Preobrazhensky and Semyonovsky amusing regiments. Adjutant! Detective Service of the Life Guards Izmailovsky Regiment in the Battle of Borodino

Life Guards Izmailovsky Regiment- formed in Moscow on September 22, 1730 by order of Empress Anna Ioannovna, daughter of John Alekseevich, brother of Emperor Peter I.

In order to create a reliable support for the throne, Anna Ioannovna ordered the formation of two new guards regiments from loyal people - Izmailovsky and Cavalry.
According to the Decree of September 22, 1730, the Izmailovsky regiment was to consist of a grenadier company and 12 fusilier companies.

The very first banner of the Life Guards of the Izmailovsky Regiment (summer 1731) Crimson velvet with golden flaming grenades in the corners. In the center is the gold cypher of Empress Anna Ioannovna superimposed on a blue St. Andrew's cross.

According to the staff of 1731, the Life Guards Izmailovsky Regiment has 2192 people. Of these, 6 staff officers, 56 chief officers, 68 non-commissioned officers, 192 grenadiers and 1728 musketeers. The regiment was divided into 12 fusilier companies, regimental headquarters and non-commissioned headquarters.

In August 1731, the regiment marched to St. Petersburg, which was assigned to them as a place of permanent deployment.

In August 1731, the Izmailovsky Regiment received the banners of the general guard sample of 1726. As was customary then, he receives one white banner, which was considered regimental, and six colored ones. Unlike the Preobrazhensky regiment, which had a red border and Semenovsky, which had a border of blue color, among the Izmalovites, the border was light green.

In all guards regiments, the field of colored banners was black.

In 1735 Empress Anna Ioannovna accepted the rank of colonel of the Izmailovsky regiment.

In 1736, during the Russian-Turkish war, in accordance with the Decree of the Empress, one battalion was sent from each guard regiment to the active army. The Izmaylovo battalion, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Biron, set out on a campaign in January 1737. The campaign took place in very difficult conditions - under the scorching sun, in waterless steppes, water had to be carried in barrels. The Turks and Tatars set fire to dry grass, and the troops marched among the burning steppe. Many soldiers died from illnesses and the hardships of the campaign, from sudden raids by the Tatar cavalry long before approaching Ochakovo.

The assault on Ochakov began with the attack of the Izmailovsky battalion, which was personally led by Commander-in-Chief Minich.
The Turks repulsed the assault, and having made a sortie, they drove the Russian troops away from the fortress. The same battalion of Izmailovites covered the retreat of the army. In honor of their courage, one of the fortress gates was named "Izmailovsky", and the captain of the Izmailovsky regiment, Nashchokin, received "boss over all guards ranks."

Under the walls of Ochakovo, the Izmailovites showed an example of courage and valor.

After the capture of Ochakov, due to the onset of winter cold, the army was withdrawn to winter quarters. The Izmailovsky battalion moved to the city of Voronezh.

During the next campaign in 1738, the Izmailovites under the command of Biron repeatedly participated in battles with the Turks.

In 1739, during the last campaign, the army approached the village of Stavuchany, near which the camp of Turkish troops was located. Minich ordered Biron to make a false maneuver on the right flank, for which he gave him guards battalions and several army regiments. The Turks took Biron's attack for the main forces of the Russians, and brought down on him all the power of their army. At this time, Minich attacked the left flank of the Turks, as a result of which the Turkish army was defeated and the survivors fled to the Khotyn fortress.

On the nineteenth of August the fortress fell. This ended the war, peace was soon concluded, and the troops returned to Russia. The Izmailovsky battalion returned to St. Petersburg in January 1740.

For participation in the Russian-Turkish war, the Izmailovsky regiment was awarded 2 silver pipes. This was the first time that silver trumpets were awarded in the Russian Army.

On the left is a grenadier senior officer of the Life Guards of the Izmailovsky Regiment (1742).

The officer's rank is indicated by a silver gorget on the chest at the collar, an officer's scarf with tassels over the right shoulder, a lush sultan on a grenadier hat and trimming with gold lace on the sides of the caftan, cuffs and camisole.

Their uniform differed from the grenadier one in that the camisoles were red, the boots were black, the hats were cocked hats, and not caps, and in the ranks the officers had not a gun, but an espanton.

During the war, settlements were built in St. Petersburg for the guards regiments. The Izmailovsky regiment was assigned a place between the Fontanka and the highway to Tsarskoye Selo.

In the autumn of 1740, Empress Anna Ioannovna made the last review of her Izmailovsky regiment, for a few days later, on October 17, she died.

In the picture on the right, the musketeer officers of the regiment in different uniforms of the same period.

Elizaveta Petrovna, who ascended the throne, assumed the highest patronage of the Izmailovsky regiment.

In 1741, the war with Sweden began. 1500 people were sent from the guard to the war, incl. 369 people from the Izmailovsky regiment. During the five months of the war, despite the participation in the battles, the Izmailovites did not lose a single person.

In 1754, in the area of ​​Izmailovskaya Sloboda, a regimental wooden church was laid, the construction of which was completed in 1756.

In 1763, the guards regiments received banners of a new design. In general, they repeat the design of the banners introduced by Peter III, but in the corners of the banners the monogram of Peter III was replaced by the monogram of Catherine II. In the Izmailovsky regiment, the rays radiating from the center are traditionally light green (against the red and blue of the Preobrazhenians and Semenovtsy). One banner in the regiment is white. It is simultaneously considered the regimental and banner of the first company. In all other companies, the field of banners is black.

In 1788, a victorious war began with Sweden, to which the first battalions of the guards regiments were also called. The consolidated guard detachment under the command of Prime Major Izmailovsky Regiment Arbenev set out on a campaign on April 17, 1789 and headed for Finland.
The Izmailovites also distinguished themselves - second-major Kushelev was awarded the order St. George of the 3rd degree, and the lower ranks received medals on St. George's ribbons with the inscription "For courage on the waters of Finnish August 13th, 1789."

Soldiers Nikita Okhotnikov, Gavrila Pechonkin, Fedor Suchkov and Gavrila Ilyin distinguished themselves. During the campaign, the Izmailovites lost Captain-Lieutenant Dyakov and 2 soldiers killed, 55 people went missing.

In 1796, Catherine died, and Paul I became emperor.

With the accession of Emperor Paul I, in the Russian Army, and, in particular, in its military uniform, Prussian motives again prevailed, a great admirer of which was Pavel Petrovich. On the very first day of his accession to the throne, the emperor introduced a new uniform in the guards (in total, during the almost five years of Paul's reign, the color and cut of the uniforms of the Russian Army and Guards changed several times).

It was during the reign of Paul I that gold embroidery appeared on the collars of guard officers, which in each regiment had a special pattern. In the picture on the left, musketeer officers of the Life Guards of the Preobrazhensky and Izmailovsky regiments. In the lower part of the picture is sewing on the collar of the Izmailovsky regiment. Izmailov officers would wear this sewing on their collars until the 1917 revolution itself.

In 1800, Pavel appointed Grand Duke Nikolai Pavlovich as chief of the regiment and ordered that stone barracks be built instead of wooden barracks.

From 06/03/1799 to 01/28/1808 the regiment commander was Major General (from 01/22/1800 Lieutenant General) Malyutin Petr Fedorovich.

During the reign of Emperor Alexander I, the Izmailovsky regiment had many battles, glory and blood.

On August 10, 1805, the 1st and 3rd battalions of the Izmailovsky regiment set out from St. Petersburg for Austria as part of a 60,000-strong Russian army to take part in the war against Napoleon.

On November 20, 1805, the Battle of Austerlitz took place. Napoleon, who personally led the French army, defeated the allied Russian-Austrian army, which began to retreat from the battlefield. At that moment, the army was saved from destruction by the Russian guards and, in particular, the 1st battalion of the Izmailovsky regiment under the command of Colonel Khrapovitsky. The Izmaylovo battalion lined up, and with a quiet step, to the music, went to the attacking French. This counterattack of the Russian guards was subsequently included in all textbooks published in Europe and Russia. The French were stopped, the Russian-Austrian army was saved from complete defeat. At the same time, the 3rd battalion of the Izmailovites went with hostility to the French unit, which had settled in the ditch, and killed every one. The guards retreated only after the hussars sent by Emperor Alexander gave the order to withdraw.

After the conclusion of peace with France, the Izmailovites returned to St. Petersburg (April 7, 1806). They were met personally by the Emperor at the Moscow Outpost, 10 miles from the city.

Less than a year later, on February 14, 1807, the Izmailovsky regiment again set out from the capital - Russia went to the aid of Prussia, and on June 2, Russian troops again met with the French, at Friedland in East Prussia. During a fierce battle, the regiment lost almost all of its officers and most of its soldiers (for example, out of 520 soldiers of the battalion of Colonel Khrapovitsky, 400 people were out of order). Even with such losses, the regiment did not lose control and maneuvered under enemy fire as if in ordinary exercises. For the battle of Friedland, the soldiers of the Izmailovsky regiment were awarded the 231st Badge of Distinction of the Military Order (established on February 13, 1807).

After the conclusion of another peace with France (June 27 in Tilsit), the regiment arrived in St. Petersburg (August 24, 1807).

However, the rest did not last long ... Already on September 27, 1808, the 2nd battalion of the regiment set out for Finland to participate in the war with Sweden. Here the regiment again distinguished itself during the detour maneuver of Count Stroganov, when the Russian units crossed the Gulf of Bothnia on the ice and attacked the Swedes.

From 01/28/1808 to 10/29/1811 The regiment was commanded by Major General Bashutsky Pavel Yakovlevich.

In 1811, the valiant colonel Khrapovitsky Matvey Evgenievich was appointed commander of the regiment.

The year 1812 came. On March 7, the Izmailovsky regiment, led by Colonel Khrapovitsky, marched near Vilna into the 1st Western Army of Infantry General M.B. division of Lieutenant General N.I. Lavrov of the 5th Infantry (Guards) Corps of Grand Duke Konstantin Pavlovich (08/07/1812 Lieutenant General N.I. Lavrov took command of the corps).

In August, the "Great Army" of the emperor of all the French invaded Russia.

The regiment retreated from the border along with the 1st Army to Drissa, Polotsk, Vitebsk to Smolensk. On the night of August 6, the regiment as part of the army left Smolensk and moved along the Porechenskaya road to the Moscow tract.

Life Guards Izmailovsky Regiment in the Battle of Borodino

Battle of Borodino - the largest battle Patriotic War 1812 between the Russian army under the command of General M. I. Kutuzov and the French army of Napoleon I Bonaparte. It took place on August 26 (September 7), 1812 near the village of Borodino, 125 km west of Moscow.

In the Battle of Borodino on August 26, the Izmailovites covered themselves with unfading glory. Being first placed in reserve, the Izmailovites, together with the Lithuanians and the Finnish, were soon put forward in the first line and stood in a square to the left of the village of Semenovskaya, in a place that went down in history as "Semenov Heights". As soon as the regiments formed up, they were suddenly attacked by French cuirassiers from the corps of General Nansouty. Having allowed the enemy to take 50 steps, the Izmailovites fired a volley. The attack was repulsed. However, after some time, the cuirassiers, reinforced by horse-grenadiers, again attacked the Izmailovites, Lithuanians and Finns. Met by slender volleys, the French suffered heavy losses - only a cuirassier colonel with several cuirassiers reached the Russian ranks. The brave men were put on bayonets by the soldiers of the Izmailovsky regiment.

After unsuccessful cavalry attacks, the French sent 400 guns to the Izmailovites, Lithuanians and Finns. In a few hours, 26 officers and 800 lower ranks were out of action alone in the Izmailovsky regiment, but the Izmailovites only squeezed the ranks more tightly.

Every second guard was killed. And at this time, the French again rushed into a decisive attack on the Semenov Heights, intending to defeat the Russian left flank. But the guards withstood the attack. Soon the Russian cavalry arrived and put the French to flight.

Here is what the general from infantry D.S. wrote to Kutuzov. Dokhturov: “I can’t but speak with satisfied praise of the exemplary fearlessness shown on this day by the regiments of the Life Guards Izmailovsky and Lithuanian. Arriving on the left flank, they unshakably withstood the heaviest fire of enemy artillery; organization, and all the ranks from the first to the last, one before the other, showed their zeal to die before giving in to the enemy.Three large cavalry attacks of the enemy cuirassiers and horse-grenadiers on both regiments of these regiments were repelled with incredible success, despite the fact that they were completely surrounded. The enemy was driven off with extreme damage by fire and bayonet. In a word, the Izmailovsky and Lithuanian regiments covered themselves, in view of the entire army, with undeniable glory. "

Field Marshal M.I. Kutuzov himself spoke highly of the courage of the Izmailovites in a letter to Emperor Alexander I: for the loss suffered, were in the best arrangement. The regiments of the Life Guards Izmailovsky and Lithuanian, in this battle, covered themselves with glory in the sight of the entire army, having been attacked three times by enemy cuirassiers and horse grenadiers, stood firm and, reflecting their desire, many of them were exterminated.

For the battle at Borodino, the Izmailovsky regiment was subsequently awarded St. George's banners with the inscription "For distinction in the defeat and expulsion of the enemy from Russia in 1812."

All officers received awards, the lower ranks - 850 Badges of Distinction of the Military Order, and Emperor Alexander personally laid the badges on the grenadier of the company of His Highness Pavel Gerasimov and Trofim Ivanov.

Life Guards Izmailovsky Regiment at Borodino. Painting by artist A.E. Kotzebue, mid 19th century

After the battle of Borodino, the Izmailovsky regiment retreated with the entire army through Moscow. Many wounded Izmailovites were left in hospitals in Moscow, and shared the fate of wounded Russian soldiers of other regiments, whom the French stripped and threw into ditches, where they froze to death or were burned alive.

In 1813 the regiment took part in the foreign campaign of the Russian Army.

In April 1813, the Izmailovites took part in the battles at Luzen and Bautzen, and on August 16 and 17 at the villages of Tsegist and Kulm. Tsegist, defended by a detachment of 72 battalions of French infantry, 500 cavalrymen with 80 guns, was taken by the Jaeger and Izmailovsky regiments. The Izmailovites hoisted their banners on the captured position, and for 10 hours, together with the rangers, they defended Tsegist from the French who were trying to take it back. Thanks to this, the Russian troops reached Kulm without hindrance. Under Kulm, the Izmailovsky regiment, together with the Jaegers, fighting without rest for 2 days, repeatedly switched to bayonet attacks, supporting the main part of the Russian troops, for which the Izmailovsky regiment received St. George's pipes, and 163 soldiers received the Distinction of the Military Order. Of the 1300 ranks that were in the Izmailovsky regiment at the beginning of the battle, they were out of action: killed and died from wounds - Captain Ukov, Lieutenant Chagin, Lieutenant Skarzhinsky, Ensign Zholobov and 41 soldiers; missing - 86; wounded - General Khrapovitsky (3 wounds), 18 officers, 412 soldiers.

After the Kulm, the Izmaylovsky regiment, participating in a number of battles, reached Paris, where, among other Russian units, they entered on March 19, 1814. The Izmailovites returned to Petersburg only on July 30, 1814, together with the 1st Guards Division, which was personally led by Emperor Alexander I through triumphal gates.

Subsequently, by order of the chief of the Izmailovsky regiment, Emperor Nicholas I, for the annual celebrations on the occasion of the expulsion of Napoleonic troops from Russia, the award banners of the regiment were taken out of the Izmailovsky Cathedral. This rescript and the Highest letters of award in memory of merits during the Patriotic War to the Izmailovsky regiment of the St. George banner and St. George's trumpets, placed in gold frames, were placed on the walls near the main altar during the celebrations.

In memory of the distinction of the regiment in the Battle of Borodino in 1813, an icon of Sts. Adrian and Natalia, whose memory is celebrated on this day. It became a temple image of the regimental church, and after the construction of the stone cathedral, it was decorated with a silver riza, moved to the southern side chapel in honor of St. equal to ap. Mary Magdalene and placed in the northern doors of the iconostasis.

On the lecterns of the Izmailovsky Cathedral in carved gilded frames were icons related to military history shelf. The image of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, associated with the Patriotic War of 1812 and foreign weather, was kept in the southern aisle. Many soldiers of the Izmailovsky regiment, who were awarded medals for bravery in memory of this war, after their dismissal gave away their awards or bequeathed their awards to the regimental temple. However, later, by decree of the emperor, it was forbidden to accept medals for the war of 1812 into the temple. Then a riza was cast from these medals for the image of Nicholas the Wonderworker. The riza was silver-plated and gilded, with a combined crown, the Gospel and the miter, decorated with colored stones and four emeralds, and the edges of the riza were covered with white filigree with enamel images.
In 1912, during the celebrations dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Borodino, a monument to the Izmailovsky regiment was erected on the Borodino field.

Marks of Excellence:

1. Regimental banner - St. George, with the inscription: "For distinction in the defeat and expulsion of the enemy from Russia in 1812", with St. Andrew's anniversary ribbon.
2. Two St. George's trumpets, with the inscription: "For the distinction rendered in the battle of Kulm, August 17, 1813."
3. Two silver trumpets granted by imp. Anna Ioannovna for the capture of Ochakov, 1737
4. Signs on caps with the inscription: "For Gorny Dubnyak, October 12, 1877"

Regiment Chiefs

1730 - 1735 - Adjutant General, Count, von Levenwolde, Carl Gustav
1735 - 1740 - Empress Anna Ioannovna
1740 - 1741 - Emperor John Antonovich
1741 - 1761 - Empress Elizaveta Petrovna
1761 - 1762 - Emperor Peter III
1762 - 1796 - Empress Catherine II
1796 - 1796 - Emperor Paul I
1796 - 1800 - Grand Duke Tsarevich Konstantin Pavlovich
1800 - 1855 - Emperor Nicholas I

1855 - 1881 - Emperor Alexander II
1881 - 1894 - Emperor Alexander III

1894 - 1917 - Emperor Nicholas II

Notable people who served in the regiment

Bulatov, Mikhail Leontievich - Governor-General, hero of Catherine's wars with Turkey, military leader during the Russian-Swedish war of 1808-1809. and during the Napoleonic Wars.
Volf, Nikolai Ivanovich - Lieutenant General, participant in the Caucasian War.
Kozlov, Alexander Alexandrovich - cavalry general, adjutant general, at different times the St. Petersburg mayor, the Moscow mayor.
Romanov, Konstantin Konstantinovich - member of the Russian Imperial House, adjutant general (1901), infantry general (1907), inspector general military educational institutions, President of the Imperial St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences (1889), poet, translator and playwright.
Miloradovich, Mikhail Andreevich - Russian general, one of the leaders of the Russian army during the Patriotic War of 1812, Governor-General of St. Petersburg
Romanov, Konstantin Konstantinovich (junior) - Russian prince of imperial blood, son of Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich and Grand Duchess Elizabeth Mavrikievna, great-grandson of Emperor Nicholas I.

Unknown artist. Mid 18th century Fragment.

Empress Anna Ioannovna. Unknown artist. 1730s

Grand Duke Nikolai Pavlovich, future Emperor Nicholas I

in the uniform of the L.-Gds. Izmailovsky regiment. J. Low, 1820s

Solemn return of the Russian guards to St. Petersburg through the Narva triumphal gates. I. A. Ivanov. 1815

Emperor Nicholas II in the form of the L.-Guards. Izmailovsky Regiment on Izmailovsky Prospekt. May 1904

 
Word of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill on the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Borodino

On September 8, 2012, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' performed a thanksgiving service on the Borodino field "in remembrance of the deliverance of the Church and the Russian State from the invasion of the Gauls and with them twenty languages."

At the end of the service, the Primate of the Russian Church addressed the audience with the First Hierarch's word.

Dear Bishops, Fathers, Brothers and Sisters!

Today, on the very day when the Battle of Borodino took place, here, on the Raevsky battery, we make a prayerful commemoration of our heroes who laid down their lives for the Fatherland. Coincidentally, today at the Liturgy, according to the Church Typikon, the First Epistle to the Corinthians was read, which contains the amazing words: “Every steward is required to always remain faithful” (see 1 Corinthians 4:2). A house cannot be built if the family has broken up. A state cannot be created, a society cannot be strengthened if it falls apart. It is impossible to win a battle if people lose their loyalty. And how wonderful, in connection with the letter of the Apostle Paul to the Corinthians, to recall the words of Lermontov: “and we kept the oath of allegiance in the Battle of Borodino”!

What is fidelity? This is the ability to go forward, regardless of dangers, even mortal ones, temptations, temptations, or the influence of the environment; go forward to achieve ideals that are sacred. Staying true means always serving those ideals. If we want our people to be united, then it is required that people be ready to give their lives for their ideals.

Today, mass culture imposes other ideals on us. However, no one will give his life only for an increase in wages or for better living conditions. No one will give their lives to live a little better tomorrow than today. Life is given only for that which is sacred, and only that which God has put into the consciousness of people can be sacred. And first of all, these are the great commandments of God, which are reflected in the moral law of the human race, and at the base of this moral foundation are such concepts as love for one's neighbor, love for one's country, for one's people. These concepts, sanctified by Divine authority, become indisputable. Nothing else can explain how here, on this field, the Russian army stood face to face with an army of twenty languages, led by Napoleon. It was not only the French - half of Europe is here under duress, and someone out of conviction, closed their ranks in order to crush Rus'.

We know it didn't work out, precisely because every steward is required to remain faithful at all times. Perhaps these words were literally not known to those who defended the Rayevsky battery or Bagration's flashes, or who were cut on the flanks, or who advanced head-on against an enemy superior in strength. But they remained faithful to how love for God and love for the Fatherland were refracted in their consciousness, in their will, in their feelings.

And today, 200 years later, we bow our heads before their feat, we learn from them loyalty to God, to our people, to the Fatherland. And we know for sure that if we do not lose this loyalty, then we will retain a great impregnable strength and will be able not only to defend our Fatherland, but also to organize it, ascending from strength to strength.

Today, according to the church calendar, is the day of commemoration of the bringing to Moscow of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God. Back in 1395, 15 years after the Battle of Kulikovo, Tamerlane decided to crush Moscow and went to her innumerable hordes. Then the great shrine of our land was brought to the capital - the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God. Our people fervently prayed for the salvation of the Mother See, and for reasons incomprehensible to historians, inexplicably, Tamerlane did not go to Moscow. On the same day, here, on the Borodino field, 200 years ago, the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God was brought, before which, kneeling, Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov and all our troops prayed. How wonderfully this sacred moment is reflected in the wonderful film by S. Bondarchuk "War and Peace"! At a time when it was impossible to talk about faith, how many bright feelings arose in the hearts of our people this one episode of the kneeling field marshal and the Russian army!

A hundred years ago, when Tsar-Martyr Nicholas II led here, on this field, the celebration of the 100th anniversary, the same icon was again brought from Smolensk. And today, on the day of the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Borodino, we also brought here the same miraculous icon. He stood next to the altar erected in the Spaso-Borodino Monastery, before which we bowed our knees today for our Fatherland, for our Church, for our people, so that no enemies - neither physical nor spiritual - could shake the foundations of our people's life and that no force could ever tear our people away from faith, which ignites the mind through the heart, giving rise to a sense of devotion and loyalty to the country and people.

May the Lord accept into His heavenly abodes the souls of those who laid down their lives on the Borodino field and on all fields of the Great Patriotic War of 1812, as well as the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. We believe that those who laid down their lives for their friends, according to the commandment of Christ, are blessed in His Heavenly Kingdom. Let us pray for our Fatherland, for our people, that the Lord keep us all in unity, in unanimity, in strength of spirit, in clarity of thought, in strong faith, in respect for each other, regardless of our religious and national differences. And we believe that multinational Rus' will always remain united, strong - both spiritually and materially. We pray about this on the day when 200 years ago the fate of our Fatherland was decided on this place. Amen.

Mountain Dubnyak

2018 marks the 140th anniversary of the start of the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78. The war, which was called "the last just war" all over the world.

For brevity, here is the material from Wikipedia:

“...The cruelty with which the April uprising in Bulgaria was suppressed aroused sympathy for the position of the Christians of the Ottoman Empire in Europe and especially in Russia. Attempts to improve the position of Christians by peaceful means were frustrated by the stubborn unwillingness of the Turks to make concessions to Europe, and in April 1877 Russia declared war on Turkey. In the course of the ensuing hostilities, the Russian army managed, using the passivity of the Turks, to successfully cross the Danube, capture the Shipka Pass and, after a five-month siege, force Osman Pasha's best Turkish army to surrender at Plevna. The subsequent raid through the Balkans, during which the Russian army defeated the last Turkish units blocking the road to Constantinople, led to the withdrawal of the Ottoman Empire from the war. At the Berlin Congress held in the summer of 1878, the Berlin Treaty was signed, which fixed the return of the southern part of Bessarabia to Russia and the annexation of Kars, Ardagan and Batum. The statehood of Bulgaria was restored (it was conquered by the Ottoman Empire in 1396) as a vassal Principality of Bulgaria; the territories of Serbia, Montenegro and Romania increased, and the Turkish Bosnia and Herzegovina was occupied by Austria-Hungary ... "

The cruelty of the Turkish authorities towards Eastern Christians was so horrifying that it caused a wave of indignation in almost all countries of the world. But only Russia provided practical assistance, on April 12, 1877, after unsuccessful diplomatic negotiations, declaring war on Turkey.

The beginning of hostilities was, without exaggeration, brilliant in all respects, strategically, tactically, diplomatically, and even (which is rare for "military" Russia) - in terms of time frames ... But then the response move of the Turkish Marshal Osman Pasha followed, who occupied and fortified the city Plevna, and it was this page that became one of the most heroic (and at the same time tragic) in the history of the Russian guard. Three assaults on Plevna failed, despite the impressive losses of the Russian army. To conclude the city under siege, it was necessary to cut off and capture three fortified settlements, through which reinforcements, ammunition and food went to Plevna. These points were Dolny Dubnyak, Gorny Dubnyak and Telish. It was this task that was entrusted to the guards, among which, of course, was the glorious Izmailovsky regiment.

HELL. Kivshenko "The Capture of Mountain Dubnyak"

The 1st battalion of the Life Guards of the Izmailovsky Regiment was commanded by Colonel V.N. Klevezal. The regiment commander, Major General N. V. Ellis, in his report to the division commander, highly appreciated the actions of the 1st battalion and its commander:

“It was ordered to 1 battalion, the regiment entrusted to me, to go to support the life guards. Grenadier regiment, which he did, having suffered heavy losses in people during his movement by dashes ... Giving full justice to the fearlessness and calmness of all the ranks of the regiment, I consider it my duty to convey to Your Excellency in particular about the merits of all 4 battalion commanders, which, acting each apart, by diligence and understanding of the matter, they strove for the same goal and achieved a brilliant result in taking the redoubt, suffering small losses compared to other units .. "

The history of the Battle of Gorny Dubnyak deserves a separate and more detailed story, which, unfortunately, we cannot give due to the limited size of the article. But here are a few interesting facts: it was after this battle that the tactics of battle in the Russian troops were changed. "Marching" on the enemy in slender columns is, of course, beautiful, but leads to a huge number of victims, because. the enemy has the ability to fire at the attackers, as if in a shooting range. Such attacks led to huge casualties at Gorny Dubnyak, and only the tactics of the Izmailovsky regiment, which timely approached the enemy with the help of runs from cover to cover, could reduce the number of casualties among the attackers and ensured the completion of the task. Also, it was after the analysis of this battle that a trench tool was introduced in the Russian army, allowing soldiers to dig in on the ground ... One way or another, it was the Izmailovsky regiment that played a decisive role in this battle, which subsequently led to the surrender of the entire Turkish army.

The courage of the regiment was appreciated, and the regiment received a badge for a military headdress:

Archpriest Alexander Filaretov accompanied the Izmailovsky Regiment on this campaign.

O. Alexander with the officers of the Izmailovsky regiment 15 km. from Constantinople

For exploits at Gorny Dubnyak and at Telish, Archpriest Filaretov was awarded a gold pectoral cross on George Ribbon. He reposed on October 4 (according to the old style) 1898 and was buried at the Mitrofanevsky cemetery. (We will tell in much more detail in the following issues the history of the military clergy and the brave priests of the Izmailovsky regiment, who did not abandon their flock at the most dangerous time ...)

An interesting fact: many of you know this painting by Vasily Vereshchagin "Requiem", dedicated to the victims of the siege of Plevna and the Russian-Turkish war in general:

... but few people know that the priest of the Semyonovsky regiment depicted on it, Archpriest Evstafiy Vasilyevich Kryukov, previously served in the Izmailovsky Cathedral, ministering to the Izmailovsky Regiment, like his father, Archpriest Kryukov Vasily Alekseevich.

Here is another interesting photo of the second lieutenant of the Izmailovsky regiment, who participated in the Russian-Turkish war (photo 1881). On the chest of the lieutenant - the order of St. Stanislav of the third degree with swords and a bow, a medal in memory of the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878. and a bronze Romanian military merit cross...

For those who want to learn more about that heroic time, the work of N.I. Belyaev "Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878", 1956 edition.

... Having captured the Shipka Pass and the fortifications of Gorny Dubnyak, the Russian army forced the Turkish troops settled in Plevna to surrender. Having crossed the Balkans, they defeated the remnants of the garrisons that blocked the path to Constantinople, the Turks entered into negotiations on surrender, but ... By the intervention of the eternal hater of Russia - England, they dragged out and greatly corrected them in favor of the Ottoman Empire. England attempted psychological pressure on Russia by bringing its squadron into the Dardanelles. The Russians, in response, promised to capture Constantinople, and the squadron retreated. The signed preliminary "San Stefano agreements" were challenged by England and Austria (who demanded considerable benefits from the results of the Russian-Turkish war), and a new "Berlin Treaty" was signed. Russia regained Bessarabia and received the Kars region, inhabited by Orthodox Armenians and Georgians.

Soon, thanks to the significant weakening of Turkey, Bulgaria fully regained its independence. Ottoman Empire was ousted from the Balkans, no longer oppressing the Orthodox peoples, and gradually turned into a minor European power ...

From that time to this day, during the Liturgy in all Orthodox churches in Bulgaria, the Russian Tsar Alexander and all his soldiers who laid down their lives on the battlefield for the liberation of the Orthodox peoples from the Turkish yoke are commemorated. There are still almost 400 monuments to Russian soldiers on the territory of Bulgaria. In the capital of Russia, at the Holy Trinity Cathedral of the Izmailovsky regiment, a monument was erected "Column of Glory", composed of six rows of cannons recaptured from the Turks. The Russian-Turkish war in those years was called "the most just war of the 19th century" all over the world.

Russian losses in this war ranged from 16 to 30 thousand killed and from 7 to 15 thousand soldiers who died from wounds and diseases ... (According to some reports, the number of soldiers who died from wounds and diseases approached 80 thousand ...)

This war in the world was called "the last just war" ...

On October 12, 1886, on the day of the anniversary of the capture of Gorny Dubnyak, the "Column of Glory" was opened on the square in front of the cathedral. The initiator of the installation of the memorial column was the commander-in-chief of the Russian troops in the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878, Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolayevich, the author of the project was the architect D.I. Grimm. The monument, 29 meters high, consisted of 44 steel and 60 copper gun barrels captured from the Turks... Work on the creation of the monument lasted almost a year and a half. 175 thousand rubles were spent on the construction. The monument was opened by Emperor Alexander III.

photo of the opening of the Column of Military Glory from the album dedicated to the monument, published in 1889 and posted on the website of the New York Public Library

Here is what the Encyclopedia of Petersburg writes about that event:

“... To participate in the grand opening ceremony of the monument in St. Petersburg, “all the main participants in the war outside of it, as well as more than 1,000 people of lower ranks, St. George Knights,” were invited, who made up a special consolidated regiment of three foot battalions. From the troops stationed in St. Petersburg, consolidated battalions were also made up of the best people, since the lack of space did not allow all the troops to take part in the celebration, so only 14 battalions, 12 squadrons and 22 guns participated in the parade. The families of officers and soldiers who fell in the war, as well as members of the Red Cross who were in the war, sisters of mercy, doctors and children of the murdered lower ranks, who studied in 9 city orphanages, were not forgotten. Special places were reserved for them to attend the celebrations. The opening of the monument was described in detail by the magazines Russkaya Starina and Historical Bulletin. The monument was opened on October 12, 1886, on the ninth anniversary of the capture of the fortifications of Gorny Dubnyak. From the bastions of the Peter and Paul Fortress, a salute was fired from 101 shots of artillery pieces.

... But after the revolution, it was decided to dismantle the monument as “not of historical value”, because the Bolsheviks preferred to start writing history from themselves, and the former glory of Russian weapons and the salvation of fraternal peoples at that time were not very interested in them ... According to rumors, the demolition of the monument was preceded by and negotiations with Turkey, for which this monument was not the most pleasant memory ... By the Decree of the Presidium of the Leningrad Council of October 27, 1929 (minutes No. 30, paragraph 90), at the request of the Moscow-Narva Leningrad Executive Committee, the column "Military Glory" was dismantled from handed over to the State Fund for scrap as a "symbol of imperial militarism" The demolition cost was about 3 thousand rubles, and the income from the sale of the metal was about 30 thousand rubles.

One way or another, but the unique column, which the Petersburgers called the "Second Pillar of Alexandria" (because the Alexandrian pillar was a symbol of victory over the Napoleonic armada, and the Izmailovo column of Glory - over Turkey), was dismantled and sent as scrap to Germany ... On its In 1969, a bust of V.P. Stasov was erected on the site by the sculptor M.T. Litovchenko and the architect Zh.M. Verzhbitsky.

“With the blessing of the Metropolitan of St. Petersburg and Ladoga Vladimir, the initiative of the St. Petersburg diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church and the St. Petersburg public charitable foundation for the restoration and support of the Cathedral of the Holy Life-Giving Trinity of the Life Guards of the Izmailovsky Regiment, as well as by order of the governor of the city V.A. Yakovlev, in 2001, the reconstruction of the column was started. More than 20 Russian enterprises and organizations took part in financing the work. In the new constructive solution, the column shaft has a decorative relief imitating cannon barrels. Parts of the column were cast iron free of charge at the Novo-Lipetsk Metallurgical Plant, painting and finishing - at the St. Petersburg enterprise Admiralty Shipyards. The bronze sculpture of Glory was cast at the Monumentskulptura factory according to the model of Z. K. Tsereteli. The sculpture was installed on the column on August 26, 2005, the grand opening took place on October 1 of the same year. ("Encyclopedia of St. Petersburg").

The monument to Stasov was preserved and only moved a few meters to the right of the military composition.

The total height of the monument is 28.76 m, the pedestal is 5.33 m, the statue is 4.6 m.

And this is only one of the restored (or rather, first destroyed, and now literally torn out of oblivion) ​​amazing relics of the cathedral. As you can see with your own eyes, the temple is returning to St. Petersburg, with its history, glory and architecture, worthy to once again stand on a par with the most famous cathedrals in the world ...

The article uses photographs by S. Zaburdaev, as well as paintings, engravings and drawings that are in the public domain

Regimental churches

The very first church of the Izmailovsky regiment was ... a tent. It was convenient to take it on a campaign, and could be used in the location of the regiment - in the summer, of course. The organization of the camp church was entrusted to Lieutenant Autonomous Savelov. He was instructed to "apply his diligent diligence, so that this church is built with the best material." They bought red calico for the tent, and green taffeta for the lining. On July 12, 1733, a field church was installed in the regimental camp on the banks of the Fontanka.
The camp church consisted of a folding iconostasis, sacred vessels (at first tin and copper, and then from more expensive metals), a complete set of liturgical books was transferred there. The altar was installed in the same size as in permanent temples. Such field conditions, of course, made the service of the regimental priest rather difficult: when the regiment moved, he had to monitor the safety of church property, sometimes load it on carts himself and accompany it to a new place. He had to set up and assemble the church tent, and then, tired, to perform worship. Dust and dirt of the roads, rain and bad weather of the off-season, the constant search for a temporary shelter are everyday components of the life of a regimental priest.

The camp church accompanied the Izmailovsky regiment in all military campaigns. After the battles, the priest performed a thanksgiving prayer service, and at least served requiem services for the fallen soldiers.

As we have already noted, in the summer the camp church was also used in the permanent location of the Izmailovsky regiment in St. Petersburg. However, in winter, the military had to go to the other side of the Fontanka, to Perevedenskaya Sloboda, to the church in honor of the Ascension of the Lord. But there were a lot of parishioners there, so Izmailovites sometimes had to participate in the service ... on the street.

“... It happens that the soldiers of the Izmailovsky regiment are no longer standing outside the church, in the cold, and many times they are not worthy to listen to the services of God,” Major Ivan Shipov wrote.
A few years later, in 1742, in the Izmailovo Sloboda, which was under construction, one of the newly built buildings of the regimental "svetlitsy" was assigned to accommodate the temple. This option also turned out to be unsuccessful - in a small building with very low ceilings it was crowded and stuffy.

“As in the whole church, so especially in the altar above the very altar, where the Holy Mysteries are performed, there is a great drop from a crowded meeting,” regimental priest Alexei Gusev reported.

Ten years later, in 1752, Empress Elizaveta Petrovna gave her consent to the construction of a regimental church. The temple was founded two years later on a spacious vacant lot on Polkova Street near the Fontanka, on the very spot where the cathedral now stands. Bookmark July 1, 1754 was made by the Archbishop of St. Petersburg and Shlisselburg Sylvester (Kulyabka). Construction lasted two years. A new wooden church on a stone foundation was consecrated in the name of the Holy Trinity (regimental holiday), and its chapel - in honor of St. mch. John the Warrior (it was built in memory of the chapel of the Church of the Ascension of the Lord, where the Izmailovites used to pray).

Interestingly, the Trinity Church was built on the model of South Russian wooden churches. There is even a specific "prototype" - the church in honor of the icon of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow", which was located in the village of Kerstovo, Yamburgsky district, St. Petersburg province. Archpriest Fyodor Dubyansky, a Little Russian by origin, pointed to this temple as a model. The village of Kerstovo was granted to him by the empress.

It is known that the temple accommodated about 1280 people. All icons were painted by one of the best painters in St. Petersburg - Fedot Kolokolnikov.

In the 1760s another church was built in the regiment. She, too, was wooden, extremely simple. It was also consecrated in the name of the Holy Trinity, however, in everyday life, and often in documents, it was called the Church of Saints Adrian and Natalia, and the icon of Sts. mchch. Adrian and Natalia stood in the iconostasis as a temple. This temple was seriously damaged during the catastrophic flood of 1824.

“Water stood inside three arshins, knocked over chests of drawers with a sacristy, moved the throne a little from its place, destroyed stoves, soaked the antimension and books. The bowl and the ark were filled with water. The watchmen could hardly escape by climbing under the roof,” Archpriest Fyodor Raevsky wrote.

According to him, in the Church of the Holy Life-Giving Trinity “the floors were damaged, the pulpit was blown up, the entire sacristy was soaked. The tide of water was up to the very windows, the water stood in the altar half the throne. A storm above and below broke all the windows, broke the fence, porches, walkways, and blew it all away.

The damage was so great that the dismantling of the Trinity Church was a done deal. However, she stood for another four years, until the laying of the stone cathedral, - after this solemn moment she was dismantled. Most of the icons painted for the wooden church were subsequently transferred to the Trinity Cathedral, where they remained until it was closed during the Soviet era.

The Church of Saints Adrian and Natalia stood until the consecration of the stone cathedral. In May 1835 it was dismantled. The temple icon of the martyrs was transferred to the cathedral, and the iconostasis and other icons were transferred to the church in honor of the All-Merciful Savior at the Mitrofanevsky cemetery. They died in a fire in 1883 that destroyed the church.

The iconostasis of the marching church of the L.-Guards. Izmailovsky regiment. 1894

Church of the Icon of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow". Kerstovo, Yamburg district. 1928

The project of a wooden cold church of the l.-guards. Izmailovsky regiment. V. P. Stasov. June 28, 1827

V. P. Stasov. Unknown artist

Facade of a wooden warm church l.-gv. Izmailovsky regiment. 1813-1835

Camping iconostasis

Everyone knows that the construction of the first Temple, better known today as the "Temple of Solomon", began with the Ark of the Covenant and lasted seven years. Here, in the same form (but, of course, not in content, for, despite the fact that the Ark of the Covenant is one of the greatest shrines in the world, but our churches are bequeathed from our Lord Jesus Christ - the House of Prayer), the history of the Cathedral of the Holy Life-Giving The Trinity of the Life Guards of the Izmailovsky Regiment, which was built for seven long years - from the marching iconostasis, which faithfully served the Russian soldiers both in the Izmailovsky Sloboda and on distant campaigns ...

The regiment, as you know, was created by Empress Anna Ioannovna in 1730, and upon formation, immediately began to create a mobile (marching) church, which was the forerunner of wooden churches and the stone cathedral of the guards, or, artistically speaking, the "ark" of the cathedral, which existed until the closure temple and mysteriously disappeared in the middle of the 20th century ...

The mobile temple is a unique phenomenon. We are so accustomed to the idea that a church or cathedral is something monumental, or at least firmly established in one place, that even the very concept of a “mobile temple” is perceived as something very unusual ... But in the very essence of Christianity, if an Orthodox person is in danger, it is necessary that there be a priest nearby - praying for him, instructing, calming, encouraging ... and, in case of trouble, ready to take communion and bury his spiritual child ... Therefore, on all ships (in including those going on a circumnavigation - which has recently been forgotten) and military units leaving for the right (and dangerous) cause of defending the Fatherland, there were necessarily camp churches and priests who accompanied their flock.

Also, “prefabricated churches” can be located on the site of churches being built or reconstructed, when it is not yet possible to hold services in the main church - and in this hypostasis, the mobile iconostasis of the Izmailovsky regiment was also used during the construction of the Trinity Cathedral. (But there are also “floating” temples, “carriage” temples, and even “landing marching temples”).

But first, (to stir up curiosity and imagination) - one old story ... It is known that the last months of his life, the great Russian poet Nekrasov spent in terrible suffering caused by rapidly developing intestinal cancer. The pains were so terrible that the poet was tormented not only by the blanket thrown over him, but even the most spacious clothes (even the poet's nightgown was cut into strips). And even more so, there could be no talk of any exits to the street. However, in the face of eternity, Nekrasov still wanted to marry his "civil wife" Fekla (Zinaida) Anisimovna Viktorova, who so patiently and selflessly cared for him during his illness. But to get to the church and conduct the Sacrament there, he no longer had the strength physically. Nekrasov's friends asked the Metropolitan of St. Petersburg Isidore to contribute at least something in this difficult situation. The Metropolitan was forced to refuse - the statutes of the Church are strict, and even he could not violate or change them, but he spoke about the military clergy, with their unique mobile churches: “They will put up a tent: they have a temple here, where they have the right to perform any Sacrament.” The advice was heard: the poet's friends turned to the military clergy, and the next day a regimental iconostasis was laid out at Nekrasov's apartment, as if on a battlefield... last will of a dying genius was fulfilled...

But back to the marching church of the Izmailovsky regiment. The meeting of regimental officers decided on what kind of tent to be and what icons should be in the iconostasis and allocated money from their own funds for its creation.

The iconostasis contained the following images: to the right of the Royal Doors: the Savior, St. Trinity, Simeon the God-Receiver and Anna the Prophetess. On the left side: the image of the Mother of God praying, Nicholas and Sergius the Wonderworkers. On the royal doors - the Annunciation and the four Evangelists, on the north - the high priest Aaron, above the royal doors - the Last Supper. Above, in a large triangle, which crowns the iconostasis, in the middle is the image of the Fatherland, and on its sides are the Holy Prophets and Apostles (20 icons), as well as an abundant gilded ornament and gilded faces of seraphim and cherubim.

The decision was left at the discretion of the empress: “.. in what name should the church be built: in the name of the Holy Trinity or in the name of Simeon the God-Receiver and Anna the Prophetess?” Anna Ioannovna opted for the church in the name of the Holy Trinity, the regimental holiday was established on this very day and the icon of the Trinity became the regimental icon of the Izmailovites. The camping tent was made of red calico, with green silk padding on the inside. The icons were entrusted to be painted by the Moscow master Ivan Adolsky (he created them in the “baroque” style), on azure atlas with “good German colors”. The frames of the iconostasis were made of oak, “Siberian iron” was used for the screws, and the ornament adorning the iconostasis was richly gilded. In length, it reached 7 meters, in height - three.

In 1845, the iconostasis was “added” in two halves: the southern gate was built with the icon of the Archangel Michael and the image of St. Alexander Nevsky. (the camp church was then the church of the division and was located in Krasnoye Selo, so the tent-tent had to be significantly expanded). The iconostasis remained in this form until the closing of the Izmailovsky Regiment Cathedral by the Bolsheviks.

The Empress granted the church a gift of robes (unfortunately they have not been preserved), a complete set of liturgical books and church utensils.

January 27 In 1737 the combined battalion of the regiment went on a campaign near Ochakov. In the regimental order of January 24, it is ordered to assemble and lay down the regimental church with the necessary utensils and vestments for the celebration of worship on the campaign, at the same time, the priest was also ordered to go on the campaign. In this campaign, as well as in the next three (not counting the campaign of 1812), this camp church was the church of the entire imperial Life Guards. In the first campaign, the regiment was accompanied by priest John Georgiev (later transferred from the Izmailovsky regiment to the post of rector of the Annunciation Cathedral in the Moscow Kremlin.)

In this campaign, the regiment (and the priest accompanying it) spent three years accomplishing a considerable number of feats (we will tell about the capture of Ochakov in some more detail - it deserves it.).

Upon returning to St. Petersburg, a place was specially designated for the camp church, where the regiment prayed and took communion until the construction of the first wooden church. (A belfry with three bells ordered in Moscow was built separately).

The marching iconostasis was with the Izmailovsky regiment in the following campaigns: 1) During the Russian-Turkish war of 1735-1739. (priest John Georgiev) 2) During the coronation of Catherine the Great in Moscow - from August 1762 to the end of 1763 (priest Alexei Gusev - who swore the regiment to the Empress in St. Petersburg) During the Patriotic War and foreign campaigns of 1812, 1813 and 1814. (some services in it were conducted in the presence of Emperor Alexander the First). (Priest Antipa Gavrilov, a participant in many military campaigns, a hero of the Battle of Borodino, reached Paris. He was awarded a golden cross on the St. George ribbon from the Holy Synod. For the battles at Pirka and Kulm, he was awarded the Order of St. Anna, 2nd degree, later - a skuf and a kamilavka.) During a campaign in Poland in 1830-1831. (priest Simeon Aleksandrov. He took part in the campaign of 1828 with the Izmailovsky regiment, was at the siege of the fortress of Varna, a participant in the campaign of 1831 in Poland. He was awarded a pectoral cross on the St. 1849 (accompanied by priest John Nazarov. During the Crimean War, already at an advanced age, he participated with the regiment in protecting the shores of the Gulf of Finland and priest Vasily Kryukov. During Crimean War traveled with a regiment to guard the borders in the Gulf of Finland. Both, at different times, were rectors of the Trinity Church. 4) During the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878. (priest Alexander Filaretov. - Awarded with a pectoral cross on the St. George ribbon for courage at Gorny Dubnyak, for crossing the Balkans - the Order of St. Vladimir 4th class with swords, etc.) (Due to the lack of documents related to the revolutionary events of 1917 the situation with its participation in the campaigns of the First World War is still unclear: the priests accompanied the regiment in all campaigns, but research work is still to be done on the history of the marching iconostasis).

It should be noted that, judging by the plans for the deployment of the regiment, the camp church was transferred after campaigns to different places in the Izmailovo settlement (which is not surprising: the settlement was rebuilt, expanded, equipped ... And only in 1814, upon returning from Paris, did it finally “stop” in a wooden church built almost on the site where the cathedral is now located.

An interesting fact: when the construction of the stone Izmailovsky Cathedral was completed, and the old wooden church was dismantled and transported to a new place (we will definitely return to the history of the churches of the Izmailovsky Regiment in one of the issues of the magazine), then during the period of the termination of service in the wooden church and the consecration of the stone Cathedral, the marching iconostasis was taken out next to the cathedral and for several weeks again served his regiment as the "House of Prayer", after which he took a place of honor in the temple, located within the border of John the Warrior.

According to the data we collected in the archives, on March 17, 1936, the inspector of the Department for the Arts of the Museum Sector under the Leningrad City Council F.M. Morozov took a number of things from the Trinity Cathedral of the Life Guards of the Izmailovsky Regiment to the Hermitage, including the iconostasis of the regimental camp church-tent. Unfortunately, to our inquiries to the Hermitage, the answer was “this exhibit does not appear on the balance sheet” ...

By the time this article was being written, with the blessing of the rector of the cathedral, Archpriest Gennady Bartov, preliminary preparatory work had been carried out to restore the marching iconostasis and, if the Creator pleases, when funding appears, the glorious marching iconostasis of the Life Guards of the Izmailovsky regiment, which accompanied the soldiers on campaigns, will return again back to its historic place...

14 banners of the Preobrazhensky regiment of 1742. One of white, the rest of orange silk fabric. All with a narrow double side red. A double-headed eagle is embroidered with silk. On the chest of the eagle is the monogram of Elizabeth Petrovna. 13 with flat gilded copper spears, red shafts with copper inflows. The banners were deposited in the Artillery Museum in 1796. In 1762 they were replaced by new ones in the regiment.

"Descriptions of banners, standards, ensigns, ensigns, badges, trumpets for distinction, certificates, staples and other military regalia stored in the Artillery Historical Museum, indicating belonging to such units of the troops." - St. Petersburg, 1903.

On February 19, 1762, a new pattern of regimental colors was approved. There is a broadened cross on the banner. In the center of the banner, in an orange circle, is a double-headed eagle surrounded by Holstein coats of arms. The main regimental banner had a white cross, colored banners had a red cross. The corners are red. The shafts are yellow. In the corners are the gold imperial cyphers of Peter III. According to V. Zvegintsov, white banners have a white cross, blue corners, and colored flags have a red flag, blue corners. The spear is gilded. Silver cords and tassels.

Handwritten drawing from Zvegintsov's work

After the palace coup on June 29, 1762, which brought Catherine II to the throne, the monograms on the banners changed to the corresponding ones.

Guards regiments received in 1763 one white banner and several black ones with gold fringe (in Preobrazhensky - 16). In the center is an orange circle framed by a laurel wreath, in which there is a black double-headed eagle with St. Andrew's cross on the chest. The corners are red, in the corners are the gold monograms of the Empress. The banners had golden cords and tassels. In the pommel is Catherine's monogram.

An illustration from the book "Banners of Russian Regiments", comp. V. Gonikberg, A. Meshcheryakov, I. Ostarkova. Text according to A. Viskovatov. On the right - a handwritten drawing from the book by V. Zvegintsov

13 banners of 1762 entered the Artillery Museum for storage in 1797 in the presence of Paul I. One of white silk fabric, 12 of black fabric. In the center, on an orange silk oval, the state eagle is embroidered with black and yellow silk. On the chest of the eagle is the crucifixion of St. Andrew. In the corners of the insertion of a triangular shape made of red matter, on them are the monograms of Catherine II. In 1796 they were replaced by new ones in the regiment.

"Descriptions of banners, standards, ensigns, ensigns, badges, trumpets for distinction, certificates, staples and other military regalia stored in the Artillery Historical Museum, indicating belonging to such units of the troops." - St. Petersburg, 1903.

The “immortals” of the Persian kings, the Praetorians of the Roman Caesars, the Varangian and Slavic mercenaries of the Byzantine emperors, the drabants of the Scottish kings, the “black Walloons” of the Burgundian dukes, the Scottish guard of the French Valois, the Swiss guard of the French Bourbons… The personal guard was an essential attribute of any self-respecting autocrat. As soon as he ascended the throne, the monarch began to reform the guard inherited from his predecessors, but even greater reforms awaited the guard in the event of a change in the ruling dynasty. The Romanov dynasty of Russian tsars was no exception. Traditionally, the creation of the guards in general and the guards infantry in particular is attributed to Peter I, but in fact this process began even under his predecessors. Having ascended the throne, the first tsar from the Romanov dynasty, Mikhail Fedorovich, carried out a thorough purge of the personnel inherited from the predecessors of the guard (the stirrup archery regiment) and thought about creating a new guard of his own. The process of reforming the guards regiments lasted all 300 plus years of the dynasty. Here are some facts from the history of the guards infantry of the Romanov tsars.

1. The first guards infantry units of the Romanovs were the Moscow elective soldier guards regiments:

The 1st Moscow elective soldier regiment was formed on June 25, 1642 (during the reign of Mikhail Fedorovich) and is better known as the Lefort infantry regiment (named after Franz Lefort, appointed its commander in 1692). On January 14, 1785, it was named the Moscow Grenadier Regiment, and on September 8, 1791, it was disbanded by joining the Yekaterinoslav Grenadier Regiment.

The 2nd Moscow elective soldier regiment was also formed in 1642 by decree of the same Mikhail Fedorovich, consisting of 52 companies of 100 people. Better known as the Butyrsky Regiment (at the place of deployment - Butyrskaya Sloboda in Moscow) and the Gordon Regiment (after one of the commanders - Patrick Gordon). Since March 9, 1914 - the 13th Life Grenadier Erivan Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich Regiment. Disbanded at the beginning of 1918.

The 3rd Moscow elective soldier's regiment was formed in 1692.

2. Initially, elected soldier regiments were conceived as framed units: in peacetime they consisted of “initial” people from a foreman to a colonel, and in the military they were replenished with ordinary archers and deployed into several regiments each. Later, the principle of framing was abandoned, but a somewhat unusual division of regiments into regiments was preserved. Thus, the 1st Moscow elective soldier's regiment consisted of 5 regiments, the 2nd Moscow elective soldier's regiment consisted of 6 regiments, and the 3rd Moscow elective soldier's regiment consisted of 2 regiments.

1698–1702. From left to right: fusilier of the Semyonovsky regiment in a winter caftan, chief officer of Preobrazhensky
regiment, fusilier of the Butyrsky regiment in a summer caftan, grenadier of the Preobrazhensky regiment
Source: O. Leonov, I. Ulyanov "Regular Infantry 1698-1801"

Patrick Gordon - military teacher of Peter I. For a long time he commanded the 2nd Moscow
elected soldier regiment
Source: http://catholicurch.ru/index.php/gallery/member/4-drogon/

3. All three Moscow elective regiments took part in the unsuccessful Battle of Narva in 1700 for the Russian army. As a result of this battle, the Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky Guards Regiments (at that time part of the 3rd Moscow Elected Soldiers Regiment) received the status of Life Guards. There is an opinion in the literature that the Preobrazhensky Regiment is the oldest regiment of the guard. This statement is rather controversial in light of the fact that from the moment of creation and until 1706, the Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky Guards regiments were divisions of the same military unit and had a common regimental commander (at first he was Major General A. M. Golovin, and from 1700 - General -Major I.I. Chambers). The official history of the Russian Imperial Army established the seniority of the Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky regiments from 1683. The reason for the birth of the version of the "primogeniture" of the Preobrazhensky regiment was some subjective facts from the history of the Semenovsky regiment. Court historians condemned this regiment for its “rebellion” (on October 16, 1820, the head company of the Semyonovsky regiment, dissatisfied with the ban on the new regimental commander Schwartz for the soldiers to engage in crafts, filed a request to change the regimental commander. The regiment was disarmed and sent in full strength to the Peter and Paul Fortress), and the Soviets disliked him for his participation in the suppression of the Moscow uprising in 1905.

Life Guards Semyonovsky Regiment
Source: http://russiahistory.ru/lejb-gvardii-semenovskij-polk/

4. The Life Guards regiments were conceived by Peter I as a kind of personnel reserve. Initially, all guardsmen had an advantage of two ranks over military personnel of army units. Later, this advantage was reserved only for officers, and then, as the size of the guard grew, it was divided into the "old" guard (with an advantage of two ranks) and the "young" (with an advantage of one rank). By the beginning of the 20th century, all guards officers had an advantage of one rank. In the guard hierarchy of the early twentieth century, there was no rank of lieutenant colonel, so the captain of the guards was promoted immediately to colonel.

Colonel, battalion commander of the Life Guards Semenovsky Regiment in full dress
Source: http://maxpark.com/community/129/content/1797108

5. By the beginning of the twentieth century, the Russian guards infantry had reached its maximum development and included 12 infantry and 4 rifle regiments, as well as one separate company. Twelve of the sixteen regiments of the guards infantry (Preobrazhensky, Semenovsky, Izmailovsky, Jaeger, Moscow, Finland, Lithuanian, Volyn, 1st Rifle of His Majesty, 2nd Rifle of Tsarskoye Selo, 3rd Rifle of His Majesty, 4th Rifle of the Imperial Family) were originally formed as guards, and four (Grenadier, Pavlovsk, Kexholm Emperor of Austria and Petrograd King Frederick William III) were transferred to the guard for special military merits. Organizationally, by 1914, the guards infantry units were consolidated into three guards infantry divisions and a guards rifle brigade (the 1st, 2nd divisions and the rifle brigade made up the guards infantry corps, and the 3rd division was part of the 22nd army corps). The Guards Infantry took an active part in the First World War and was involved in the Lublin (1914), Warsaw-Ivangorod (1914), Czestochowa-Krakow (1914) operations, positional battles near Lomza (1915), military operations in the city area Hill (1915), Vilna (1915), Kovel (1916), Vladimir-Volyn (1916) operations, positional battles on the Stokhid River (1916), Galician operation (1917). Guards units were used as shock infantry, which led to heavy losses in personnel. The losses of the guards infantry in the first year of the war alone are estimated at 30% of the officers and 80% of the lower ranks.

6. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the acquisition of the guards infantry was carried out, as a rule, by recruits from the Great Russian provinces. Necessary condition there was a certificate of trustworthiness, which was issued by the police at the place of residence of the recruit. The distribution of recruits among the regiments was carried out in accordance with their appearance. So, tall blondes were recruited into the Preobrazhensky Regiment, and in the 3rd and 5th companies - with beards; in Semenovsky - tall brown-haired; in Izmailovsky and Grenadier - brunettes (in the company of His Majesty - bearded); in Moscow - brunettes (in the 9th company), the highest - in the company of His Majesty; in Lithuanian - beardless tall blondes; in Kexholmsky - beardless tall brown-haired men; in St. Petersburg - brunettes; in Jaegersky, Finlyandsky and Volynsky - people of "light build" of any hair color. The 1st Rifle Regiment was equipped with blonds, the 2nd with brunettes, and the 4th with "short-nosed". The military training program of the guards did not differ significantly from the army and included the following disciplines: initial education, training in field observation and determination of distances to the target, shooting practice, shooting training for commanders and tactical exercises with live shooting); engineering training (the course included self-digging, the construction of the simplest engineering structures and the basics of camouflage); bayonet fight. In the guards, earlier than in the army, gymnastic (physical) training was introduced. The system of gymnastic exercises included: free movements and exercises with guns and sticks; projectile exercises; walking, running and engaging in marches; field gymnastics; group exercises, games (in 1908 football was included in the list of recommended games); throwing spears and weights.

7. In the Russian Imperial Army, with the exception of the period of the reign of Paul I, they tried not to change the names of the regiments. In the history of the Russian guards infantry, only three regiments have changed their name. On August 24, 1914, the Life Guards St. Petersburg Regiment was renamed the Life Guards Petrograd Regiment (in connection with the renaming of St. Petersburg to Petrograd). On October 12, 1817, the Lithuanian Life Guards Regiment was renamed Moscow, and on the basis of its 3rd Battalion in Warsaw, a new Lithuanian Life Guards Regiment was formed. In 1855, the Life Guards Jaeger Regiment was renamed the Life Guards Gatchina, but on August 17, 1870, on the day of the regimental holiday, its former name was returned to the regiment. According to legend, the old name of the regiment was returned thanks to the wit of an elderly honored general (some history buffs attribute the wit to Lieutenant General Ivan Gavrilovich Chekmarev, which seems doubtful, and, most likely, the story still has an anecdotal character), who answered the emperor’s greeting: “Hello, old huntsman" - "I'm not an old huntsman, but a young Gatchina resident!"

Royal Guard

Before the revolution itself, two infantry divisions were located in St. Petersburg. The first included the Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky regiments, personally formed by Peter I from the "amusing" regiments and named after two villages near Moscow. It also included the Izmailovsky regiment, founded in 1730 by the dynasty of Ivan V "to spite" the Peter's guard, and the Jaeger regiment. The second division included the Life Grenadier, Moscow, Pavlovsky and Finland regiments.

In addition to the infantrymen, there were two regiments of cavalry in Petersburg: the Cavalry Guards and the Horse Guards. The Guards artillery, the Guards crew, the third battalion of riflemen and the Guards sapper battalion were also located there.

But that was not all. In Tsarskoye Selo stood the cuirassiers of Her Majesty, bearing the name "yellow" - the color of the uniform; life hussars and three battalions of riflemen of the imperial family. Her Majesty's "blue" cuirassiers were located in Gatchina, and horse grenadiers, lancers and life dragoons were placed in Peterhof.

All this "royal army" had to fully correspond to its status. After all, the metropolitan service included numerous parades, participation in the receptions of distinguished guests and, finally, guarding in the royal chambers. And therefore, the future guardsmen, who were brought from all over Russia, were selected in the most careful way.

Every year, at the beginning of October, recruits began to arrive in St. Petersburg in small batches, all of them tall and physically healthy. As they accumulated, in the Mikhailovsky Manege, a division into shelves was appointed, which at all times was considered a difficult but important matter.

Emperor Alexander II, for example, always produced it personally. True, Alexander III was already little interested in the front and observation parts and did not go to the breakdowns. Later, Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich, who for many years commanded the troops of the guards of the St. Petersburg Military District, dealt with this matter. And starting from 1904 and up to the beginning of the First World War, the breakdown was always made by the commander of the guards corps.

Snub-nosed - to the Pavlovsky regiment

The commanders of the guards regiments selected soldiers for themselves according to long-established rules and canons. Enough interesting description these rules gives in his memoirs former officer of the Life Guards of the Semenovsky Regiment Yu. V. Makarov: “Heavy guys, brunettes, dark brown-haired or red-haired were selected for Preobrazhensky. No attention was paid to beauty. The main thing was growth and heroic constitution.

Mostly beautiful brunettes were taken to the Horse Guards. The Semyonovites were tall, blond, and “clean-faced,” if possible with blue eyes, matching the color of their collar. The cavalry guards were of approximately the same type, only more slender and stoic.

The Izmailovtsy and the Life Grenadiers were dark-haired, the former prettier, the latter scarier. The Life Jaegers are brown-haired, broad-shouldered and broad-faced. Muscovites are red. Not very tall blondes went to Pavlovtsy, and in memory of the founder of the regiment, Emperor Paul, they were snub-nosed. Short, slender brunettes were selected for the hussars. The same type was retained for the shooters, and the most beautiful in person were selected for the fourth battalion of the Imperial Family.

Compliance with such strict rules could not be entrusted to simple adjutants, and therefore, by the appointed hour, all regimental commanders gathered in the arena. Upon the arrival of the commander of the guards corps, the eldest of the generals stepped forward and announced to the recruits that their future boss would now greet them, to whom they should answer: “We wish you good health, Your Excellency!” It is clear that no “We wish you good health ...” did not work out of the box. Blinded by so many uniforms and epaulettes, simple village boys were simply lost: some muttered something to themselves, some simply bowed low. However, this did not bother the commanders - the guards would teach everything.

Then the breakdown actually began. Starting from the right-flank, the corps commander carefully examined the recruits, after which he put a certain figure on each chest with chalk. The numbers indicated the following: one - to Preobrazhensky, two - to Semenovsky, three - to Izmailovsky, and so on. The underlined unit “registered” the conscript to the Cavalier Guard Regiment, the deuce - to the Horse Guards; the underlined figure eight denoted a hussar regiment.

Following the corps commander was a non-commissioned officer of enormous stature, who, with his healthy hands, snatched out of action a recruit frozen in place and, roaring at full power: "Semenovsky" or "Hussars", according to the hint set by the commanding hand, with a mighty push sent the future guardsman to the named group. It was a kind of ritual, an age-old tradition. The conscript could have reached the indicated place himself, but he had to be thrown, and so that he was necessarily picked up by the hands of his future colleagues.

Service start

For most of the recruits, it didn't matter at all which regiment they got into. But if one of them expressed a desire to serve in a certain place, then his request was usually taken into account. Most often, it happened that the younger brother asked for the regiment, where the older one was already “pulling the strap” and never received a refusal.

After a couple of hours, both commanders and recruits began to feel tired. The last ranks were already hastily passed, guided mainly by the fact in which part how much more guardsmen needed to be added for good measure. By eight o'clock in the evening, the breakdown was over, the authorities were leaving, and the newly-minted guardsmen, accompanied by non-commissioned officers, dispersed to their barracks to loud music.

However, this was not the end yet. On the same evening, near the regimental office, recruits were divided into companies, each of which also had its own external differences. And only quite late in the evening, tired of the huge number of bosses and new impressions, the young guards had dinner and went to bed. And the next day, at exactly five o'clock in the morning, there was a bathhouse, breakfast and a long service for the benefit of the tsar and the fatherland ...

I dug up a report on a spring walk from Semyonovskaya to Preobrazhenskaya Square. A very interesting area from a historical point of view, the former Semyonovskaya and Preobrazhenskaya settlements. In some places, in the depths of the alleys, there are still untouched corners of old Moscow, there are even somewhere around 10 wooden houses).

House of the beginning of the 19th century on Izmailovskoye highway, 3a.

Izmailovskoye Highway 4. The house is opposite, also from the beginning of the 19th century.

Bolshaya Semyonovskaya 55, surviving last days house of the 2nd half of the 19th century. By the way, the far part of this house has the features of industrial architecture, it fit into the next photo. There used to be a baranka factory in this house.

Three centuries of Moscow architecture) business center "Monte Falcone", included in the program of skyscrapers "New Ring of Moscow"; a gloomy factory box from the 60s of the XX century and the industrial part of house 55 from the previous photo.

Houses at the beginning of Bolshaya Semyonovskaya Street:

Nice mansion on Zhuravlev Square. Actually, it is difficult to call it an area, with the exception of the initial section - the square in front of the MELZ recreation center. Further, from DK to N. Zhuravlev Lane, this is an ordinary street)

Mansion with Empire elements. Zhuravlev Square, 6:

The house is on the other side of the square in front of the recreation center. But it is listed on Malaya Semyonovskaya, 1:

Malaya Semyonovskaya street towards Izmailovsky Val:

Malaya Semyonovskaya 11. An interesting wooden house, there are very few houses of this type left in Moscow...

And this is Preobrazhenskaya Sloboda. Street 9 Rota, 9a:

1st Suvorovsky lane. The lane is short, between 9 Rota and Suvorovskaya streets. All of its historical buildings have been preserved:

House on the corner of Buzheninova street and 2nd Elektrozavodsky lane, 27/5. Until the 1970s, there were a lot of such houses here, now only a few remain ...

Wooden house on Buzheninova street. Surprisingly, it does not have a plate with a number, and it is not marked on the maps, like its annex on the left. Just an empty place on the maps) Maybe there is some kind of secret organization))

What is left of the house on Suvorovskaya street... by the way, is also not marked on the map. Probably earlier he had a 2nd wooden floor, then burned down. Looks like it should be number 23.

Suvorovskaya street, 23. House at the turn of the XIX-XX centuries:

Suvorovskaya street, 10, in the background of the Green Fort residential complex. This is how historical buildings die ... although it is also drawn on the LCD render. It will most likely be demolished and replaced with a brand new one.

Suvorovskaya street, 51. But it is not at all clear what is being done with this house. Below is a photo from 1999, where it is wooden and has five windows. The only thing that looks similar in both pictures is the window on the side. It turns out that the house was brick, but it was lined with wood on the outside ... an interesting case) it may have burned down and now it is being "restored". It is not clear what will come of this.

This is what the house looked like in 1999:

Preobrazhenskaya Square.