (1797-1798);
Guards Infantry (1799-1801);
Gatchina troops (late 18th century)

In the foreground in the middle is General F.P. Uvarov is the commander of the cavalry corps, who led the cavalry raid into the rear of the left flank of the French position. He is dressed in the uniform of the Cavalry Regiment with orders, epaulettes and aiguillettes, and traveling leggings with buttons from hip to bottom. Behind him is the commander of the Guards Cossacks, gr. V.V. Orlov-Denisov and Guards Ulan A.S. Chalikov. Next are the adjutants and guards Cossacks. To the right are hussars and Cossacks in battle with French infantry.

The main plot point of a large canvas made in 1843 by the artist P. Hess. Having received an order from Nicholas I for a series of battle paintings about the events of 1812. Hess traveled to all the battle sites he was to depict and made careful sketches. Living in Russia, he communicated with many participants in the war, used their testimonies, and got acquainted with documents from the archives. Therefore, his paintings are reliable. On this fragment The painting shows the first minutes after General P.I. Bagration, the commander of the left flank of the Russian position, was seriously wounded. Sitting on the ground, the hero gives his final orders. To his left is depicted General P. P. Konovnitsyn on a white horse, who replaced Bagration. To the right of the wounded man, wearing a hat and with an aiguette on his right shoulder, his chief of staff, General Count E. F. Saint-Prix, points to the army chief surgeon J. V. Willie, who is running up (he is visible in profile). Behind him, half-turned, Quartermaster General K.F. Tol sits on his horse. To the left, behind the half-broken cannonball hut, is part of the square of the Izmailovsky Guards Regiment, repelling the attacks of the French cavalry. To the right of the hut one can see rows of Russian cuirassiers rushing into a counterattack.

The central place is occupied by the figure of General P. X. Wittgenstein on a horse, in an overcoat and a cap with headphones. To the left of the ranger, the team of a young officer rushes to the crossing. Many of them have ears protected from frost, only one has a sheepskin coat visible under his overcoat. The rangers go around an abandoned truck, the inscription on which says that it belonged to a regiment of foot riflemen of Napoleon's Guard. In the depths, behind the figure of Wittgenstein, a horse battery fires at the fleeing French. In the foreground are the French, freezing by the fire, and the riders of the Asian irregular cavalry. On the left, in the foreground, in the snow, there is a symbolic detail - a case with a map of Russia, printed in Paris by self-confident conquerors and thrown during their flight among the valuables looted in Russia.

At the very end of the 17th century. Peter I decided to reorganize the Russian army according to the European model. The basis for the future army was the Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky regiments, which already in August 1700 formed the Tsar's Guard.
A uniform soldiers (fusiliers) of the Life Guards Regiment consisted of a caftan, camisole, trousers, stockings, shoes, tie, hat and cap.

The caftan (see image below) was made of dark green cloth, knee-length, instead of a collar it had cloth trim of the same color. The sleeves did not reach the hands; shirt ruffles were visible from underneath them.

The cuffs are split, made of red cloth. Four loops were cut along their upper edge, fastened with copper buttons.
There were slits on the back and sides, from the waist to the hem. At the same time, buttonholes were sewn on the sides of the dorsal incision for decoration - three, four, and sometimes the entire length of the floors.
In front, below the waist, there were pockets with five-pointed serrated flaps, which were fastened with four buttons.

12-16 (depending on the soldier’s height) copper, inflated buttons were sewn along the side. The red cord on the left shoulder - a prototype of the shoulder strap - served to secure the belt of the cartridge bag.
The lining of the caftan and the edge of the loops were red.
The camisole (see image below) was worn under the caftan and was of the same cut as the caftan, but shorter and narrower, without cuffs.

The pants are knee-length, with copper buttons on the side seams. Until 1720, the camisole, trousers and stockings were dark green or, less commonly, red.
The shoes were blunt-toed, greased (i.e., lubricated with tar), fastened with a copper buckle covered with a flap on top. On campaigns, privates could wear boots with small flares.
The hat is black, wool, with a round crown. The brim of the hat was trimmed with white braid and turned up, initially on one side, later on three, forming a cocked hat. A camisole button was sewn on the left side.
The tie was made of black material and tied with a bow.
Epancha (see image above) was worn in cold, stormy weather. It was made of dark green cloth with a lining of the same color. It was fastened at the neck with a brass hook and loop.

The epancha had two collars: the upper one was a narrow turn-down collar and the lower one was wide.
The length reached the knees.
The soldiers wore their hair long, shoulder-length, combed in the middle. Beards were shaved, leaving only combed-up mustaches.
A uniform non-commissioned officers - corporals, ensigns, captains, fouriers and sergeants - were distinguished from the soldiers by a narrow gold braid sewn along the edge of the brim of the hat and on the cuffs of caftans (see image above).
Officers of the Life Guards Preobrazhensky Regiment wore uniform, almost identical to the uniform of privates (see image below).

As a rule, when sewing an officer's uniform uniforms and ammunition, fabrics and leather were used more High Quality than the rank and file. In addition, gold braid was sewn along the side, the edges of the cuffs and pocket flaps of the caftan and camisole, along the side seam of the pants and the edge of the hat brim.
The hat was decorated with a plume of white and red feathers.
The buttons of the uniform were gilded, and the caftan had a dark green lining.
The officer's tie was made of white linen.
In addition, officers were provided with elk skin gloves.
In ceremonial formation, officers were required to wear big wigs with curls.
Chief officers - ensign, second lieutenant, lieutenant, captain-lieutenant and captain - had silver badges with gilded border. The sign featured a crown and St. Andrew's cross made of blue enamel.
After the battle of Narva, Peter I gave these signs the inscription “1700 19 BUT” and changed their shape and design. They became narrower and longer than before, with a golden cross and laurel branches.
Chief officers' scarves are silk, made of three stripes - white, blue and red, with silver tassels.
Staff officers - major, lieutenant colonel and colonel - had gilded badges, without an inscription, a cross - white enamel. All signs were worn on a blue St. Andrew's ribbon.
The staff officers' scarves had gold tassels, the majors and lieutenant colonels had a white stripe mixed with silver, and the colonels had a red stripe mixed with gold.
Officers' scarves were worn over the right shoulder and tied in a knot at the left side.
The weapons and ammunition of the officers consisted of a sword with a lanyard and a protazan.
The sword was worn on an elk sword belt, edged with gold braid. The chief officers' lanyard was silver, and the staff officers' lanyard was gold.
In the ranks, the officers were armed with a protazan, which was a flat spear with an image of a double-headed eagle on the feather and a crescent-shaped base. The feather ended in a round tube and a metal apple. At the place where the pipe was attached to the shaft there was a brush: for chief officers it was silver, for staff officers it was gold.
The total length of the protazan with the shaft was 261 cm.
Both the officer's protazan and the sergeant's halberd were never used as weapons themselves, being a command signal or a badge of honor.
IN war time first rank of fusiliers - up to a third of total number- transformed into pikemen. The clothing of the pikemen was absolutely the same as that of the fusiliers.
The weapons and ammunition of the pikemen were; a spear with a black shaft (341 cm), a sword and a pistol. The tip of the spear was triangular and often decorated with a gold notch. An ensign was attached to the tip - a flag made of black material, with a golden image of a double-headed eagle and golden dragons. In front, on the belt, the pikemen wore a cartridge cannon.
In addition to the listed ranks, a fusilier company was supposed to have two drummers and one oboist. Their cut and color uniforms, basically, did not differ from the soldier’s, but there were following features musicians' uniforms: along the sides of caftans, camisoles, along the edges of cuffs and pocket flaps, a narrow woolen braid of three stripes was sewn - white, blue and red (see image below).

In addition, the drummers had an overlay of dark green cloth trimmed with three-color braid sewn on their right shoulder, under the drum band.
All musicians were armed with swords. The drum was worn over the right shoulder on an elk sling with an iron hook. The drum was wooden, 41.8 cm high and 44 cm in diameter. The drum body was painted with green paint and painted with patterns. On one side there was a double-headed eagle on a red field, on the other - a hand descending from the clouds with a drawn sword.
In each of the guards regiments, except for the fusilier battalions, there was one grenadier company. A uniform The Guards Grenadiers (see image above) differed from the Fusiliers only in that instead of a three-cornered hat, they wore grenadier caps made of black leather, decorated with an ostrich feather. The shape of this headdress made it possible to throw grenades without touching the wide brim of the cocked hat.

The grenadier's hat consisted of a round leather crown, with a high forehead and back plate. At the back of the crown was attached a copper plaque with the monogram of Peter I, to which was attached an ostrich feather of white and red colors. The forehead was decorated with a copper plaque with an embossed image of a double-headed eagle.
The hat of the Guards Grenadier officers was distinguished by gold embroidery in the form of leaves on the forehead and around the crown and a gilded metal device.
The weapons and ammunition of ordinary grenadiers were distinguished by the fact that the fusée had a shoulder strap threaded through two iron rings attached to the gun stock. When throwing grenades, the fusee was worn behind the back, over the left shoulder.
The sword belt and sword were of the generally accepted type. On the front of the belt was worn a cartridge bottle with 12 charges, with a round badge in the form of a flaming Grenada, with an embossed Royal monogram (see image above). Over the left shoulder on an elk sling is a grenadine bag, decorated at the corners of the lid with flaming grenades (see image above).
Grenadier chief officers had the same insignia - a sword with a lanyard, badge and scarf - as the fusiliers. The lyadunka was worn not on the belt, but over the right shoulder, and instead of the protazan they were armed with a light fusee with a bayonet and a shoulder strap with gold braid.
In a grenadier company I am supposed to have two drummers and one flutist.
Before 1720 cut uniforms, the weapons and ammunition of the Life Guards of the Preobrazhensky and Life Guards of the Semenovsky regiments were the same. The only difference was the color of the caftans - dark green in the Preobrazhensky Regiment and light blue (light blue) in the Semenovsky Regiment.

Dragoons

Peter I, forming the regular cavalry, established for it clothing common to almost all the troops of northern and western Europe.
The uniform, equipment and weapons of the dragoon prince of the Meshchersky regiment were made on a living thread, since all this could be supplemented and improved under the personal supervision of Field Marshal Sheremetev, upon the arrival of the regiment in Pskov, in the spring of 1701; but at the end of the same year, presumably, the prince’s dragoons. Meshchersky were already uniformed, equipped and armed, as they had participated in the Battle of Erestfera.
Dragoon Regiment Prince Meshchersky was dressed in a dark green cloth, infantry type, single-breasted caftan, fastened only at the waist, or with all the buttons, depending on the time of year, and under it an elk camisole, reminiscent in cut of the current Caucasian beshmet. Instead of a collar, the caftan had a narrow red trim, and of the same color were the lining on the caftan, edgings, trims at the loops and wide split cuffs, from under which the shirt cuffs were visible; around his neck is a black tie tied with a wide bow. Moose trousers and boots with bells (similar to modern jackboots), to which iron yellow color spurs were used only in formation; in home life, the dragoon's shoes consisted of green stockings and black blunt-toed shoes, fastened in front with a buckle that was closed with a leather flap. The headdress consisted of a small triangular hat, trimmed along the edges with white braid; from under this hat strands fell on the shoulders long hair. The dragoon's outerwear was a cape made of dark green cloth with karaz lining, fastened with a copper hook and had a narrow turn-down collar with a small hood. The epancha only reached to the knees and was so narrow that it served only as weak protection from rain and cold.<…>
The dragoon's armament was very diverse. In the regiment, at the same time, there were: sabers, swords, broadswords, baguettes, spears, fuses, carbines and pistols.

Over the caftan, two wide elk slings were put on the dragoon crosswise, of which a frog hung on one, and a gun was attached to the other. The bladed weapon hung on a belt belt, and under the saddle, in an open pig, a pistol was placed.
Saddle bags were attached to the rear pommel of a bulky German saddle, and an ax, a pick or a shovel, one of three, was attached to the side - an originality of that time.
Non-commissioned officer of the regiment Prince. Meshchersky was no different from a dragoon; The officer stood out with gilded buttons, a narrow gold braid that turned off the edges of his sword belt, and copper spurs. In addition, the officer was entitled to cutting gloves with bells.

According to the new rules issued by the Military College on February 9, 1720, a change followed in the cut of dragoon clothing: small turn-down cloth collars were given to caftans; Pocket flaps, instead of serrated ones with five buttons, were supposed to be cut at an angle with three buttons. The color of the caftans was also changed, and the dragoons were ordered to construct them from cornflower blue cloth; the collar, cuffs, loop edges and hems began to be made of white cloth. Other uniforms remained unchanged, except for the epancha, which began to be sewn from red cloth, with a hanging collar of the same color, on a blue karazan lining. Non-commissioned officers began to be distinguished from the lower ranks by yellow braid on their hats and caftan cuffs; officers with the same braid, made of gold braid. The grenadier dragoon differed from the fusilier dragoon only in that a grenadine bag with a wick tube was put on his side. The same time can be attributed to and introduced into the dragoon regiments a cap, consisting of a carapace crown, almost cylindrical in appearance, somewhat narrowed at the top, and from a carat, or flannelette, edge sewn to the crown so that it could be lowered down at will or lift to the top. In the first case, it completely covered the ears, part of the cheeks and the back of the dragoon’s head. To the front side of the crown, above the face, was sewn a triangular piece of the same color and material with an edge that looked like a visor turned up. At the end of the reign of Peter the Great, wigs were often worn on ceremonial occasions, but without powder.

Dragoon Regiment Prince. N.F. Meshchersky, book G.I.Volkonsky and Yaroslavsky (1701-1720)

The first cavalry guards

Peter, who did not like luxury, this time retreated from his habits: preparations for the coronation began long ago, and the Emperor spared no expense to give the imperial coronation, which was established for the first time in Russia, extraordinary splendor. The first Imperial coronation was supposed to not only prove to the whole world that Peter considered his right to the Imperial title unquestionable, but also to personally demonstrate the full power of the new Empire
Among Peter’s concerns to furnish the upcoming coronation with possible splendor should be the establishment of “drabants” or “cavalry guards”.<…>
On March 31, 1724, Mr. Major General Lefort appeared at the State Collegium and announced that yesterday he was with His Imperial Majesty in a house in the former Golovinsky courtyard, where His Imperial Majesty deigned to order him to choose from those in Moscow from the army and from the military The officers who are now in Moscow are 60 people, and whoever has command over them will henceforth be sent a decree to the Military Collegium of His Imperial Majesty.”
Exactly two weeks later, the “drabants” were recruited: on April 14, “there was a review of officers from the captain to the ensign of the army and garrison regiments, from which 60 people were selected for the drabants.”
On the same day, Tolstoy notified the Military Collegium with a “promemory”: “By His Imperial Majesty’s decree, 6 kaftans, 6 kaftans, and 6 red overlaid kaftans with coats of arms on both sides and trousers have been prepared for 6 people, and it is required that the drabant dress to the Military Collegium to accept and order certain drabants to be put on and tried on, and if any of them are short or narrow, and these drabants would announce this, and it would be corrected. And the State Military Collegium will do this according to His Imperial Majesty’s decree.”<…>
There were 71 total cavalry guards: 4 officers, 6 complete cavalry guards, 4 reserves, 1 timpani player and 2 trumpeters; the last three are from the lower ranks.
Contemporaries, describing the “cavalry guard,” agree that “the tallest and most prominent people from the entire army were chosen to join the cavalry guard.”
Their uniforms, made under the supervision of the Supreme Marshal of the Coronation, Tolstoy, amazed everyone with their beauty and wealth.
The supply of horses to the “cavalry guard” was carried out through requisition: on April 21 and 22, the entire Moscow merchant class, Russian and foreign, was requested from Prince Menshikov; the beautiful and tall ones on horseback and in harness were assigned to drabants.<…>The color of the horses was black.
On May 4, the Imperial family moved from Golovinsky to the Kremlin Palace. On May 5, a “publication” was made about the coronation, scheduled for Thursday, May 7.
On the eve of the coronation day, an all-night vigil was held in all Moscow churches.
On the morning of May 7, “both guards of His Imperial Majesty and other battalions came to the Kremlin and were stationed on Ivanovskaya Square... And from the very Imperial apartments, both above and along the large porch, called Red, and along the bridge, which from that porch to the church the cathedral was made, grenadiers from the guard were placed on both sides,” i.e. grenadier companies of the Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky regiments.<…>

At 10 o'clock the procession to the cathedral began. It was opened by “half of the Imperial cavalry guard with their officers in front.” Probably the cavalry guards marched 3 in a row, with carbines on their left shoulders. They were followed by pages, deputies from the provinces, generals, and then carried regalia (mantle, scepter, orb and crown). Behind the regalia, with the Supreme Marshal in front of him, the Emperor walked with his two assistants, princes Menshikov and Repnin. Peter was “in a summer caftan, heavenly
blue color, richly embroidered in silver, wearing red silk stockings and a hat with a white feather.” The caftan was embroidered by Catherine’s “hands”. The Emperor was followed by Catherine “in the richest robe,” made in the Spanish style and in a headdress sprinkled with precious stones and pearls. Her dress was made of purple material with rich and magnificent embroidery. The Empress was led by the Duke of Holstein; supported by her assistants, Counts Apraksin and Golovkin; the train of the robe was carried by five ladies of “first rank”. The Empress was followed by ladies-in-waiting and court ladies, and “then came colonels, officers and other national gentry, who were identified in this ceremony.”
The procession was closed by “the other half of the Imperial Cavalry Company.”
Met by the clergy on the locker of the Assumption Cathedral, the Emperor and Empress, preceded by him and singing Psalm 100, “I will sing mercy and judgment to Thee, O Lord,” headed to the “throne” built in the middle of the cathedral. “Waiting for Their Imperial Majesties to ascend the throne, Mr. Lieutenant General Yaguzhinsky, as the captain of the Imperial Cavalry Guard, as well as Mr. Major Dmitriev-Mamonov, lieutenant of the same cavalry guard, stood on both sides of the entrance of a larger attack on the throne to protect it; the other two gentlemen commanding officers of that cavalry guard, Brigadier Leontiev and Colonel Meshchersky, stood on both sides of the middle attack, between ascending to the throne, all four with the staffs of their command in their hands.”
This is how the first appearance of cavalry guards in Russia is described...

The Guard at all times in all countries was considered the most powerful and most reliable military force. As a rule, military units that particularly distinguished themselves in battles and demonstrated their combat capabilities beyond the general range were promoted to the Guards, although in Russian Empire Units that were especially favored by the rulers could also become guards. In any case, military personnel of the tallest stature, physically strong and courageous were selected for the guard. Service in the guard was considered very honorable and profitable, since the guards usually guarded the emperor, had access to the palace, and could quickly make a career. In addition, the guards salary was much higher than the army one, and ranks had priority over the army ones by 2 levels (for example, a guard second lieutenant could enter the army with the rank of staff captain).
In 1812, the Russian Guard had 6 infantry and 6 cavalry regiments. After the end of the Patriotic War, during foreign campaigns, 2 more infantry regiments and 1 cavalry regiment were assigned to the guard for military merits.

The Guards Infantry of the Russian Empire consisted of 4 heavy and 2 light regiments. The heavy guards infantry included the Preobrazhensky Life Guards, Semenovsky Life Guards, Izmailovsky Life Guards and Lithuanian Life Guards regiments. The light infantry of the guard consisted of the Life Guards Jaeger and Life Guards Finnish regiments. In 1813, for military merits, the Life Grenadier and Pavlovsk Grenadier regiments were assigned to the guard.

LIFE GUARDS PREOBRAZHENSKY REGIMENT
Life Guards Preobrazhensky Regiment, one of the first two regiments of the Russian Guard (the second was Semenovsky), was formed in the 90s of the 17th century from the amusing troops of Peter I. It first distinguished itself in battle in 1700 near Narva, where, together with the Semenovsky regiment stopped the advance of the Swedish army, covering the escape of the defeated Russian troops. Both regiments in that battle retreated with honor through the parting ranks of the Swedish infantry, admiring the heroism of the Russian guards. Subsequently, the Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky regiments played an important role in the history of the Russian state, being the armed force that supported (and often actually put on the throne) the rulers in the troubled era of palace coups.
In 1812, the Preobrazhensky Guards Regiment took part in the war against Napoleon. At this time, three battalions of the regiment were in the 1st Western Army, commanded by Infantry General M.B. Barclay de Tolly. The regiment commander was Major General G.V. Rosen; The regiment was part of the 5th Corps of the Guards Infantry Division. On August 26, 1812, the regiment took part in the Battle of Borodino.
On August 26, 1813, the Life Guards Preobrazhensky Regiment was awarded St. George's Banners with the inscription "For the feats performed in the battle of August 18, 1813 at Kulm." Kulm (modern Chlumec) is a village in the Czech Republic, where a battle took place between the allied army (Russian, Prussian and Austrian troops) and the French corps of Lieutenant General Vandamm. At Kulma, the French lost up to ten thousand killed and wounded, 12 thousand prisoners, 84 guns, and the entire convoy. The general himself was captured. Allied losses amounted to about ten thousand people. The victory at Kulm inspired the soldiers allied armies, strengthened the anti-Napoleonic coalition and forced Napoleon to retreat to Leipzig, where the French suffered a crushing defeat.

REGULATION FORM:
The uniforms for the guards were made from the best cloth; they were distinguished by their elegance and fine detailing. In 1812, the Preobrazhensky Regiment was the first in the Russian army to receive a new uniform: a dark green double-breasted uniform with red trim, a collar with hooks, a shako lower than before, with a large “camber” (widened at the top). Belonging to the guard was determined by the emblems on the shakos - gilded double-headed eagles, as well as gold embroidery on the collars and cuff flaps. In the Preobrazhensky Regiment this sewing consisted of: among the officers, oak and bay leaves, the soldiers have double “coils”. Officer breastplates in the guard had special shape: were wider and more convex than those of army officers.

LIFE GUARDS SEMENOVSKY REGIMENT
Life Guards Semenovsky regiment, together with Preobrazhensky, was one of the first regiments of the Russian guard; it was formed in the 90s of the 17th century from the amusing troops of Peter I. Together with the Preobrazhensky regiments, the Semenovsky first distinguished themselves in battle in 1700 near Narva, where they stopped the offensive Swedish army. During the era of palace coups, the Semenovsky and Preobrazhensky regiments played an important role in enthroning the rulers of Russia.
In 1812, three battalions of the Semenovsky Life Guards Regiment were in the 1st Western Army, in the 5th Corps of the Guards Infantry Division (together with the Preobrazhensky Regiment); As part of this division, the Semenovites took part in the Battle of Borodino. The regiment commander was K. A. Kridener. Possessing exceptional courage, he enjoyed the love and respect of the soldiers. The list of regiment personnel was decorated with the names of P. Ya. Chaadaev, who was promoted to ensign for distinction under Borodin, I. D. Yakushkin and M. I. Muravyov-Apostol, who were with the battalion banner.
On August 26, 1813, the Semenovsky Life Guards Regiment was awarded the St. George Banners with the inscription “For the feats performed in the battle of August 18, 1813 at Kulm.”

REGULATION FORM:
With a common guards uniform (shako with double-headed eagles and a dark green double-breasted uniform with red shoulder straps), the Semenovsky regiment had light blue collars with red piping and buttonholes made of yellow braid. For the soldiers, these were the same double “coils” as in the Preobrazhensky Regiment, and for the officers, the sewing was elongated patterned buttonholes, bordered with a twisted ornament.

LIFE GUARDS IZMAILOVSKY REGIMENT
The Izmailovsky Guards Regiment was formed in 1730. During the Patriotic War of 1812 he served in the 1st Western Army, 5th Corps in the Guards Infantry Division. The regiment commander was Colonel M.E. Khrapovitsky. Under Borodin, the Izmailovites covered themselves with unfading glory. Infantry General D.S. Dokhturov reported to M.I. Kutuzov about their feat: “I cannot help but speak with satisfied praise about the exemplary fearlessness shown on this day by the Izmailovsky and Litovsky Life Guards regiments. Arriving on the left flank, they unwaveringly withstood the strongest fire from enemy artillery; the ranks showered with grapeshot, despite the loss, arrived in the best order, and all ranks from the first to the last, one in front of the other, showed their eagerness to die before yielding to the enemy...” The Life Guards Izmailovsky, Lithuanian and Finnish regiments were built ena in a square on Semenovsky Heights. For six hours, under continuous enemy artillery fire, they repelled the attacks of the cuirassiers of General Nansouty's corps. Every second guardsman remained on the battlefield, the regiment commander was wounded, but did not leave the battlefield. For participation in the Battle of Borodino, M. E. Khrapovitsky received the rank of major general. As a reward for courage, the Izmailovsky Regiment was awarded St. George's Banners with the inscription "For distinction in the defeat and expulsion of the enemy from Russia in 1812." The Izmailovites also distinguished themselves in the battle of Kulma, for which the regiment was awarded two silver trumpets.

REGULATION FORM:
With the general guards uniform, the lower ranks of the Izmailovsky regiment had dark green collars with red piping and buttonholes in the form of double “spools” of yellow braid. The officers had dark green collars with red piping and gold embroidery (the most elaborate among all the Guards regiments).

LITHUANIAN LIFE GUARDS REGIMENT
The Life Guards Lithuanian Regiment was formed in November 1811. The regiment was commanded by Colonel I.F. Udom. During World War II, the regiment was in the 1st Western Army, in the 5th Corps of the Guards Infantry Division. The regiment took part in the battle of Vitebsk, but the Lithuanians received their real baptism of fire on the Borodino field. The regiment commander reported: “While destroying our ranks, enemy fire did not create any disorder in them. The ranks closed and were counted with such composure, as if they were outside the shots.” In this battle, the Lithuanians lost 37 officers and 1040 lower ranks; after the battle, 9 officers and 699 lower ranks remained. Commander I.F. Udom was wounded. For the distinction rendered in the battle he was promoted to major general.
The Lithuanian regiment also took part in the battle for Maloyaroslavets. Eight, and according to some reports, twelve times the city changed hands and was completely destroyed, but the Russian army cut off Napoleon’s path to the southern provinces and thus doomed the French to retreat along the Smolensk road. The regiment also took part in foreign campaigns. In 1813, he was awarded the St. George Banners with the inscription “For distinction in the defeat and expulsion of the enemy from Russia in 1812.”

REGULATION FORM:
With a common guards uniform (shako with a double-headed eagle and a dark green double-breasted uniform with red shoulder straps), the regiment had a red collar with yellow buttonholes, and the uniform had red Uhlan-type lapels. Officers' buttonholes were embroidered with gilded thread, soldiers' buttonholes were made of yellow braid. The buttonholes of the Lithuanian regiment shown here were also typical for all other guards regiments, except those described above.

LIFE GUARDS JAGER REGIMENT
The Jaeger regiments were staffed by hunters who were distinguished by accurate shooting, and often operated independently of the closed formation in places “the most convenient and advantageous, in forests, villages, and on the passes.” The rangers were charged with the duty of “lying quietly in ambushes and maintaining silence, always having foot patrols in front of them, in front and on the sides.” Chasseur regiments also served to support the actions of light cavalry.
In 1812, the Life Guards Jaeger Regiment was part of the 1st Western Army, in the Guards Infantry Division. The regiment commander was Colonel K.I. Bistrom. On the Borodino field, Delzon's division acted against the life rangers. In this battle, even the clerks grabbed the guns of their killed comrades and went into battle. The battle tore 27 officers and 693 lower ranks from the ranks of the regiment. The commander of the 2nd battalion, B. Richter, received the Order of St. for his courage. George 4th grade.
In the battle of Krasnoye, the life rangers captured 31 officers, 700 lower ranks, captured two banners and nine cannons. While pursuing the enemy, they captured another 15 officers, 100 lower ranks and three cannons. For this operation, K. J. Bistrom received the Order of St. George 4th grade.
The regiment had military awards: silver trumpets with the inscription “For distinction rendered in the battle of Kulm on August 18, 1813”, St. George banners with the inscription “For distinction in the defeat and expulsion of the enemy from the borders of Russia in 1812.” In addition, he was awarded the “Jäger March” on the horns.

REGULATION FORM:
With the general Jaeger uniform of the Life Guards, the Jaeger Regiment had officer sewing in the form of straight buttonholes, piping and shoulder straps of orange color. The huntsmen were armed with somewhat shortened guns with bayonets and fittings with daggers, which were reserved for the best shooters.

LIFE GUARDS FINNISH REGIMENT
In 1806, in Strelna, a battalion of the Imperial Militia was formed from servants and craftsmen of country palace estates, consisting of five companies of infantry and half a company of artillery. In 1808 it was named a battalion of the Finnish Guard, and in 1811 it was reorganized into a regiment. In 1812, the Life Guards Finnish Regiment was part of the 1st Western Army, 5th Corps of the Guards Infantry Division. The regiment commander was Colonel M.K. Kryzhanovsky. The regiment took part in the battles of Borodino, Tarutin, Maloyaroslavets, Knyazh, and Krasny.
For military actions in 1812-1814, the Finnish Life Guards Regiment was awarded St. George's Banners with the inscription "For distinction in the defeat and expulsion of the enemy from Russia in 1812." and silver trumpets with the inscription "In reward for excellent gallantry and courage shown in the battle of Leipzig on October 4, 1813."

REGULATION FORM:
With the general Jaeger uniform of the Life Guards, the Finnish Regiment had officer embroidery in the form of straight buttonholes, piping and shoulder straps in red. A special feature of this regiment was the presence on the uniform of lapels modeled after the Uhlan lapels, which had a dark green color and red piping.

REGIMENTS AWARDED THE GUARDS TITLE FOR DISTINCTIONS IN THE PATRIOTIC WAR OF 1812

LIFE GRENADIER REGIMENT
In 1756, the 1st Grenadier Regiment was formed in Riga. The title of Life Grenadier was awarded to him in 1775 for the differences shown in actions against the Turks; in addition, the regiment had two silver trumpets for the capture of Berlin in 1760.
During the Patriotic War, two active battalions of the regiment were in the 1st Western Army, 3rd Corps of Lieutenant General N.A. Tuchkov, in the 1st Grenadier Division; reserve battalion - in the corps of Lieutenant General P. X. Wittgenstein. The regiment was commanded by Colonel P.F. Zheltukhin. In August 1812, the regiment took part in the battle of Lubin. This was one of Napoleon’s attempts to draw the Russian army into a general battle in an unfavorable situation for it. The attempt ended unsuccessfully. Of the 30 thousand people of the French army who took part in the battle, about 8800 were killed and wounded; the Russian troops, out of 17 thousand people, lost about five thousand.
In the Battle of Borodino, both battalions of the regiment were on the extreme left flank, near the village of Utitsa, and repelled all attacks by Poniatovsky’s corps. In this battle N.A. Tuchkov was mortally wounded. Then the regiment took part in the battles of Tarutino, Maloyaroslavets and Krasny. The 2nd battalion fought at Yakubov, Klyastitsy, near Polotsk, at Chashniki, and on the Berezina. For bravery and courage shown in Patriotic War 1812, the regiment was assigned to the guard (as a young guard) and named the Life Guards Grenadier Regiment; he was awarded the St. George Banners with the inscription “For distinction in the defeat and expulsion of the enemy from Russia in 1812.” The regiment also took part in foreign campaigns; in 1814, its 1st and 3rd battalions entered Paris.

REGULATION FORM:
With the general grenadier uniform, the regiment had the letters “L. G.”, on collars and cuff flaps there are buttonholes: for officers - gold embroidery, for lower ranks - from white braid.

PAVLOVSKY GRENADIER REGIMENT
The Pavlovsk regiment had a glorious heroic story and special fighting traditions. The regiment distinguished itself more than once in the battles of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, and established itself as a heroic combat unit. In 1812, two active battalions of the Pavlovsk regiment were in the 1st Western Army, the 3rd Corps of Lieutenant General N.A. Tuchkov, in the 1st Grenadier Division; reserve battalion - in the corps of Lieutenant General P. X. Wittgenstein. In the Battle of Borodino, 345 soldiers and officers of the Pavlovsk regiment were killed by enemy fire, and commander E. Kh. Richter was wounded. Then the regiment took part in the battles of Tarutino, Maloyaroslavets, and Krasnoye. The 2nd battalion especially distinguished itself at Klyastitsy, “passing through a burning bridge under heavy enemy fire” and knocking the French out of the city with bayonets. The regiment fought near Polotsk, Chashniki and Berezina. For his bravery and courage, he was assigned to the guard (as a young guard) and named the Life Guards Pavlovsky Regiment. He was awarded the St. George Banners with the inscription “For distinction in the defeat and expulsion of the enemy from Russia in 1812.” During the campaign abroad, the regiment took part in many battles, and in 1814 it solemnly entered Paris.

REGULATION FORM:
With the general army uniform, the Pavlovsk Grenadier Regiment had a special distinction - outdated headdresses, long ago replaced in other regiments with shakos. These were “mitres” - high hats with a copper forehead, on which a chased double-headed eagle was stamped. These “mitres” were left to the regiment as a reward for the heroism shown near Friedland on January 20, 1808. Moreover, Emperor Alexander 1st ordered to leave the caps in the form in which they acquired in the battle: do not repair the holes from bullets and shrapnel, and on each “peace” to knock out the names of those soldiers who wore these hats in the Battle of Friedland.
IN THE ILLUSTRATION: a non-commissioned officer of the grenadier company of the Pavlovsk regiment in a grenadier miter, a private fusilier company of the Pavlovsk regiment in a fusilier miter