35-789: The Preobrazhensky Life-Guards Regiment ( Russian : Преображенский лейб-гвардии полк , Preobrazhensky leyb-gvardii polk ) was a regiment of the Imperial Guard of the Imperial Russian Army from 1683 to 1917. The Preobrazhensky Regiment was one of the oldest infantry regiments in Imperial Russia, along with the Semyonovsky Regiment . Among the two, the Preobrazhensky Regiment was the first to be formally established by Peter
70-670: A general) became the last commander of the regiment in April 1917; he disbanded the formation in December 1917 in the wake of the October Revolution of November 1917. In 2013 the regiment re-formed within the Russian Armed Forces as the 154th Preobrazhensky Independent Commandant's Regiment . In the 18th and 19th centuries, officers of the Preobrazhensky Regiment were young Russian aristocrats and appointment
105-460: A standardised appearance on parade). The regimental flag was of St. George's colours , with the inscription: "For displayed feats in battle of Kulm 17th of August 1813". (29 August 1813 in the Julian calendar ). This colour was given to the regiment in order to celebrate its action at Kulm, where the outnumbered Preobrazhensky regiment withstood the charge of French troops. Throughout its history
140-511: A warm water port on the Sea of Azov and to test his new army, but it was also in response to the continued Muslim Tatar slave raids into Russian territory from Crimea and the coast of the Black Sea . The king of Poland , Jan Sobieski , also threatened to end his alliance with Peter if Russia did not take action against Turkey. The Azov campaigns of 1695–96 involved the Preobrazhensky Regiment,
175-643: The Fontanka in Saint Petersburg . It served in several campaigns during World War I and was disbanded shortly before the October Revolution in 1917 by its last commander, though it was not officially dissolved until May 1918. The Preobrazhensky Regiment was recreated in 2013 as the 154th Preobrazhensky Independent Commandant's Regiment , the official honor guard regiment of the Russian Armed Forces , stationed in Moscow . The Preobrazhensky Regiment
210-887: The Kingdom of France , the Garde du Corps was established (with reference to the sergents d'armes ) in 1440. It was abolished after the French Revolution , re-established in 1815 after the Bourbon Restoration , and finally dissolved in 1830 after the July Revolution . In addition, Napoleon III set up the Cent-gardes for his own protection. King of Poland Poland was ruled at various times either by dukes and princes (10th to 14th centuries) or by kings (11th to 18th centuries). During
245-668: The Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878. The regiment operated as the body-guard of the Grand Duchess Yekaterina Alekseevna as well as the main supporter of her bloodless 1762 coup against her husband Emperor Peter III ; having become Empress Catherine II ( r. 1762–1796 ) she declared the Preobrazhensky highest in the order of military precedence from 14 July 1762. In spite of its distinguished record, part of one battalion of
280-484: The 15th century, Leibgarde has been the designation for the military security guards who protected Fürsten (royals and nobles) – usually members of the highest nobility who ruled over states of the Holy Roman Empire and later its former territory – from danger. The Leibgarde should not be mixed up with bodyguard ( Leibwächter ), which may refer also to a single private individual. In
315-406: The 18th century was approved for the regiment in 1910. During World War I the Preobrazhensky Regiment retained the distinction of white edgings on the khaki-grey field uniforms adopted in 1909 (see illustration of commanding officer and senior ncos opposite). An unusual feature of the Preobrazhensky Regiment was that it included a small detachment of sailors. Intended to commemorate a period during
350-596: The Commonwealth as the arts and crafts developed, as well as trade and commerce. King Sigismund III Vasa , a talented but somewhat despotic ruler, involved the country in many wars, which subsequently resulted in the successful capture of Moscow and the loss of Livonia to Sweden . His son, Władysław IV Vasa , fiercely defended the Commonwealth's borders and continued the policy of his father until his death, unlike John II Casimir whose tragic rule resulted in his abdication . The election of John III Sobieski to
385-733: The Great from his so-called " toy army " in 1690, and became part of the Western-style regiments in the Russian armed forces. The regiment distinguished itself in battle several times during his reign in the wars against Sweden and the Ottoman Empire . Along with the Semyonovsky Regiment, the Preobrazhensky Regiment formed the 1st Brigade (known as "Peter's Brigade") of the 1st Guards Infantry Division stationed on
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#1732772478937420-742: The March of the Preobrazhensky Life Guards Regiment was entered into the official catalog military music and later became known as the main march of the Russian Empire, being played at parades, other official functions of the Imperial family, and at receptions of foreign ambassadors. After the Russian Revolution it was used as an unofficial Russian anthem by some White émigrés . Before World War I it
455-768: The Polish state. Following the Napoleonic Wars , many sovereigns claimed the title of Polish king, duke or ruler, notably German (the King of Prussia was also the sovereign of the Grand Duchy of Posen 1815-1918), Russian (the Congress Kingdom of Poland was founded in 1815 with the widely unrecognized title of King of Poland to the Emperor of Russia until 1915) and Austrian emperors (the Emperor of Austria
490-513: The Polish throne proved to be beneficial for the Commonwealth. A brilliant military tactician, John III led the coalition forces to victory at Vienna in 1683 and he partially recaptured land from the Ottoman Empire . However, the years that followed were not as successful. The long and ineffective rule of the Wettin dynasty ( Augustus II the Strong and Augustus III ) placed the Commonwealth under
525-487: The Preobrazhensky and other regiments took heavy losses as a result of the battle, without achieving their objectives. However, during the subsequent German counteroffensive against Russian positions, the Preobrazhensky Regiment was one of the few units that put up a fight and remained effective. The Stavka, the Russian high command, reported in the early days of the German counteroffensive: Colonel Alexander Kutepov (later
560-538: The Semyonovsky Regiment and other Western-style units. The first siege of the fortress of Azov failed, but the second attack was a success. Members of the Preobrazhensky Regiment were chosen to serve as marines on the fleet of galleys that Peter had built for the campaign. The Preobrazhensky Regiment distinguished itself during the Great Northern War of 1700–1721, the Patriotic War of 1812 , and
595-525: The Semyonovsky Regiment had about 300 soldiers organized as infantry, cavalry, and artillery, and their organization and training became no different from the regular army (the Streltsy ). They also received Western-style uniforms, which were distinguished by dark green coats for the Preobrazhensky and blue for the Semyonovsky. Peter started himself off at the lowest rank of drummer boy, refusing to take
630-614: The end of the Polish Golden Age . After the death of the last Jagiellonian king, the united Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth became an elective monarchy with mostly foreigners elected as monarchs such as Henry III of France , who witnessed the introduction of the Golden Liberty system and Stephen Báthory , a capable military commander who strengthened the nation. The meaningful rule of the Vasa dynasty initially expanded
665-613: The first king in 1025. The following centuries gave rise to the mighty Piast dynasty , consisting of both kings such as Mieszko II Lambert , Przemysł II or Władysław I the Elbow-high and dukes like Bolesław III Wrymouth . The dynasty's rule over Poland ceased with the death of Casimir III the Great in 1370. In the same year, the Capetian House of Anjou became the ruling house with Louis I as king of both Poland and Hungary . His daughter, Jadwiga , later married Jogaila,
700-511: The government uniforms, banners, and wooden cannons for his toy army, and the cannons were replaced with real ones in June 1683. Eventually the regiment expanded and Preobrazhenskoye turned into a military camp. Because they ran out of room at the original barracks, a second one was established in the village of Semyonovskoye (now in Moscow's Sokolniki District ). Both the Preobrazhensky Regiment and
735-418: The highest rank of colonel, and lived in the same conditions, with the same work load, as the other members of the regiment. He also brought foreign officers to teach the regiments military skills, and the senior ranks of both regiments consisted of foreigners, while the sergeants and enlisted soldiers were Russian. In the 1690s the two regiments had about 600 soldiers between them, making them a small fraction of
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#1732772478937770-558: The influence of Saxony and the Russian Empire . Additional feuds with rebel nobility ( szlachta ) and most notably Stanislaus I Leszczyński and France diminished the influence of Poland–Lithuania in the region, which led to the partitions that occurred under King Stanislaus II Augustus , yet another enlightened , but ineffective monarch. The last true sovereign of Poland was Frederick Augustus I as Duke of Warsaw , who throughout his political career attempted to rehabilitate
805-516: The latter period, a tradition of free election of monarchs made it a uniquely electable position in Europe (16th to 18th centuries). The first Polish ruler whose existence is not debatable was Duke Mieszko I , who adopted Christianity under the authority of Rome in the year 966. He was succeeded by his son, Bolesław I the Brave , who greatly expanded the boundaries of the Polish state and ruled as
840-458: The legendary Polish rulers appear for the first time in chronicles from the 13th century and their existence has not been determined. The three direct predecessors of Mieszko I are known only from the account of Gallus Anonymus , who wrote the oldest Polish chronicle, Gesta principum Polonorum at the beginning of the 12th century. Though their historicity was once debatable, now historians tend to consider them actually existing rulers. See
875-417: The most famous Russian military marches. It was used as an unofficial national anthem in imperial times. The march has been often used in modern Russia, particularly in the annual Victory Day Parade for the trooping the colours and the inspection of troops. The March was used since 1725, and was made in reference to the role of the regiment in the 1709 Battle of Poltava . The composer is not known. In 1816
910-693: The pagan Grand Duke of Lithuania , who in 1386 was baptized and crowned as Władysław II Jagiełło , thus creating the Jagiellonian dynasty and a personal union between Poland and Lithuania . During the reign of Casimir IV Jagiellon and Sigismund I the Old , culture flourished and cities developed. This era of progress, also known as the Polish Renaissance , continued until the Union of Lublin under Sigismund II Augustus , which unofficially marked
945-681: The regiment mutinied in June 1906, at a time of general unrest in the Russian Empire . The mutiny was quickly suppressed and 190 soldiers sentenced to service in disciplinary battalions. When the Kerensky offensive was launched in July 1917, the 1st Guards Corps was part of the reserve of the Russian Eleventh Army , which was tasked with the main assault during the offensive. The corps was ordered to go into battle against Austro-German positions without any artillery attack beforehand, and
980-530: The regiment wore the standard uniform of the Infantry of the Imperial Guard, which from 1683 to 1914 was predominantly of a dark green (eventually verging on black) colour. The main distinctions of the Preobrazhensky Regiment were the red facings ( plastron , collar, cuffs and shoulder straps) edged in white piping . Distinctive regimental patterns of braid ( litzen ) were worn on the tunic collar, plus
1015-515: The reign of Peter the Great when the regiment served on board ship as temporary marines, this unit provided rowers for members of the Imperial Family when embarked on ceremonial barges on the Neva . The Preobrazhensky sailors wore naval dress, distinguished by orange stripes on the neck-collar. The "Preobrazhensky Regiment March" ( Russian : Марш Лейб-гвардии Преображенского полка ) is one of
1050-476: The total Russian army, and they participated in large scale exercises together with the Streltsy . These exercises sometimes also had real casualties, and expanded from games by a few hundred boys to real military drills involving 30,000 men. In the summer of 1695 Tsar Peter made the decision to resume Russia's war against the Ottoman Empire , which had started years earlier. His motivations included conquering
1085-526: The tsar's monogram on the soldiers' shoulder straps and officers' epaulettes . Following the Russo-Turkish War, the regiment was awarded a small bronze scroll to be worn as a battle-honour on shakos and other headdresses. In 1883, in recognition of its overall distinguished record, officers of the regiment were authorised to wear a large metal gorget inscribed "1683-1850-1883". A second model of gorget, designed in imitation of that worn during
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1120-451: Was considered a proof of loyalty to the government and the tsar . Among its membership was the Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky . After 1874 ordinary soldiers of the Preobrazhensky Regiment were mainly conscripts undertaking their obligation to serve for three years in the active army and fifteen years in the reserve ( Opolchaniya ). For the Preobrazhensky Regiment conscripts were selected for their height and fair hair (in order to provide
1155-521: Was officially founded in 1690 by Tsar Peter I , and was named after the village where its barracks were located, Preobrazhenskoye , which is now a district of Moscow . But the regiment races its origins to 2 June [ O.S. 26 May] 1683, when Peter assembled the so-called toy army of his friends, who were the sons of the Russian nobility , where they would play war, which was Peter's favorite game in his childhood. In January 1683 Peter ordered from
1190-399: Was sovereign of the Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria between 1772 and 1918, and the Grand Duchy of Kraków between 1846 and 1918). The new Kingdom of Poland was proclaimed as an independent state in 1916 with a Regency Council but the monarchy was abolished and a parliamentary republican authority was established when Poland was re-constituted as a sovereign state in 1918 . Most of
1225-535: Was used as the presentation march in several military formations in Prussia Since 1964 it has been used as the slow march of the Royal Marines . Several lyrics are known for the march. Mobilized in July 1914 or later: Lifeguard (military) A life guard (also known as household troops ) is a military unit charged with protecting a high-ranking individual, such as a monarch . Since
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