The glorious history of cavalry guards in Russia. Cavalry Guards are the elite of the troops of the Russian Empire. Cavalry Guards, surname 1904

1745-1799

At half XVIII century Serbs crossed the southwestern border of Russia in droves and settled in Novorossiya. Political persecution in Turkey and religious oppression in Austria prompted Colonel Horvath from Kurtits to ask the Russian ambassador in Vienna, Count M. P. Bestuzhev-Ryumin, for the right to move to Russia. In 1751, permission followed, and in the same year Horvat, his family and many of his fellow believers moved to Russia. The following year, many more Serbian immigrants appeared under the leadership of Colonels Ivan Šević and Rajko from Preradović, who served in the troops of Empress Maria Theresa. They were allotted lands on the left side of the Dnieper steppe, between the Lugan and Bakhmut rivers, where they formed two hussar regiments

Zorich came from the Serbian gentry, was of Greek religion, and had no fortune. In 1754 he enlisted in the service as a hussar. In 1760, as a sergeant, he took part in the Prussian War and on March 1 he was captured by the Prussians, where he remained for about nine months, and was released “on parole.” Upon his return from captivity, he was promoted to cornet and on the same day to second lieutenant - for his repeated courage in battle. Once again in service, he continued to participate in the Prussian War until its end as an officer, being only 16 years old; in one of the battles he was wounded by a saber. Tall, handsome, courageous, decisive, he easily acquired general love and respect. A number of distinctions characterize him as a brilliant officer, and at the end of the war he was promoted to lieutenant.

During the first Turkish War, Semyon Zorich commanded significant forward detachments and was promoted to second major for his personal bravery. Being under the command of Lieutenant General Shtofeln, he repeatedly received orders to reconnoiter the movements of the Turks across the river. Danube. In December 1769, Zorich distinguished himself by defeating Tatar crowds in Bessarabia and destroying their villages.

On May 19, 1770, Shtofeln sent Zorich to prevent the Turks from crossing the Prut. When Zorich arrived, the enemy had already crossed the Prut and even two bays by fording and swimming. At the third, narrowest, bay stood captain Trebukhovich of the Akhtyrsky regiment with 300 people of light troops, 200 people of the Arkhangelsk infantry regiment and two guns. “Despite the heavy cannon fire at him, the enemy rushed into the water with an ordinary cry.” Zorich hurried there to help, ordered to shoot and throw grenades at the enemy and forced him to flee, despite the fact that there were 12 thousand Turks.

On May 27 of the same year, Semyon Zorich and his team, with strong artillery fire, prevented the enemy from building a bridge on the river. Rod and forced him to retreat. " During Zorich's seven-month command of the forward detachments at a distance of 180 versts, the enemy did not have the opportunity to break through into the cordon, except twice, and even then no further than five versts, and was driven away with great damage; So the Crimean Khan was driven out with three bunchuzh pashas, ​​with 9 thousand Janissaries, with large artillery and with the Budzhak and other hordes".

On July 3 of the same year, 1770, Zorich, having received two wounds with a spear and one with a saber, was captured by the Turks. Eyewitness Shcheglovsky says: " The brave Major Zorich was surrounded by the Turks, defended himself courageously and decided to sell his life dearly. Many fell by his hand; finally, seeing the need to yield and the sabers raised above him, he shouted, pointing to his chest: “I am captain pasha!” This word saved his life. The captain-pasha of the Turks is a full general, which is why they took Zorich to Constantinople, where he was introduced to the Sultan as a Russian general. His mind important view, posture, stories about his courage - everything prompted the Sultan to distinguish him"According to Shcheglovsky, the Sultan asked Zorich to go into his service, but neither the promised rewards nor the threats embarrassed him: he indignantly rejected the Sultan's offer and was kept in Constantinople until the exchange of prisoners (about five years).

Upon Semyon Zorich's return to Russia in 1775, he was immediately sent with important dispatches to Stockholm and only upon his return received the Order of St. George 4th Art. In St. Petersburg, Zorich decided to seek the patronage of Potemkin, his former army colleague. It was at this time that Bezborodko and Zavadovsky appeared at court, supported by Rumyantsev, Razumovsky and G. G. Orlov. The Empress rewarded their zeal and began to treat Zavadovsky especially favorably. Potemkin was dissatisfied with Zavadovsky, who sought to become independent, and was looking for a person who could take his place at court.

Zorin was then 30 years old; According to contemporaries, he was a handsome man and a brave officer. Potemkin kept him with him in the rank of adjutant and on May 26, 1777, presented the Empress with a report on the appointment of Semyon Zorin as commander of the Life Hussar squadron and Life Cossack teams. On May 30, Zorich received the appointment requested by Potemkin with promotion to lieutenant colonel. Then he was presented to the empress and granted the aide-de-camp with promotion to colonel and appointment as chief of the life hussar squadron. Rumyantsev in his autobiography speaks about this event as follows: “Returning to St. Petersburg, we found Zavadovsky losing his already short-lived favor. Zorich took his place. Honors, awards, wealth showered on him.” On September 22, Semyon Gavrilovich Zorich was promoted to cornet of the Cavalry Corps with promotion to major general, and two days later he was appointed chief of the Akhtyrsky Hussar Regiment.

Zorich gained great influence at court, but did not abuse it. The “incident” with Zorich was received favorably by St. Petersburg society. " General Zorich,- A.K. Razumovsky wrote to his father, - treats everyone very kindly". Another contemporary wrote about Zorich that he "b he was a handsome man, but very limited and without any upbringing; however, he was the kindest of mortals". Or rather, the empress herself understood it: " We can say that he had two souls: he loved good, but also did bad, he was brave in dealing with the enemy, but personally a coward".

His successes at court lasted less than a year, and his removal took place in May 1778. Contemporaries tell the following about this: the protege of the all-powerful Potemkin, Zorich, decided to free himself from his influence. " Potemkin, although he was not afraid of Zorich, wanted to show that one cannot even think of resisting him with impunity, and with this example to warn anyone who would come up with such a thought. The prince presented to the empress that it was unpleasant and even humiliating to have a person of such limited knowledge as Zorich near him.".

The Empress, probably under the influence of Potemkin, once treated Zorich very coldly. Attributing this to Potemkin's intrigues, Semyon Zorich, being very hot-tempered and unbridled by nature, immediately said a lot of insolence to the prince and challenged him to a duel, which Potemkin rejected. Zorich went to the empress and desperately told her that the only thing he valued in his life was her disposition towards him. After this, for two days the empress was again favorable to him, and it seemed that everything went as before again. But it only seemed: his days of influence at court were already numbered. The English envoy says that the empress personally announced Zorich’s resignation in the mildest forms, increased his pension, gave him a huge amount of money and 7 thousand peasants. Zorich left St. Petersburg and went to travel abroad.

In September 1778, he returned from abroad to Shklov, where on the empress’s name day, November 24, he founded the Shklov Noble School.

In Shklov, Zorich lived as a great Russian gentleman, famous for his hospitality and surprising everyone with his luxury. Every year, acquaintances from all sides came to the Shklov castle on Catherine’s Day, on Zorich’s name day and during the Shklov fairs, staying with him for two weeks or even more; Balls, masquerades, amateur performances, fireworks and carousels were held here. In 1780, Empress Catherine visited Shklov twice during her trip to Mogilev. Zorich met his mother queen in a dignified manner. He remodeled his house, ordered a wonderful table set from Saxony, and built a triumphal gate. Semyon Gavrilovich met the empress at the triumphal gates and escorted her to his house. He rode on the right side of the carriage next to Count 3. G. Chernyshev, the governor of the region. In the evening, the Empress played cards and listened to German comic opera. Then the ball opened, at the end of which a magnificent dinner was served...

Having retired in 1784, S.G. Zorich became even more involved in his school; he himself held the title of chief director and was his boss. All the students, whose number was at first 150, and then reached 300, were nobles, and although the school was not called military, it had the character of a military educational institution. It consisted of a squadron of cavalry and three companies of infantry. The squadron was divided into two platoons, the first was cuirassiers, the second hussars; two grenadier companies and one chasseur company made up the infantry. For those graduating from the school, Zorich petitioned the empress to assign them to service. He invested not only his soul into this school, which at that time was the only one of its kind, but also significant sums.

Soon after ascending the throne, Emperor Paul, on December 25, 1796, appointed Zorich as chief of the Izyum regiment, and a year later promoted him to lieutenant general. This appointment was unsuccessful and brought a lot of grief to Zorich himself. Careless, ill-mannered, constantly in need of money and holding on only to loans, the terms of which he “rarely observed”, having become accustomed in Shklov to the fulfillment of all his whims and to an obsequious attitude, Zorich became entangled in the regimental sums of money, and with his daring defiant behavior he alienated his officers regiment, starting with the regimental commander Tregubov, who was brought to trial following Zorich’s complaint against him.

The headquarters officers of the Izyum regiment filed a complaint against Zorich with the inspector of the Livland division, Lieutenant General Numsen, accusing the chief of preventing them from checking the cash drawer. Having learned about the sending of such a complaint, Zorich “considered it an indignation,” which he reported to Numsen. Arriving in the Birzhu borough, Numsen conducted the matter “as soon as possible, so as not to compromise Zorich with his subordinates.” He wanted to limit himself to interrogating the regiment commander, Lieutenant Colonel Dembrowski, who enjoyed the “irrevocable power of attorney of the chief,” but it turned out that Zorich did not allow him to access the regimental treasury either. To the request of the headquarters officers to allow them to inspect the treasury, he replied that “subordinates must blindly obey”, that he “has his own reasons for every enterprise, and perhaps emergency orders,” and finally said: “What do you want to look at in the treasury?” "There is no money, there are orders that I have not signed yet, but I will sign them immediately."

During Numsen’s investigation, it turned out that the boss spent over 12 thousand rubles “for private needs.” regimental money, that not only officers, but also lower ranks did not receive salaries, that “many of the lower ranks were forced to sell their own belongings for their maintenance,” that Zorich used lower ranks and government horses to erect his own buildings, etc.

Having received Numsen’s report, Emperor Paul dismissed Zorich from service on September 15, and three days later Rostopchin informed him of the following highest command: “ The Emperor deigned to order to write to V. np-wow, after what happened while you were in charge of your regiment, it won’t be bad for you to live in Shklov..."

At the beginning of 1798, S.G. Zorich finished his settlement with the regiment and moved to Shklov. Twice he turned to the sovereign with requests to allow him to come to St. Petersburg, “where in the blink of an eye V.I.V. would see the truth,” but permission was not forthcoming.

On May 29, 1799, the Shklov School burned down. The fire greatly saddened Zorich and affected his fragile health: he went to bed, and his situation, according to the doctors, became hopeless.

In the same year, Semyon Gavrilovich Zorich died, exactly on the third anniversary of Catherine’s death. “The Lord is merciful, he will not leave you,” said the dying man to his numerous loved ones gathered at his bedside.

S. G. Zorich was buried near the Shklov Assumption Church. A marble cross was placed on his grave, but the best monument to Zorich is the noble school transferred from Shklov to Moscow, called the 1st Moscow Cadet Corps.

Alexander Dmitrievich Lanskoy

1758-1784

was the son of the Smolensk landowner Dmitry Artemyevich, who served as a lieutenant in one of the cuirassier regiments; demoted for arbitrariness and serving again during the Seven Years' War, Dmitry Artemyevich subsequently took the position of Polotsk commandant. Alexander was educated at home and in 1772 began serving in the Izmailovsky Regiment as a soldier, where he “was promoted to non-commissioned officer ranks.” Of the sergeants Izmailovsky Regiment granted on June 19, 1776 to the Cavalry Corps as a cavalry guard with promotion to army lieutenant. The condition of the young cavalry guard at that time was extremely meager. His entire property, according to a certain Serra, who taught him French, amounted to five rubles.

Fate, which deprived Lansky of wealth, generously rewarded him with a beautiful appearance. According to contemporaries, Lanskoy had extremely regular and beautiful facial features and was tall, healthy and courageous in build. Empress Catherine II, during her stay in Peterhof in the summer of 1779, drew attention to the handsome cavalry guard, who often appeared on guard. On October 4 of the same year, Alexander Lanskoy submitted a request for transfer to the army and two days later was appointed adjutant of Prince Potemkin. Lansky's transition to the position of Potemkin's adjutant coincided with the resignation of a person close to the empress - adjutant Korsakov. Harris, in a letter dated October 11, 1779, wrote to Lord Wymouth: " Yesterday morning, Korsakov received his resignation personally from the Empress herself... The name of his successor is Lanskoy, originally from the Smolensk province. He served in the cavalry guards and since his stay in Peterhof he constantly attracted the attention of Her Imp. Majesty. Lanskoy is young, handsome and, as they say, extremely easy-going"From this time on, Lansky's rapid rise truly began, which did not stop until his early death.

Introduced to the Empress by Potemkin, Alexander Lanskoy in November 1779 was granted the adjutant wing and received 100 thousand rubles. for a wardrobe and moved to the palace. That accommodating attitude that Harris speaks of in his letter helped Lansky a lot in his new position, and complete abstinence from interference in state and political affairs put him beyond all intrigue. Feedback from contemporaries about Lansky mostly speaks in his favor. According to Gelbig, " he could often have the opportunity to become an important person. At that time, Joseph II came to Russia, then Friedrich Wilhelm, the heir of Frederick II, and finally Gustav II. Each of them would have willingly attracted him to their side, but his behavior was always so restrained that it was impossible to reach him". Bezborodko, comparing Lansky with Count Mamonov, calls him "a real angel, because he did not try too hard to harm others." With such character traits and with the Empress's ever-increasing disposition towards him, Lanskoy became one of the closest people to Catherine II.

The Empress sincerely became attached to her young adjutant. Her entire correspondence with Grimm is full of the most flattering, almost exaggerated, reviews of Lansky. " To understand what this young man is,- the empress wrote on June 25, 1782 to Grimm, - You need to know what Count Orlov said about him to one of his friends. “Oh,” he said, “you will see what kind of person she will make of him. He “devours” everything.” One winter he “devoured” poets and poems, another several historians, we get tired of novels, and we get carried away by Algarotti and his comrades. Without receiving an education, we acquire countless knowledge, and we love only the most educated society. In addition to all this, we build and plant, we are charitable, cheerful, honest and meek".

Indeed, Alexander Lanskoy, who had not received an education, but was intelligent and not stupid by nature, already at court began to supplement his knowledge by studying literature and history, and the Empress herself supervised his studies. At the same time, Lansky developed a passion for collecting various works of art. He bought paintings, cameos and precious stones in large quantities. The Empress spared no expense for his pleasure. Grimm was a commission agent for the purchase of things abroad, and a kind of correspondence was established between him and Lansky: not speaking French, Lanskoy signed his name under letters written from beginning to end by the Empress.

Sparing neither awards nor money for her favorite, the Empress, during her trip to Belarus, granted Lansky a chamberlain on May 9, 1780, which gave him the right to the rank of major general; following this, he was appointed chief of the Smolensk Dragoon Regiment; in 1783 he was awarded the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky and St. Anna. Finally, on February 2, 1784, Alexander Lanskoy received the highest court honor of that time - the rank of adjutant general with promotion to lieutenant general, and on March 6 he was awarded lieutenant of the Cavalry Corps. Lansky's fortune quickly grew, and his contemporaries estimated it at 6-7 million. It consisted of estates, three houses in St. Petersburg and Tsarskoe Selo, capital and a collection.

Such was the position and condition of Adjutant General Alexander Dmitrievich Lansky four years after he first appeared at court as a poor cavalry guard and army lieutenant.

On June 19, 1784, Lanskoy felt a sore throat and reported this to the Empress, saying that he would suffer a serious illness from which he would not recover. His premonition was justified: in the evening the fever intensified and forced him to go to bed, and five days later, on June 25 at half past five in the afternoon, he was gone...

Contemporaries attributed the outcome of Lansky's illness to the fact that his body was shaken by strong doses of cantharide, allegedly prescribed to him by Doctor Sobolevsky.

The funeral took place on the third day after his death. " On Thursday, June 27,- appears in the Chamber-Fourier journal, - in the morning, at about 9 o'clock, the body of his late minister A.D. Lansky was carried out of his house with due honor to the cathedral Sophia Church, where after the liturgy it was sung by the Most Reverend Metropolitan of Novgorod and St. Petersburg with the other three bishops and other nobles clergy; then, for burial, all the clergy, as well as the most noble persons of both sexes from the cathedral church, were escorted to the cemetery and interred in the chapel located here".

By order of the Empress, a church was erected over the grave of Alexander Lansky in the name of the Kazan Mother of God.

Lansky's death plunged the Empress into deep sadness. On July 2 she wrote to Grimm: " I got out of bed, but weak and so bitterly saddened that at present I cannot see a human face without sobs drowning out my speech; I can neither sleep nor eat, reading bores me, and writing exhausts my strength. I don’t know what will happen to me, but what I do know is that never in my life have I been so unhappy as since the time when my best and dear friend left me in this way.".

From the decree to the Senate, given in Tsarskoe Selo on July 7, 1784, it is clear that Alexander Lanskoy, before his death, transferred all his real estate back to the treasury. The rest was granted “to the permission of the person who wrote the decree,” that is, to the permission of Catherine P. The Empress ordered Lansky’s fortune to be divided between his mother, brother and five sisters. The collection was purchased by Ekaterina for 350 thousand rubles.

The image of Lansky was not soon erased from the empress’s memory. After two years, courtiers sometimes noticed that Catherine was shedding tears at the monument erected to the late adjutant general.

Lanskoy, elevated to the highest level of honor by the will of the Empress, during his lifetime was an example of such faithful devotion to Catherine, which she, according to her own statement and according to the testimony of her contemporaries, had never seen in her life. This boundless devotion to the empress and the fact that, having become a strong man, Lanskoy did not use his influence to harm others, is his merit.

Count Alexander Matveevich Dmitriev-Mamonov

1758-1803

His father had long served in the palace department. Alexander was brought up at home, then lived with his uncle Baron Stroganov “on his koshte” (Kosht ​​- maintenance, food; dependency; cash) . Mamonov spoke Italian and French languages; “he spoke and wrote in French and Russian like few others in those days,” and he drew quite well. When I entered military service and how he served is unknown. From the surviving materials it is only clear that in 1784, already 26 years old, he was the adjutant general of Prince G. A. Potemkin.

Two years later, Potemkin introduced Mamonov to the Empress. They say that it was agreed between Catherine and Potemkin that the prince would send her his adjutant with a picture, criticism of which would serve as an assessment of the submitter. When releasing Mamonov, Catherine told him to tell the prince that “the picture is good, but the coloring is bad.” On July 19, 1786, Mamonov was promoted to colonel with the award of aide-de-camp, and on September 2 of the same year he was awarded a cornet of the Cavalry Corps with the rank of major general. On January 20, 1787, he was granted a full chamberlain, and on June 11 of the same year, prime major of the Preobrazhensky Regiment.

To Mamonov’s credit, I should point out his relationship with Grand Duke Pavel Petrovich, who served as the target of mockery and insolence of other favorites. Despite his mistress’s attitude towards her son, Alexander always showed the greatest respect and attention to the heir and his wife and tried to do something nice for them. Garnovsky reported to Potemkin that both halves of the court were now living in the best harmony.

Of all Catherine’s favorites, Mamonov was the only one who was burdened by his position and three years later betrayed the empress by marrying her subject. These, however, are his only differences: he did not leave a noticeable mark on himself with his life and activities.

Having brought Mamonov closer to her, Catherine tried to develop him into a statesman - all matters of internal and foreign policy were always discussed and decided in the presence of Count Mamonov, but her efforts were not crowned with success. Alexander was not at all a court man, and he ended his court life in the most, according to Potemkin, “stupid way.”

Already in December 1786, just five months after his appointment as aide-de-camp, Mamonov told the empress that he was “very bored living at court” and that “among court people he respects himself as between wolves in the forest.” " The boy considers his life a prison, he is very bored", says Zakhar Zotov.

The cage was golden - but still a cage. The favorite is burdened by his position, power and decides to exchange all this for personal family happiness. “Ungrateful,” he falls in love with 16-year-old maid of honor Daria Fedorovna Shcherbatova. For eight months, he struggles between feelings of love for the princess and gratitude to the empress, who showered him with such great favors.

Many at court have already spoken about Mamonov’s connection with Shcherbatova. The Empress also heard, but did not want to believe it. “The prince told me in the winter,” she told Khrapovitsky, “they say, mother, spit on him, and he hinted at Shcherbatova, but it’s my fault, I myself tried to justify him before the prince.”

And yet awards are pouring in on him: on May 1, 1788, he was appointed chief of the Kazan cuirassier regiment; May 4 - lieutenant of the Cavalry Corps with promotion to lieutenant general and promotion to adjutant general; On May 9, he was elevated to count of the Roman Empire. But still, the empress notices that Mamonov is burdened by his position. Finally, the relationship became so strained that Mamonov could not stand it and on June 17, 1789, he went to the empress and asked for her advice on what to do. The Empress promises to think about retraite brilliant (brilliant retirement) to get him out of this situation.

Count Ribopierre, in his notes, speaking about this scene, quotes Catherine’s words: “ I'm getting old, my friend; your future worries me extremely. Although the Grand Duke is favorable to you, I am extremely afraid that envious people (and who does not have them at court) will not have influence on his changeable disposition".

But Mamonov refuses to stay at court. In response to the empress’s letter, he writes “with a trembling hand” that he has already been in love with Shcherbatova for a year and six months since he promised to marry.

On July 1 at nine o'clock in the evening the wedding took place in the court church. On the 2nd at 10 pm he went to the empress to say goodbye, and that night the young couple left for Dubrovitsy. Mamonov left as a count, chief of the Kazan cuirassier regiment, adjutant general, he left having received a year's leave from the empress, not resignation.

However, Mamonov was severely punished for his ingratitude towards his benefactor. This punishment was in the person of his wife, with whom he lived very unfriendly. Mamonov’s father and mother, having learned about his removal from the court, “trembled,” and he himself constantly reproached his wife for ruining his career. Soon repenting of the “stupidity” he had done, he wanted to return to serve in St. Petersburg, wrote to the Empress about this, but, of course, did not receive permission to return...

On November 24, 1796, Mamonov, by order of Paul I, was offered to either go to serve in the Kazan Cuirassier Regiment, in which he was considered the chief, or leave the service. Mamonov submitted his resignation on December 14 and received it on the 20th of the same month.

In 1803, on September 29, A. M. Dmitriev-Mamonov died in Moscow, having outlived his wife by only two years.

1767--1822

His father, a well-known bribe-taker and covetous man, served in the Horse Guards, was dismissed due to illness with the rank of lieutenant colonel of the Landmilitsky Corps, transferred to the civil service and served as vice-governor, managing the estates of Count N. I. Saltykov. Plato, an eight-year-old child, was, according to the custom of that time, enlisted as a sergeant in the Semenovsky regiment.

In 1788, Zubov was with the army operating in Finland. On January 1, 1789, he was promoted to second captain.

Platon Aleksandrovich’s rapid career was facilitated by the patronage of Count N.I. Saltykov, who liked the young man “for his modesty and respectfulness.” In the spring of 1789, when the Empress went to Tsarskoye Selo, Zubov asked his patron Saltykov for command of the horse guards detachment assigned to the Tsarskoye Selo guards. On June 20, it became beyond doubt that Zubov would be Dmitriev-Mamonov’s successor.

"Since yesterday,- writes Garnovsky, - the empress became more cheerful. Zubov, a Horse Guards officer attached to the Guards guards stationed here, was treated very kindly. And although this is not a prominent person at all, they think that he will be taken to the court, but no one knows anything directly, whether anything will happen from the city of Zubov". On June 21, Zubov sat with the Empress; on the 22nd he already had dinner with the Empress and since then spent every evening with her. On the 24th he received 10 thousand rubles and a ring with a portrait of the Empress. On July 4, Catherine signed a decree on the production Zubov was promoted to colonel and awarded his aide-de-camp.

The rise of Zubov was arranged by the enemies of G. A. Potemkin, wanting to have a person with the empress on whom they could rely and thus strengthen their importance. But Potemkin was too powerful, it is dangerous to enter into an open fight with him, it is even necessary to secure his favor. All this was instilled in Zubov, who not only obediently showed “his lordship due respect,” but also tried to gain the favor of people close to Potemkin. Even Catherine herself for a long time did not dare to inform Potemkin about the resignation of his protege Dmitriev-Mamonov and the choice of a “deputy” for him. In a letter dated September 6, 1789, the Empress “petitioned” Prince Potemkin to appoint Platon Zubov as a cornet of the Cavalry Corps, of which the prince was the chief.

Following Zubov, his relatives - his father and brothers - begin to move forward. But will Platon Zubov himself, an “invisible man” and “not very smart”, stay at court? Even his patrons were afraid for their pet and made sure that handsome young people did not come to the court. A. N. Naryshkina assured Ekaterina that Zubov was in love with her; Saltykov instructed the young man how to act in order to establish himself in his place: “Never have a desire that would not coincide with the opinion of the Empress, always flatter the Empress’s whims and her main passions and... humble yourself before Prince Potemkin and resist him not before, than when you are so strong that the prince cannot overthrow.”

From the very first days of Zubov's rise, the Empress began to accustom him to state affairs. “I do a lot of good for the state by educating young people,” she told Saltykov. The hours of the report were for Zubov a time of study, and the student’s complete inability was revealed. " In the morning Zubov reported on the guards papers, and there was some noise", - recorded by Khrapovitsky on December 30, 1792. Studies on state papers were equally unsuccessful." He torments himself with all his might over papers, having neither a fluent mind nor extensive abilities... He is very diligent in business and, in addition, is alien to any fun, but he is still new, and therefore the burden is higher than his real strength“- wrote Count Zavadovsky. Even the good-natured Khrapovitsky calls him “the foolish Zubov.” Suvorov also testified that “Prince Platon Alexandrovich does not have a tsar in his head,” and recognized him “what is popularly called evil.”

Suvorov was not mistaken. Zubov was neither modest, nor kind, nor good; he was only crafty. He pretended, cunned and dissembled until he strengthened his position at court. Having become the sovereign master of Catherine’s heart, dejected over the years, Zubov appeared in all his moral ugliness - impudent to the point of impudence, arrogant to the point of arrogance, power-hungry and arrogant, a completely dishonest person.

An eyewitness testifies that at a dinner in the Winter Palace, at which the Tsarevich was Pavel Petrovich with the family, a lively conversation ensued, in which the heir to the throne, however, did not take part; Catherine, wanting to involve the Grand Duke in the conversation, asked him whose opinion he agreed with on the issue that was the subject of the conversation. " With the opinion of Platon Alexandrovich", - the Tsarevich answered kindly. " Did I say something stupid?" - Zubov responded brazenly. Like all upstarts, he was very arrogant. Owing everything to N.I. Saltykov, who introduced him to the empress, Zubov did not think about pushing the old man aside in order to get the position of president of the Military Collegium himself and thus become a field marshal. Questions of honor were completely unknown to him.

Rumors about Zubov's increasing importance reached Potemkin and could not help but disturb him. Potemkin valued Catherine's glory, he understood the needs and knew the situation of Russia; he saw that both were beyond the capabilities of Zubov, about whom he had received correct information. They say that when sending a courier to St. Petersburg with the news of the capture of Ishmael, Potemkin told him: “Report to the Empress, I am healthy in everything, only one tooth is preventing me from eating; I will come to St. Petersburg and pull it out.”

On February 28, 1791, Potemkin arrived in St. Petersburg. Much of what he saw did not bode well. From Khrapovitsky’s diary it is clear that during Potemkin’s entire stay in St. Petersburg, his conversations with Catherine often ended in the empress’s tears and the gloomy mood of Potemkin, who understood well what could be expected from such a nonentity as Zubov. Many years later, Zubov voluntarily confessed: “Although I defeated him (Potemkin) halfway, I could not completely eliminate him from my path, and it was necessary to eliminate him, because the empress herself always went towards his desires and was simply afraid of him, as if "a demanding husband. She only loved me and often pointed to Potemkin so that I could follow his example." This example was beyond Zubov’s strength.

On October 12, news of the death of Prince Potemkin arrived in St. Petersburg. This news terribly struck the empress. She went to bed and spent the entire next day in tears. She complained to Khrapovitsky that she now had no one to rely on; She wrote to Grimm: " Prince Potemkin, dying, played a cruel joke on me. Now the whole burden falls on me alone... Once again I have to prepare people, and, of course, the Zubovs show the greatest hope for this...“Death “eliminated” Potemkin, whom, in Zubov’s opinion, “it was necessary to eliminate,” and the empress’s senile love put Zubov in Potemkin’s place.

On October 21, 1791, Zubov was appointed chief of the Cavalry Corps, on March 12, 1792, he was promoted to lieutenant general and granted adjutant general; On July 23, 1793, he received a portrait of the Empress and the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called; On July 25, he was appointed governor-general of Ekaterinoslav and Taurida, and on October 19, general-feldtzeichmeister; On January 1, 1795, Zubov was awarded the Order of St. Vladimir 1st class; On August 18, he received the Shavel economy in the newly annexed Polish regions, and for the annexation of Courland he was granted the Courland castle of Ruenthal. In the same year, he was appointed chief of the Cadet Corps and received a portrait of the Empress, showered with large tapeworms; On July 19, 1796, he was appointed head of the Black Sea Fleet and the Admiralty. And finally, on May 22 of the same year, P. A. Zubov received the title of Prince of the Holy Roman Empire.

A man close to the court, experienced in business, direct and honest, D. P. Troshchinsky for many years watched the progress of affairs captured by Zubov, and in the year of the empress’s death, when Catherine was already reigning, and Zubov ruled Russia, he wrote to Count A. R. Vorontsov about the all-powerful favorite: “The name thorn instead of the sovereign’s eye suits him.” " Everything crawled at Zubov’s feet,- says Massoy, - he stood alone and therefore considered himself great. Every morning numerous crowds of flatterers besieged his doors, filled the hallways and reception rooms".

Only Suvorov did not respect, love, or correctly evaluate Zubov. On December 15, 1795, when the field marshal arrived at the Winter Palace, Zubov received him at home, in a frock coat; when the favorite came to him for a return visit, Suvorov received him in only his underwear. As Novorossiysk Governor-General, Zubov considered Suvorov his subordinate and made him laugh with his orders. When the tone of his letters became too bossy, Suvorov taught him a lesson, like a boy: " To me, is your rescriptive, decree, imperative calm, used in certifications? not good, sir!“Suvorov disapproved of Zubov’s activities and, at every opportunity, openly expressed this, loudly speaking of Zubov as a scoundrel and a blockhead.

November 6, 1796 Catherine died. With her death, Zubov's significance ended. Nevertheless, Emperor Pavel Petrovich, who had so many reasons to be dissatisfied with Zubov, and the heir Alexander Pavlovich, who did not want to have him even among his lackeys, reacted with sympathy to his grief. Emperor Paul I bought it for 100 thousand rubles. Myatlev's house on Morskaya, ordered it to be decorated like a palace, and on November 14, on the eve of P. A. Zubov's birthday, he gave this house to him. The next day, Their Majesties Pavel Petrovich and Maria Feodorovna visited Zubov and “ate evening tea with him.”

Paul I's favor towards Zubov was short-lived. Already at the beginning of December, Zubov asked for dismissal from his positions. On February 3, 1797, he was sent to foreign lands for two years to improve his health, with permission to visit Lithuanian villages along the way. His path lay through Riga. From Riga Zubov traveled for some time to his Lithuanian estates, from there he went to Germany, where he amazed everyone with his wealth. In Berlin he was received very well; at the various German courts he visited, he was also received favorably.

In the fall of 1798, Zubov received the highest order to return to Russia. Arriving in Vilna, he informed the emperor about his arrival and asked for further orders. In response, he received a letter from Prince Lopukhin with advice to settle on his estate in the Vladimir province. Platon Alexandrovich, together with his brother Valerian, was placed under the supervision of the Vladimir governor Runich. By decree the Senate was ordered on May 25 " all the estates of the Feldzeichmsister Prince Zubov and the retired General Zubov, except for the family ones, should be taken into the state department..."

At the end of 1800, the Zubovs were allowed to return to St. Petersburg. This permission took place at the suggestion of the St. Petersburg military governor, Count Palen. Zubov was appointed director of the 1st cadet corps, with renaming to infantry generals; 25 February next year he was appointed chief of the same corps. The confiscated estates were returned to him.

“Platon Alexandrovich, let’s forget the past,” said the sovereign at Zubov’s first appearance at court. But Zubov did not know how to forget; he willingly joined the conspiracy conceived by Count Palen against the emperor. The conspirators headed to the palace in two parties: Palen was at the head of one, Bennigsen and Platon Zubov were at the head of the other. When the conspirators approached the doors of the first palace hallway, Zubov was suddenly overcome by fear, and he suggested going back. Bennigsen grabbed him by the hand and said: “What, you brought us here and now you want to retreat? We have gone too far to follow your advice, which would destroy everyone.” Zubov, Bennigsen and Argamakov were the first to enter the emperor's bedroom. Zubov rushed to the bed and found it empty. " Nous sommes perdus! II s"est sauve!" (“We are lost! He escaped!” (fr-)) - he shouted in horror. The alarm was in vain: the emperor was found next to the bed behind the screens. Bennigsen and Zubov pointed out to him the need to abdicate the throne. Pavel Petrovich did not answer anything and, turning to Zubov, said: “What are you doing, Platon Alexandrovich?” At this time, one of the conspirators entered the room and told Zubov that his presence was needed downstairs. Zubov left and never returned to the bedroom...

After the accession of Alexander I, Zubov played a prominent role and enjoyed influence for some time.

On March 30, 1801, the State Council was established, and Zubov was appointed its member. On November 21, he was appointed a member of the newly established commission for the organization of the Novorossiysk region. Zubov immediately managed to grasp new trends: the main figure of the reactionary period of the reign of Catherine II turned into one of the most liberal dignitaries. “Three then walked around with constitutions in their pockets - Derzhavin, Prince Platon Zubov with his invention, and Count Nikita Petrovich Panin with the English constitution, converted to Russian morals and customs... It took a lot of work then to watch the tsar so that he would not sign any of the projects; which of the projects was more stupid was difficult to describe: all three were equally stupid."

Zubov's position, however, was very precarious. They treated him with suspicion; Secret police surveillance was established over him and Count N.P. Panin. Zubov asked for leave abroad, which was granted to him on December 24, 1801, and in October 1802 he was already in Russia again. He usually lived on his estates. In September 1805, Zubov received Emperor Alexander at his Vitebsk estate Usvyat, in the house where in 1780 and 1787. Catherine P. stopped. In memory of this event, he erected an obelisk.

Since 1814, Zubov settled on his estate in Janishki, Shavelsky district, Vilna province, the center of his vast Lithuanian possessions. Zubov had up to 30 thousand souls of peasants who inhabited many towns, farms and villages, with a corresponding amount of arable land, forests, etc. On his estates, Zubov organized proper field farming and stud farms. Not trusting anyone except his chief manager, Bratkovsky, he went into all the economic details himself. In the fall, buyers of wheat and other household products and horse dealers from Prussia, the kingdom of the Polish and Baltic regions came to him. Only then would Zubov be cheerful, travel with his visitors to estates, treat merchants and sell them goods at the best prices for himself. The remains of unsold products and rejected horses were sent to Mitava, Riga and other trading points.

Zubov brought all the income from trade turnover, rent and rent, all in hard cash, to the cellars of his Janiszki castle, and piles of gold and silver were kept here inviolably. On holidays, he, accompanied by Bratkovsky, went down to the cellars, admired his treasures and put in order the mountains of specie that had accidentally crumbled. After Zubov’s death, according to Bratkovsky, it turned out to be worth 20,000,000 silver rubles.

In the fall of 1821, at a horse fair in Vilna, Zubov met the landowner Valentinovich and her beautiful 19-year-old daughter Fekla Ignatievna. The woman-loving Zubov, despite his 54 years, fell in love with a beautiful Polish woman and married her...

P. A. Zubov died at Ruenthal Castle, in Courland, on April 7, 1822 and was buried in the Sergius Hermitage, near St. Petersburg, in a crypt under the church of the Invalid Home, erected by the Zubovs in memory of their brother, Count Valerian Alexandrovich. Zubov's widow, Princess Fekla Ignatievna, four years later married Count Andrei Petrovich Shuvalov, and thus part of Zubov's wealth passed to the Shuvalov family. Zubov was a child-loving father: he had several side children from different mothers and provided for them all, putting 1 million rubles in the bank in the name of each. banknotes. His son Alexander was recruited into the guard and began serving in the Cavalry Regiment.

Life Guards Cavalry Regiment.

Seniority since January 11, 1799

Regimental holiday - September 5, the day of St. Zechariah and Elizabeth

January 11, 1799. By the highest order for the formation of the Guard of the Person of the Grand Master of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Emperor Paul I, the Cavalry Corps was established. The Emperor himself, having appointed officers and non-commissioned officers of the corps, gave the right to select the rank and file of the Cavalry Guard from the non-commissioned officers of the entire guard, who held the rank of lieutenant of the Grand Master, Vice Admiral of the Baltic Rowing Fleet, Count Litta. On April 6 of the same year, the staff of the corps was approved: Chief - with the rank of full General; Commander - Major General, 2 colonels, 1 captain, 2 cornets. 9 non-commissioned officers, of which one is a watchmaster, 75 cavalry guards, 1 timpanist, 4 trumpeters, 32 non-combatants of various ranks. All non-commissioned officers and privates of the Cavalry Guards were from the nobility.

Note: The initial establishment of the cavalry guards belongs to Peter the Great.

1724 March 31st. The Emperor verbally ordered Major General Lefort (nephew of his famous mentor) to form 60 people in Moscow for the upcoming coronation of Empress Catherine from the army and zapoloshny (over and above the set) officers in the Drabants or Cavalry Guards. The Emperor himself accepted the title of captain of this company, and appointed Lieutenant General Yaguzhinsky as Captain-Lieutenant. After 19 days after the coronation, on May 26, the cavalry guards were disbanded, handing over their uniforms to the Moscow uniform office. On December 3, 1725, Prince Menshikov announced the Highest Order to re-recruit the Cavalry Guard, including the same as under Peter the Great, and to transfer to them the cavalry guard uniform stored in the Uniform Office. The complete formation of this Cavalry Guard followed in December 1726, and on January 1, 1727, it appeared for the first time at the Imperial Court. The title of Captain was accepted by Empress Catherine, and Prince Menshikov was awarded the title of Captain-Lieutenant. On May 7 of the same year, Emperor Peter II accepted the Captain of the Cavalry Guard, and on September 9, he appointed the experience of Yaguzhinsky to replace Menshikov. On June 18, the renaming followed: Captain-lieutenant - to Captain-lieutenant, lieutenant - to lieutenants and cornet - to non-commissioned lieutenants, and three vice-corporals of major rank, 12 ordinary cavalry guards and 1 clerk were added from the previous staff.

1730, February 12. Empress Anna Ioannovna accepted the rank of Captain of the Cavalry Guard without changing anything in its composition, and on July 7, 1731, the order to disband the Cavalry Guard was issued. Some of its ranks entered the newly founded Life Guards Izmailovsky Regiment, others entered the army; the majority were assigned to the new Life Guards Cavalry Regiment, to which Yaguzhinsky was appointed Lieutenant Colonel.

December 31, 1741. Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, in reward for the services rendered to her upon her accession to the throne by the Grenadier Company of the Life Guards Regiment, ordered this company to be separate from the regiment under the name of the Life Company and, having granted it great advantages, replaced the Cavalry Guard with it. The Empress, having accepted the rank of Company Captain herself, awarded the Captain-Lieutenant the rank of full General, two Lieutenants - Major General, the Adjutant - Brigadier, the ensign - Colonel, 8 sergeants - Lieutenant Colonel, 6 Vice-Sergeants - Prime Major, Ensign and Quartermaster - Second Major, 12 Corporals - Captain-Lieutenant, 30 Grenadiers - Lieutenant, Second Lieutenant and Ensign, 4 drummers and 4 flute players - Sergeant.

1742 During the celebrations on the occasion of the Holy Coronation of the Empress, 60 grenadiers of the Life Company with 1 sergeant, 1 vice-sergeant and 4 corporals were the Empress's cavalry guards and had the uniform and weapons of the former Cavalry Guard with the most minor changes. The captain-lieutenant was General Feldzeichmester, Landgrave Ludwig of Hesse-Homburg. Upon returning to St. Petersburg, the Cavalry Guards again became part of the Life Company.

1762 March 21. Emperor Peter III ordered the dissolution of the Life Company. On July 6 of the same year, Empress Catherine II ordered the Acting Chamberlain General-in-Chief, Count Gendrikov, to recruit the Cavalry Guard primarily from the ranks of the dissolved Life Company, indicating that the staff should be founded on April 30, 1726. Count Gendrikov was appointed Chief of the Cavalry Guard; Besides him, it consisted of: 1 sergeant with the rank of Colonel, 1 vice-sergeant and 3 corporals with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, 3 vice-corporals with the rank of Prime Major, 60 privates with the rank of Second Major, Captain and Lieutenant, 1 clerk with the rank of Captain and 2 copyist - Sergeant. Two more trumpeters, a timpani player, and a blacksmith were assigned to the Cavalry Guard. a doctor, 2 medical students, 4 paramedics and 6 uniform guards. The coronation of the Empress took place in Moscow on September 15 and the Cavalry Guards participated in it according to the same ceremony that was adopted during the coronation of Elizabeth Petrovna. Upon arrival in St. Petersburg, the Cavalry Guards maintained an internal guard near her chambers throughout the entire reign of Empress Catherine II in a special room, which received the name Cavalry Guards.

1764 March 24, a new state of the Cavalry Guards was approved, renamed the Cavalry Corps. It should include: a Chief (Count Grigory Grigoryevich Orlov) with the rank of full General, a Lieutenant with the rank of Lieutenant General, a Sergeant - Colonel, 2 corporals - Lieutenant Colonel, 2 corporals of the Prime Major and 60 Cavalry Guards with the rank of Lieutenant. Second lieutenants and commanders of the army.

1776 Upon the dismissal of Count Orlov from service, Prince Potemkin was appointed Chief.

1777 Added to the staff of Cornet (Aide-de-camp of the Empress, Major General Zorich). After the death of Prince Potemkin, the chief's vacancy remained unfilled for two years. 1793 On October 21, Feldmaster General Count Zubov was appointed Chief of the Cavalry Guards. and Count Dmitriev-Mamonov, who was under Potemkin, was left as Lieutenant. The Cavalry Guards remained in this composition throughout the entire reign of the Empress; after her death, they kept 16 people every day on guard over the body of the deceased empress, participated in the funeral procession, and for this, after 6 weeks after her death, they were promoted to rank and dismissed, whoever wished to do what type of service. At the same time, Emperor Paul I gave the order to Count Musin-Pushkin to recruit a new Cavalry Guard squadron, all the officers and half of the lower ranks of which were selected from the Life Guards Horse Regiment.

December 31, 1796. It was ordered to send 500 non-commissioned officers from all guard regiments to Count Musin-Pushkin to form two new cavalry squadrons.

January 26, 1797. Their staff was approved: Chief from the General, to his Headquarters - General or Colonel, 3 staff officers for commanding squadrons, 3 captains. 3 headquarters captains, 6 lieutenants. 6 cornets, 3 sergeants, 3 standard cadets, 54 non-commissioned officers and 600 cavalry guards - all of noble origin.

1797 Cavalry squadrons, together with the Horse Guards, participated in all coronation ceremonies in March and maintained internal palace guards during the stay of the Imperial family in Moscow. On July 20 of the same year, instead of three squadrons, they were divided into five, and on September 21 they were disbanded into other regiments and some were dismissed from service altogether.

On January 11, 1800, it was ordered to reorganize the cavalry corps into a three-squadron cavalry regiment in the same position as the guard regiments, without giving it the previous advantage of being composed of nobles. All non-commissioned officers and privates from the nobility who served in the corps were released at their request to another branch of service as chief officer ranks. On May 16, the regiment staff was approved: General, 3 colonels, 22 chief officers, 42 non-commissioned officers, 384 cavalry guards, 7 trumpeters and non-combatants of various ranks and ranks - 116.

1804 March 14. A new regiment staff of five squadrons was approved. On May 26, a Reserve Squadron was approved for the regiment.

November 8, 1810. The reserve squadron was sent to reinforce the existing ones.

December 27, 1812. The regiment was reorganized into 6 active squadrons, with one reserve squadron.

1831 August 22, the regiment was named Her Majesty's Cavalry Guard

May 2, 1832. A new staff of 6 active and 1 reserve squadrons was approved.

1836 April 6. Guards Reserve Squadron No. 1 was established and assigned to the regiment, and the former 7th Reserve Squadron was named 7 Reserve.

January 25, 1842, to form the Reserve Troops, it was ordered to have 8 squadrons consisting of lower ranks on indefinite leave.

July 26, 1856. A new staff of the regiment was approved, consisting of 6 active and 2 reserve squadrons, and on September 18 it was ordered to have four active squadrons and one reserve. No. 5.

November 6, 1860. The regiment was ordered to continue to be called the Cavalry Guard.

December 29, 1863. The fifth reserve squadron was separated from the regiment into a special Guards Reserve Cavalry Brigade and it was ordered to be called without a number the reserve squadron of the Cavalry Guard Regiment.

August 4, 1864. The reserve squadron was assigned to the regiment, and the Directorate of the Guards Reserve Brigade was abolished.

December 24, 1866. Approved: new staff of the regiment consisting of 4 active squadrons and regulations on reserve squadrons.

July 27, 1875. The reserve squadron was named spare.

1881 March 2. The regiment was named Her Majesty's Cavalry Guard.

August 6, 1883. The reserve squadron was reorganized into a personnel department.

November 2, 1894. The regiment was named the Cavalry Guard of Her Majesty the Empress Maria Feodorovna.

Source:Imperial Guard: reference book of the Imperial2 main apartment / ed. VC. Schenk. -2nd ed., rev. and additional -SPb.: printing house V.D. Smirnova, 1910.

Having approved the main seat of the [Maltese] Order in St. Petersburg, Emperor Paul wished to have with him, under the rank of Grand Master, a special guard composed exclusively of nobles. The first order for the formation of this guard, under the name of the Cavalry Corps, was announced to Count Litte on January 8, 1799, and on the 11th of the same month the following Highest order was issued: “To the emerging Cavalry Corps, to form the Guard of the Person of the Grand Master of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem , are appointed: Chief - Lieutenant of the Grand Master Count Litta, and Lieutenant - Major General Prince Dolgorukov - 4th...
The staffing of the corps took place only in April 1799, and until its approval there were no written rules regarding the strength and officer ranks of the corps. According to the highest confirmed staff on April 6, 1799... the Cavalry Regiment was appointed: chief, with the rank of full general, commander - major general; 2 colonels, 1 captain, 2 cornets, 9 non-commissioned officers, of which one is a watchmaster; 75 cavalry guards, 1 timpanist, 4 trumpeters and 32 non-combatants of various ranks. From the Chief to the cavalry guards inclusive, all the ranks named here were to be, as intended at the establishment of the corps, from the nobility, and ordinary cavalry guards were promoted directly to cornets and ensigns of the guards and army cavalry and infantry. In addition to noble dignity, the chief and commander were necessarily from the Commanders, and the entire staff, chief and non-commissioned officers were from the Knights of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem. The commanders wore the order's cross (white, enamel, with gold lilies in the corners and with a gold crown at the upper ends) around their necks, and the gentlemen had it in their buttonhole; both on black tape. In addition, commanders and cavaliers had an image of an order cross made of linen or other white material sewn on the left side of their tunic and uniform. The corps also received - for the first time since 1731 - a standard made of crimson damask with a white straight cross.
On August 9, 1799, Emperor Paul appointed as chief his Adjutant General, Major General Uvarov, with the name of a brave officer who was renowned as an expert in cavalry service.
Exactly one year after the establishment of the Cavalry Corps, on January 11, 1800, Emperor Paul ordered its reorganization into a three-squadron Cavalry Regiment, in the same position as the Life Guard regiments.
Emperor Paul, taking care of the brilliant, in all respects, structure of the new Cavalry Regiment, made it up almost entirely from Horse Guards, for which he personally selected from the commissioned Life Guards Cavalry Regiment 7 non-commissioned officers, 5 trumpeters, 249 privates and 245 horses. Together with them, 9 officers transferred from this regiment to the Cavalry Guard.

Source: History of the cavalry guards and Her Majesty's cavalry guard regiment from 1724 to July 1, 1851. - St. Petersburg, 1851.- P.40-49.

There was no military unit in Russia whose lists included so many illustrious and famous names, from Peter the Great himself and his closest associates to ministers and prominent statesmen from the time of the last Russian emperor. No other part of the guard or army had such an amazing, unique history.

“We do not strive to be the first, but we will not allow anyone to be better than us” is the proud motto of the cavalry guards - the bravest and most beautiful men of the era. They were united by loyalty to tradition, exceptional honesty, natural aristocracy, self-sacrifice and selfless love for the Fatherland. It is said about them: “The highest chic of a cavalry guard is the absence of any chic.”

The GLORIOUS history of cavalry guards in Russia began on March 30, 1724, when for the coronation of the wife of Peter I, Empress Catherine I, which took place on May 7 of the same year, the Cavalry Guard Corps was formed as an honorary guard. The first half-company of cavalry guards opened the coronation procession from the Kremlin Palace to the Assumption Cathedral, the second brought up the rear. During the coronation itself, the cavalry guards were located on the steps of the throne.

Peter himself assumed the rank of captain of the cavalry guard, and appointed generals and colonels of other regiments as corps officers, and lieutenant colonels as corporals. Sixty of the tallest and most handsome senior officers served as ordinary cavalry guards. However, after the coronation the corps did not last long. At the end of May 1724 it was disbanded, and the officers were disbanded to their regiments.

The cavalry guard corps as such did not exist in Russia until the accession of Catherine II (1762-1796) to the Russian throne. Then, from among the Life Campans, who were created by the daughter of Peter the Great, Elizaveta Petrovna, and served her as her personal guard, a special Cavalry Corps was formed.

Cavalry guards guarded the empress and members of the imperial family, performed guard duty in the imperial chambers in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and in all country palaces and residences. Service in the cavalry guard was considered very honorable, and only nobles could enter it. Many noble parents began to enroll their young children in the corps in order to ensure their future service directly at the imperial court.

Under Emperor Paul I, the Cavalry Corps was repeatedly disbanded and created again, changing its name. So, in 1799 it was called the special guard of the Grand Master of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, who was considered Paul. And only on January 11, 1800, the Life Guards Cavalry Regiment was formed, which became part of the Russian army in the same position as other guards regiments without retaining the privilege of recruiting from nobles. General Fyodor Petrovich Uvarov was appointed chief of the regiment, who performed this most honorable duty until his death in 1824.

In 1804, the uniforms of the cavalry guards, which had retained the cut of Pavlovian times for the longest time, acquired character traits military uniform of the 19th century - white double-breasted tunics with high collars, white elk trousers, over the knee boots, a helmet made of thick leather with a lush plume of hair, which reliably protected against blows with cold steel. But cuirasses, which were abolished in 1801, were put on by cavalry guards in the summer of 1812. Combat experience showed the haste of the earlier decision...

Baptism of fire, so glorious and so tragic, the Life Guards Cavalry Regiment, commanded by Major General N. Depreradovich, received Austerlitz on the field. As you know, on November 20, 1805, the allied armies, hoping to secure a complete and unconditional victory over Napoleon, suffered a crushing defeat.

The allies' confidence in victory was so great that before the battle the regiment was ordered to prepare for the royal review! The cavalry guards came out to fight as if they were going to a parade. The regiment arrived at the most critical moment of the battle, when the Russian guards infantry, which found itself in the direction of the main attack of the French, could no longer hold back the fierce attacks of the enemy and began to retreat.

The first three squadrons of cavalry guards attacked the French infantry, giving the scattered groups of Preobrazhensky soldiers the opportunity to retreat. The 4th squadron of Nikolai Repnin and the platoon of cornet Alexander Albrecht came to the aid of the Semenovsky regiment. The Semyonovtsy warriors were surrounded by mounted rangers of the French Guard, who tried to recapture the Guards banners from them. A desperate strike by a squadron of cavalry guards allowed the Semyonovites to cross the Raustitsky stream, and our cavalry retreated after them.

However, the French managed to close the encirclement around the brave squadron. All attempts to break through the ring from the outside were unsuccessful. The brutal slaughter continued for about 15 minutes, until four squadrons of mounted French grenadiers shouted: “Let’s make the St. Petersburg ladies cry!” did not attack the Russian horsemen...

All the officers of the cavalry guard squadron were wounded and captured. Those who could stand on their feet were brought to Napoleon after the battle. “Your regiment honestly fulfilled its duty!” Bonaparte said to squadron commander Repnin, and then added, pointing to the wounded 17-year-old cornet Sukhtelen, who stood next to the commander: “He is very young to fight with us.” To which the young officer exclaimed: “You don’t have to be old to be brave!”

Despite the fact that in their first battle the cavalry guards showed extraordinary courage and extraordinary fortitude, the consequences for the regiment were catastrophic - one third of the officers and 226 lower ranks died in the battle. The participation of the cavalry guards in the remaining battles of the campaign was not marked by significant successes, and in April 1806 the regiment returned to Russia.

Of course, daily service in the court regiment was characterized by tension. Constant drills, endless worries about maintaining property in exemplary order, all kinds of inspections. But the cavalry guards also had plenty of benefits. Thus, the lower ranks, “excellent in service and behavior, had the right to receive from the Sovereign for a wedding: sergeants - 100 rubles, non-commissioned officers - 50 rubles, privates - 25 rubles.”

The quiet life of the cavalry guards, full of exercises and parades, continued until March 17, 1812, when the Guards cuirassiers set out on a campaign against Vilna. With the beginning Patriotic War The Life Guards Cavalry Regiment became part of Barclay de Tolly's 1st Army and retreated back. Like the rest of the elite units, the regiment was protected in every possible way by the command and did not take part in hostilities until the Battle of Borodino. Near Borodino, the Life Guards Cavalry Regiment and the Life Guards Cavalry Regiment became part of the 1st Cuirassier Division of Major General N. Depreradovich.

The cavalry guards entered the battle in one of its most dramatic episodes. During the third French attack on the Raevsky battery, in fact, the Russian position was broken through, and the brigade remained the only obstacle for the enemy. The regiment went at a trot to attack Grusha's cavalry. At the very beginning of the attack, the regiment commander, Colonel K. Levenvold, was killed by grapeshot. The death of the commander only confused the cavalry guards for a moment, and they charged into the enemy column at full gallop.

The enemy could not withstand such an onslaught and fled. The cavalry guards pursued the fleeing French cavalry until the signal “Appel!” sounded, upon which everyone had to stop the attack and gather at the regimental standard. But about a hundred horsemen, in the heat of battle, continued to pursue and stopped only when they saw a formation of French horsemen in front of them. The situation was critical: you couldn’t stand - the enemy would attack, turn around - he would hit you in the back. Division adjutant M. Buturlin ordered an attack on the enemy. His determination saved the cavalry guards. The French did not accept the battle, and the guards were able to unite with their fellow soldiers.

In just an hour and a half that the cavalry guards spent in the battle, they lost 14 officers and 93 lower ranks, but managed to defend the center of the Russian positions. Many cavalry guards were awarded orders, bladed weapons and insignia of a military order.

After the Battle of Borodino in the campaign of 1812-1814, the regiment took part in the battles of Kulm, Ferchampenoise, Leipzig, and ended its combat journey by entering Paris. The successes of the guards were marked by the payment of St. George's standards with the inscription: "For distinction in the defeat and expulsion of the enemy from the borders of Russia in 1812" and 15 St. George's trumpets with the inscription: "Cavalry Guard Regiment." In 1814, the Life Guards Cavalry Regiment returned to its homeland.

The history of the regiment is inseparable from the names of the Decembrists - heroes and martyrs of December 14, 1825. About 30 cavalry officers were involved in the uprising on Senate Square. No regiment in the Russian army was so closely associated with secret societies Decembrists.

The peaceful everyday life of the guards continued for a hundred years. Life went on as usual: regimental commanders changed, officers came and went, the staff structure and name changed. Since 1894, the regiment has been called the Cavalry Guard of Her Majesty the Empress Maria Feodorovna. Cavalry guards decorated parades and imperial reviews with their presence, served at court, and enlivened the life of society in the Russian capital.

This courtly existence continued until the tragic summer of 1914. The flywheel of the First World War was already beginning to spin up. On July 21, a farewell prayer service was served in the barracks on Shpalernaya Street in St. Petersburg. That same night, the first squadron of cavalry guards was loaded into carriages at the Warsaw station. Upon arrival at the front, the guards became part of the right group of army cavalry of the 1st Russian Army and soon participated in reconnaissance in battle beyond the border river Shirvint.

However, the Cavalry Regiment took on its first real battle in a series of upcoming battles on August 6, 1914, near the village of Kaushen. The cavalry guards attacked the enemy on horseback, but the German artillery put up a powerful fire barrier. I had to leave. Nervousness appeared in the ranks of the regiment, and the rear platoons began to rush forward. Then cornet Veselovsky shouted to the soldiers: “The cavalry guards are not leaving at a gallop!” These words were enough to calm people down.

Having dismounted, the guards again attacked the enemy under dense machine-gun and artillery fire. In front of the chains with a drawn sword walked the regiment commander, Major General Prince Alexander Dolgorukov. I had to stop, lie down, and dig in. It was possible to break through the German defense only when the Horse Guards came to the rescue and the attack was supported by Guards artillery. Exactly a week later, the Cavalry Regiment stormed the city of Friedland, famous from the 1807 campaign.

Along the roads of the First World War, the regiment will march from the Augustow and Kozlovo-Rudskie forests to Warsaw, Petrakov and Sventsyan, changing its subordination several times, which sometimes defied any logic. Soon it will be difficult to recognize those same brilliant horse guards in the trenches, the personal guard of the Russian emperor.

Artillery, machine guns, and chemical weapons turned out to be an overwhelming enemy for the cavalry. White uniforms and golden cuirasses were replaced by khaki uniforms, and training in actions on horseback changed to digging in, running, and crawling. In the field army, much more infantry was required than cavalry. In May 1916, a rifle division was formed, consisting of four foot squadrons. The officers of the 1st squadron came from the Cavalry Regiment, which is why it is called the Cavalry Regiment.

In July 1916 they took part in the Brusilovsky breakthrough in the Kovel area. The cavalry guards perform all their tasks with honor, but soon, near the village of Krovatki, they are replaced by infantrymen of the Irkutsk Infantry Regiment, and the regiment goes to the rear. On March 5, 1917, the regiment received a telegram about the abdication of the emperor. The guardsmen no longer had to fight - a revolution begins in the country...

Revolutionary forces They understood perfectly well that the collapse of the state machine must begin with the armed forces. The warring army is disintegrating before our eyes, discipline in units is rapidly falling. Since March 1917, the Cavalry Regiment has been guarding railway stations Shepetivka and Kazyatyn, but not from the Germans and Austrians, but from Russian deserters. And although the first waves of deserters were stopped and order was restored at the stations, after some time the cavalry guards could only bear witness to the unheard-of shame of the Russian army. All sorts of agitators of different stripes frequented the regiment, calling for the “overthrow of the last stronghold of tsarism” that had retained its combat capability - the Cavalry Guard Regiment.

In the cavalry guard divisions, rallies of soldiers are held, at which they decided to express no confidence in the officers and replace them with more democratic ones. Many of the officers begin to leave the regiment without waiting for the Bolshevik unrest. By November, only four officers remained in the regiment, who left the unit on November 3. Vladimir Zvegintsev wrote in his book “Cavalry Guards in the Great and civil war": "With the departure of the last officers, the last connection with the past was severed. The soul of the regiment flew away. The regiment died..."

Most of the cavalry officers will participate in the White movement and will fight on different fronts of the Civil War. So, for example, in Volunteer Army Denikin there were entire cavalry squadrons. However, a full-fledged Cavalry Guard regiment never existed in the Russian army. And, probably, it won’t exist...

Sergey DYULDIN

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History of appearance in Russia

In Russia cavalry guards first appeared on March 30 of the year in the form of an honorary convoy of Empress Catherine I, formed for the day of her coronation. The sovereign himself assumed the rank of their captain; officers were generals and colonels, corporals were lieutenant colonels, and privates (60 people) were chosen from the tallest and most representative chief officers. This cavalry company of the Cavalry Guards was given a special elegant uniform, silver trumpets and kettledrums. At the end of the coronation celebrations, it was disbanded.

Officer's cuirass of the Cavalry Regiment 1880s

Participation of cavalry guards in the Battle of Austerlitz

The cavalry regiment received its baptism of fire on November 20, 1805 near Austerlitz. At a critical moment of the battle, when the Russian guard was pressed by superior French forces to the Raustitsky stream, the cavalry guards crossed the stream along a dam, after which the first three squadrons turned to the right, holding back the enemy’s onslaught, and the fourth and fifth squadrons attacked the light French cavalry besieging the Semenovsky regiment. The 4th squadron under the command of Colonel Prince N. G. Repnin-Volkonsky and the 1st platoon of the 1st chief squadron under the command of cornet Alexander Albrecht were surrounded. Only 18 people managed to escape - the rest were killed or captured wounded. In total, the regiment lost a third of its officers and 226 lower ranks in the battle. For this battle, the chief of the regiment, Lieutenant General F. P. Uvarov and the regiment commander, Major General N. I. Depreradovich received the Order of St. George, 3rd degree, Colonel N. G. Repnin-Volkonsky - the Order of St. George, 4th degrees, the remaining squadron commanders, Colonels A. N. Avdulin, N. V. Titov, S. I. Ushakov, A. L. Davydov and Uvarov’s adjutants, Staff Captain P. I. Balabin and Lieutenant A. I. Chernyshev - Order of St. Vladimir 4th degree, all wounded officers - golden weapons (swords), all other officers - Annen Crosses “For Bravery” on swords. The cadets were promoted to officers.

Participation of cavalry guards in the Battle of Borodino

In 1812, the regiment under the command of Colonel K. K. Levenvold distinguished itself at Borodino. The brigade of Major General I.E. Shevich (Horse and Cavalry Regiments) entered the battle at a critical moment, during the third French attack on Raevsky’s battery. Despite the death of Colonel Levenvold at the very beginning of the battle, the cavalry guards attacked Grusha's cavalry and crushed it. In the battle, the regiment lost 14 officers and 93 lower ranks. The surviving officers were awarded: N. F. Levashov - the Order of St. George, 4th degree, M. S. Lunin, S. P. Lanskoy and K. V. Levashov - golden swords, all others - the next highest orders , and the 63 lower ranks are insignia of the military order.

The 100th anniversary of the regiment was celebrated magnificently on January 11 of this year. A commemorative medal and a special token were made. The compilation of a four-volume edition of biographies of cavalry guards began, which eventually included biographies of officers who served in the regiment in 1724-1908. On this day, a parade of the regiment took place in the Mikhailovsky Manege with the presentation of a new banner, after which breakfast was given for the officers in the Anichkov Palace.

Military uniform, 1914. Cavalry Regiment of Her Majesty Empress Maria Feodorovna

Regimentals

... the regiment, with its appearance, resurrected the long-obsolete times of the era of Alexander I and Nicholas I, performing in white tunic uniforms, and in winter - in greatcoats, over which shiny copper cuirasses were put on, with broadswords and rattling steel scabbards and in copper helmets, on which sharp cones were screwed or, in special cases, silver-plated double-headed eagles. For some reason the soldiers called these eagles “doves.” The saddles were covered with large red saddle pads trimmed with silver braid. The first rank is with pikes and weather vanes.

Our usual marching uniform was black single-breasted uniforms and caps, and the weapons were common to all cavalry: checkers and rifles.

But this, however, was not the end of the matter, since for the honor guards in the palace, the cavalry guards and horse guards were assigned the so-called palace dress uniform. A cuirass made of red cloth was worn over the uniform, and on the legs were white suede leggings, which could only be pulled on when wet, and medieval boots.

Finally, for the officers of these first two cavalry regiments there was also a so-called ball uniform, worn two or three times a year at palace balls. If we add to this the Nikolaev overcoat with a cape and beaver collar, then we can understand how expensive the wardrobe of a guards cavalry officer was. Most tried to give orders to different tailors before release: the so-called first numbers of uniforms - to expensive tailors, and the second and third - to cheaper tailors. The costs of uniforms that were prohibitive for officers led to the creation of a cooperative guards economic society with its own workshops. Similar economic societies subsequently appeared at all large garrisons.

The costs of purchasing riding horses were added to the costs of uniforms. In the guards cavalry, each officer, when joining the regiment, had to present two of his own horses that met the requirements of combat service: in the army cavalry, the officer had one of his own horses, and the other - a government horse.

Famous people who served in the regiment

• Voeikov, Vladimir Nikolaevich - colonel, last palace commandant of Nicholas II
• Volkonsky, Sergei Grigorievich - Major General, Decembrist
• Davydov, Denis Vasilievich - hero of the Patriotic War of 1812, major general, poet
• Dantes, Georges Charles, Baron de Heeckeren - murderer of A. S. Pushkin
• Ignatiev, Alexey Alekseevich - author of the memoirs “50 Years in Service”
• Krivsky, Pavel Alexandrovich - member of the State Council
• Lunin, Mikhail Sergeevich - Decembrist
• Maltsov, Sergei Ivanovich - Major General, first director of the School of Law, industrialist
• Mannerheim, Carl Gustav Emil - Colonel of the Russian Army, Field Marshal of the Finnish Army, Commander-in-Chief of the Finnish Armed Forces, President of Finland
• Martynov, Nikolai Solomonovich - murderer of M. Yu. Lermontov
• Muravyov, Alexander Mikhailovich - Decembrist, younger brother of Nikita Muravyov
• Orlov-Davydov, Vladimir Vladimirovich - Governor of Simbirsk
• Orlov-Denisov, Pyotr Mikhailovich - hero of the assault on Geok-Tepe
• Petrov, Pavel Ivanovich - Podolsk Governor
• Rodzianko, Mikhail Vladimirovich - Chairman of the III and IV State Dumas
• Skobelev, Dmitry Ivanovich - Lieutenant General
• Skobelev, Mikhail Dmitrievich - infantry general
• Skoropadsky, Pavel Petrovich - Hetman of Ukraine
• Sukhtelen, Pavel Petrovich - Lieutenant General, Adjutant General

Bibliography

• Cavalry guards. Regiments of the Russian army. M., 1997
• The Age of Cavalry Guards. Documentary. 10 episodes. Russia, 2002.
• Collection of biographies of cavalry guards (ed. S. A. Panchulidzev). M: 2001-2008. In 4 volumes. Reprint of the 1901 edition
• V.N. Zvegintsov. Cavalry guards in the great and civil war. 1914-1920. Part 2.
• V.N. Zvegintsov. Cavalry guards in the great and civil war. 1914-1920. Parts 3 and 4.
• 0-2 (1938-1939), 1951-1961.
• Messenger of the cavalry guard family. 1962-1974.

Links

• Alexander Podmazo. "CHEFS AND COMMANDERS OF REGULAR REGIMENTS OF THE RUSSIAN ARMY (1796-1855)"
• Catherine II's uniform dress in the form of the Cavalry Corps
• Officer's uniform of the Cavalry Guard of Her Majesty the Empress Imp. Maria Feodorovna regiment that belonged to the Emperor. Nicholas II (1900-1910)
• Viskovatov. GENERAL of the Cavalry Regiment, 1815-1825. NON-COUNTER OFFICER of the Cavalry Regiment, 1818-1820

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Has the Church of St. Zechariah and Elizabeth of the Cavalry Guard of Her Majesty Empress Maria Feodorovna and the camp church.

Listen to the march of the regiment:

Marsh kindly providedViktor Sokovnin, from his own archive.

Packaging features:

After the death of Prince Potemkin, the chief vacancy remained unfilled for 2 years.

1793 On October 21, General-Feltseichmeister Zubov was appointed Chief of the Cavalry Guards, and Prince Dmitriev-Mamonov, who was under Potemkin, was left as Lieutenant.

The Cavalry Guards remained in this composition throughout the entire Reign; after HER death, they kept 16 people every day on guard at the body of the deceased EMPRESS, participated in the funeral procession, and for this, after 6 weeks after HER death, they were promoted to rank and fluffed up, whoever wished to do what type of service. At the same time, PAVEL 1 gave the order to Count Musin-Pushkin to recruit a special Cavalry Guard squadron, all the officers and half of the lower ranks of which were selected from the Cavalry Life Guards.

December 31, 1796. It was ordered to send 500 non-commissioned officers from all Guard regiments to Count Musin-Pushkin to form two new Cavalry Guard squadrons.

January 26, 1797. Their staff was approved: Chief from the Generality, to him at the Headquarters-General or. 3 Staff officers for commanding squadrons, 3 Captains, 3 Staff Captains, 6 Lieutenants, 6 Cornets, 3, 3 Standard Junkers, 54 non-commissioned officers and 600 Cavalry Guards - all of noble origin.

1797 Cavalry squadrons, together with the Horse Guards, participated in all coronation ceremonies in the month of March and maintained internal Palace guards during the stay of the Imperial Family in Moscow. On July 23 of the same year, three squadrons together were divided into five, and on September 21 they were disbanded into other regiments and some were dismissed from service altogether.

Cavalry guards in different years:

	Cavalry guard under Peter II, 1727-30.		Cavalry Guards under the Empress, 1742

January 11, 1800, it was ordered to reform Cavalry Corps the three-squadron Cavalry Guard is in the same position with the regiments of the Guard, without giving it the previous advantage of being composed of nobles. All non-commissioned officers and privates from the nobility who served in the corps were released at their request to another branch of service as chief officer ranks. On May 16, the staff was approved: General, 3 Colonels, 20 Chief Officers, 42 Non-Commissioned Officers, 284 Cavalry Guards, 7 trumpeters and non-combatants of various ranks and ranks 116.

1804 March 14. A new staff of five squadrons was approved. On May 26, a Reserve Squadron was established.

August 4, 1864. The reserve squadron was assigned to, and the Directorate of the Guards Reserve Brigade was abolished.

December 24, 1866. Approved: a new staff consisting of 4 active squadrons and regulations on reserve squadrons.

Cavalry guards in different years:

Cavalry guards in different years:

1918 In February-March, the actual disbandment took place in Livny, Oryol province.

Since 1917

THE HIGHEST PERSONS IN THE REGIMENT:

THE REGIMENT INCLUDED:

SERVED IN THE REGIMENT:

PARTICIPATION IN CAMPAIGNS AND CASES AGAINST THE ENEMY.

Davydov Evdokim Vasilievich, captain of the Cavalry Guard. Wounded on August 26 at Borodino below the knee of his right leg. Kablukov Platon Ivanovich, Colonel of the Cavalry Guard. Wounded in the arm with a saber on August 26 at Borodino. Levashov Konstantin Vasilievich, staff captain of the Cavalry Guard. Wounded on October 12 at Maloyaroslavets. He died of a wound on May 15, 1813 in Kurmysh district. Levenvold Karl Karlovich, colonel, commander of the cavalry guard. Killed on August 26 at Borodino. Okunev Grigory Alexandrovich, Cavalry Guard (as part of the Consolidated Cuirassier). Wounded on October 6 at: received several blows to the head with broadswords. Orlov Grigory Fedorovich, lieutenant of the Cavalry Guard. Wounded on August 26 at Borodino: his leg was torn off by a cannonball. Pashkov Alexander Vasilievich, Kavalergardsky. Concussed on August 26 at Borodino in the lower back with a cannonball. Rimsky-Korsakov Pavel Alexandrovich, staff captain of the Cavalry Guard. Killed on August 26 at Borodino. Church of St. Zechariah and Elizabeth of Her Majesty's Cavalry Guard, Empress Maria Feodorovna Regiment. Church of the Cavalry Regiment. Exterior view of the Church of St. The righteous Zechariah and Elizabeth were very unpretentious when moving into her jurisdiction. It was a small stone church with a wooden dome and bell tower. The service was performed in the side church until 1855, when it was decided to destroy the side church in order to increase the premises of the church, and its iconostasis, built from icons kept at the regimental church and an unknown camp church, was donated to the newly built church in the village of Dolotsk (Petersburg province). on the estate of the August Chief Alexandra Feodorovna. The external appearance of the Cavalry Guard Church remained almost unchanged all the time, while its internal appearance was subject to frequent alterations. A major renovation of the church was done in 1897-1898. The first idea about the restoration of the temple was submitted by Protopresbyter A. A. Zhelobovsky (who served in the Cavalier Guard Church from 1869 to 1882). At the beginning of 1896, a commission was formed consisting of commander A. A. Greenwald, regimental priest M. N. Lebedev, staff officers and squadron commanders, with the very active participation of Protopresbyter A. A. Zhelobovsky. The commission appointed a church patron, Lieutenant V.N. Voeikov. Thanks to generous donations received from the Sovereign Emperor Nikolai Alexandrovich (6000 rubles), the August Chief - Empress Maria Feodorovna (4000 rubles), former and currently serving officers, as well as various institutions and individuals - in total for perestroika The church found it possible to spend 180,990 rubles. 92 kopecks To enlarge the church, projections were added on the southern and northern sides, the western side was lengthened, the altar and sacristy were enlarged, and convenient entrances were arranged: to the altar, the church and a special one, on the northern side. Water heating is provided. The iconostasis has been restored and the gilding has been corrected. The church and altar have parquet floors, while the rest have stone floors. The rebuilt church is shaped like a cross, with projections on the north and south sides, and can accommodate up to 1,500 worshipers. The original feature of the church is its sloping floor, which gradually lowers towards the altar, which allows those praying at the end of the temple to see the entire service. In addition to the artistic iconostasis, the following images attract attention: 1) Savior, written on an oval gold board; There is a brilliant radiance all around, with a particle of the Robe of the Lord. A particle of the Robe of the Lord is located in the golden reliquary, in the lower part of the icon, and is covered with a large amethyst. On the back is the inscription: “This holy icon belongs to Her Imperial Majesty, Maid of Honor Anna Vasilievna Saltykova. 1704, May 29th, in this place a part of the Robe of Christ Our God was placed.” This precious icon is enclosed in a silver case with glass and donated to the acting. Art. owls Sergei Sergeevich Saltykov in prayerful memory of his son S.S. Saltykov, who served in the Cavalry Guard; under the image hangs a silver cross with particles of the relics of St. Pleasers of God, and on it the following inscription: “The relics of St. Nicholas and Sergius the Miracle, St. Martyr George and Demetrius of Thessalonica, Lazarus Chet. and Ignatius the God-Bearer, St. Leontius of Rostov and John the Merciful, St. Alexis and John the Moscow Miracle. ", 2) The Vladimir image of the Mother of God, painted on wood, in a gilded silver robe with aureoles, richly decorated with pearls and other precious stones. On the reverse side is the inscription: “This Miraculous Icon of the Vladimir Mother of God from time immemorial belonged to the eldest in the family of the Princes of Great Gagin, through whose care it was decorated with a rich silver frame, with gilding, stones and pearls; after the suppression of the surname of these Princes, the Dowager Princess Evdokia Feodorovna, daughter of Bolyarin Feodora Petrovich Saltykov, blessed with this icon the great son of her brother Vasily Feodorovich, Pyotr Vasilyevich Saltykov, by whose order this icon was renewed by his son with a large addition of decoration with silver, pearl stones and the position of part of the robe of Jesus Christ in the panagia; Her Majesty the Great Catherine II Valid Kamer-Ger Vasily Petrovich Saltykov in the summer of Christ 1789 in the capital city of Moscow. May this icon be a blessing to the eldest in the family and generations of our descendants," 3) the image of the Savior Not Made by Hands, written on wood, in a narrow silver frame. This icon was granted in 1679 by Tsar Theodore Alekseevich to clerk Andrei Vinius. This image was donated by cavalry guard F.I. Ladyzhensky. At the bottom of the image is the inscription; “This Image of Jesus the Word of God, September 26, 7092, at the request of the Great Sovereign Tsar John Vasilyevich from Caesar Rudolf, was decorated with silver gilding according to the custom of the Greeks. Copied from the existing image, which from Our Creator Jesus himself to Ephesus, according to Abgar, was sent to the south and now in Rome and the letter in the ambassadorial order testifies to this, and after the death of this Sovereign, his son Theodore Ioannovich was given to the royal palaces and then to the cell of His Holiness Patriarch Philaret Nikitich, and after his death he was given to the icon guard of the royal palaces, the inventory of the patriarchal treasury order testifies to this,” 4) mosaic image of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. The history of this image is as follows: when Nikolai Pavlovich was in Rome and examined mosaic images of saints, he asked Pope Gregory XVI to allow him to send Russian artists to learn this art. The first image, compiled by Russian artists from foreign mosaics, the image of St. Nicholas, is an exact copy of the image of St. Nicholas, located in Bari (placed in the chapel on the Nikolaevsky Bridge). The same image was first created in Russia by Russian artists from Russian mosaics; preserved at the Academy of Arts. Sovereign Nikolai Alexandrovich, in memory of his visit to the Cavalry Guard Church on the day of its consecration, and deigned to bring this image as a gift to the regimental church, 5) image of the Sign of the Mother of God, in a silver-gilded robe, according to the hallmark of 1774. The Mother of God's clothing is richly studded with pearls. In the altar, the main attention is drawn to the Holy See, in a silver robe of artistically chased work by Faberge; clothes were donated for the centenary anniversary by Princess Zinaida Nikolaevna and Prince Felix Feliksovich Yusupov, gr. Sumarokov-Elston. The throne is placed on a stone granite foundation, lined above the floor with Kyiv porphyry. The altar is white Italian marble, the work of the sculptor Botta. Above the altar is the St. Antimins from the side-chapel church in honor of St. Apostle, which was abolished in 1856. and the Evangelist John the Theologian, celebrated during the reign of Elizabeth Petrovna, but when and by whom exactly he was consecrated is unknown, since the inscriptions have been erased over time. The sacristy contains: 8 Gospels, 5 crosses *), Holy Vessels (there is a chalice with a mark, “1756”), and very. many expensive vestments for clergy. Of the latter, the ones that attract the most attention are: 1) anniversary vestments trimmed with cavalry guard silver galloon, and vestments donated by Prince Baryatinsky, commander N. N. Shipov, cavalry guard A. N. Bezak, etc. Note:*) Due to its antiquity, it deserves a silver cross with Holy relics: St. John the Baptist, the Great Martyr. Barbara, St. Bishop Simon, Saints: Macarius, Anatolia, Abraham, Onesiphorus and with a piece of the belt of the Mother of God. At the bottom of the handle is the inscription: “This life-giving Cross of the Lord was built for the Church of St. and Righteous Zechariah and Elizabeth, which is in the spare yard, in the summer of 1754.” In terms of its wealth, the regimental church is one of the best churches in St. Petersburg. In memory of the comrades who valiantly fought under their standards in the War of 1812 and laid down their lives for the Faith, the Tsar and the Fatherland, their regimental colleagues placed a silver plaque, with fittings, on a marble pedestal; The names of killed and wounded officers, as well as the number of killed and wounded lower ranks, are inscribed on the board. The church is illuminated by electricity. According to the staff of the church, there are: priest, protodeacon and psalm-reader. UNIFORM FEATURES: Ceremonial helmet of the lower ranks of the Life Guards of the Cavalry Guard or the Life Guards of the Cuirassier for the last reign. The brass sphere with a visor and inlaid buttplate is equipped with a white cupronickel instrument, unique only to these two shelves. Decorative rivets are also nickel silver. White-orange-black side badge of the lower ranks in the original colorful coating. The helmet has a guards star and a leather strap with white double-scaled scales. The eagle mounted on the helmet has been restored - there are numerous traces of rations. However, the original silver plating has been partially preserved; the rivets securing it to the base have been replaced. The balaclava has also been restored. Bronze cuirass with a red cord along the edge, worn during full dress uniform officers of the Life Guards Cavalry and Life Guards Cavalry Regiments. The cuirass consists of two halves - the breastplate and the back, lined on the inside with elk skin. Both plates are fastened together with leather shoulder straps, lined with red cloth and covered on the front side with inlaid four-festoon scales with figured fasteners. Red leather waist belt with brass buckle restored. The gilding has hardly survived; the cuirass was cleaned many times. COMBAT LOSSES: Officer and privates of Her Majesty's Cavalry Guard under the Sovereign Emperor Nikolai Alexandrovich. 1851