Sofia - the town of military
hidden His Imperial Majesty Personal Escort | |
This separate guards unit was formed of Caucasian hill men by Emperor Nikolay the First in 1839 and was named the Life-Guards Caucasian Troops. It had all rights and privileges of the Old Guard ... | | This separate guards unit was formed of Caucasian hill men by Emperor Nikolay the First in 1839 and was named the Life-Guards Caucasian Troops. It had all rights and privileges of the Old Guard. The Cossack Company of the Caucasian Cossack Combat Troops became a part of His Imperial Majesty Personal Escort in 1832, the Lezgins Company joined the Escort in 1838 and a group formed of personnel of the Muslim Transcaucasian Horse Regiment joined the Escort a year later. Strongbuilt young men under 25 years old could serve in the Escort. The Caucasian Squadron of His Imperial Majesty Personal Escort took part in the actions during the First World War and demonstrated courage and bravery. The Escort called by that time the Supreme Commanderin-Chief Escort was discontinued in March of 1917.
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hidden His Imperial Majesty Personal Life-Guards Mixed Infantry Regiment | |
His Imperial Majesty Personal Life-Guards Mixed Infantry Regiment was established on August 17, 1907 to serve as personal guards of the Emperor. It consisted of the headquarters and two battalions ... | | His Imperial Majesty Personal Life-Guards Mixed Infantry Regiment was established on August 17, 1907 to serve as personal guards of the Emperor. It consisted of the headquarters and two battalions. The main premises of His Imperial Majesty Personal Life-Guards Mixed Infantry Regiment were situated in Tsarskoye Selo opposite the front facade of the Alexander Palace between Fedorrovsky Town and the garage of the Emperor next to the barracks of His Imperial Majesty Personal Escort. It was renamed to the Mixed Infantry Regiment in March of 1917 and was discontinued in the same year.
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hidden His Imperial Majesty Personal Railway Regiment | |
The fist units of the Russian Railway Troops – the railway armed guards – were established in 1870; they were attached to railways. The total number of the Troops didn’t exceed 1000 people ... | | The fist units of the Russian Railway Troops – the railway armed guards – were established in 1870; they were attached to railways. The total number of the Troops didn’t exceed 1000 people. The 1st Railway Battalion was established in Moscow on May 16, 1878. A branch railway connecting the Vitebsky Railway Station and Tsarskoye Selo was built in 1900-1902. The 1st Railway Battalion took part in the construction of that branch railway. The Battalion was quartered in Tsarskoye Selo when the construction of the branch railway was finished in December of 1902. The 1st Railway Battalion was reformed into the 1st Railway Regiment in 1910. The Regiment’s duty during the First World War was to arrange trips of Nikolay the Second to the army field forces and ensure his safety. The Regiment was discontinued in March 1917.
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hidden His Majesty's Life-Guards Cuirassier Regiment | |
One of the oldest regiments of the Russian Army – His Majesty's Life-Guards Cuirassier Regiment – arrived to Tsarskoye Selo for permanent disposition on February 27, 1832. The regiment was established in 1702 ... | | One of the oldest regiments of the Russian Army – His Majesty's Life-Guards Cuirassier Regiment – arrived to Tsarskoye Selo for permanent disposition on February 27, 1832. The regiment was established in 1702. In 1813, the Regiment gained the rights and privileges of a young guard for courage and bravery demonstrated by its personnel during the Patriotic War of 1812 and came to be called the Life-Guards Cuirassier Regiment. The garrison of the Regiment was in Sophia behind the Alexander Cadet Corps. The barracks of the squadrons of the Life-Guards Cuirassier Regiment were facing Kirasirskaya (Cuirassier) Street beside St. Sophia Cathedral. The personnel of the Regiment honorably discharged their military duty in the battles of the First World War. The regiment was discontinued as a military unit of the Russian Army in 1917.
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hidden His Majesty's Life-Guards Hussars Regiment | |
The Regiment traces its history to the Life-Hussars Squadron established in 1775 to escort Catherine the Second. The Life-Guards Hussars Regiment first saw fire in 1805 at Austerlitz ... | | The Regiment traces its history to the Life-Hussars Squadron established in 1775 to escort Catherine the Second. The Life-Guards Hussars Regiment first saw fire in 1805 at Austerlitz. The Hussars took part in the siege of Varna during the Russo-Turkish War of 1828 – 1829. The Regiment distinguished itself at Telish and Philippoupolis during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878. The Life-Guards Hussars Regiment took part in the actions during the First World War. The Regiment was headquartered in the former uyezd town of Sophia. One of the streets of present-day Pushkin District of St. Petersburg is called Gusarskaya (Hussar) Street. The Regiment was discontinued as a military unit of the Russian Army in 1918.
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hidden His Majesty's Life-Guards 1st Rifle Regiment | |
Light infantry along with heavy infantry emerged in European armies in the 18th century. The light infantry consisted of units called rifle units.The Imperial Rifle Regiment was established in 1854 ... | | Light infantry along with heavy infantry emerged in European armies in the 18th century. The light infantry consisted of units called rifle units. The Imperial Rifle Regiment was established in 1854. The Life-Guards 1st Rifle Battalion was established on the basis of the Imperial Rifle Regiment and was reformed into His Majesty's Life-Guards 1st Rifle Regiment in 1910. The Battalion was headquartered in St. Petersburg until 1863. After 1863 the Battalion moved to the outskirts of Sophia, Tsarskoye Selo. Regiment’s participation in the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878 and the First World War was an important stage of its history. The Life-Guards 1st Rifle Regiment was discontinued as a unit of the old army in 1918.
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hidden Sophia – the Town of Military Men | |
On January 01, 1780, Catherine II issued an Order to establish St. Petersburg Governorate composed of seven uyezds. Sophia Uyezd was one of the seven uyezds of St. Petersburg Governorate. The plan and the emblem of Sophia were approved in 1780 ... | On January 01, 1780, Catherine II issued an Order to establish St. Petersburg Governorate composed of seven uyezds. Sophia Uyezd was one of the seven uyezds of St. Petersburg Governorate. The plan and the emblem of Sophia were approved in 1780. The town was built in the territory of Tsarskoye Selo south-west of the Big Catherine Palace. This area is still called Sophia by residents of Pushkin. Architect C. Cameron took part in the construction of the town. Under Alexander the First a district of Tsarkoye Selo where military units of the Tsarskoselsky permanent post were located, came to be called Sophia. The Tsarskoselsky permanent post mainly consisted of guards; the Officer Corps was its core. The Russian guard regiments revered their traditions and always remembered the history of their regiment.
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hidden The Engineer Combat Training Battalion | |
The Engineer Combat Training Battalion was established in January 11, 1816.Its barracks and office premises were located along Pavlovskoye Highway next to the premises of dismounted and mounted model forces ... | | The Engineer Combat Training Battalion was established in January 11, 1816. Its barracks and office premises were located along Pavlovskoye Highway next to the premises of dismounted and mounted model forces. The street that was formed as a result of disposition of the Battalion was named Sapernaya (Engineer Combat). It separated the territory occupied by the combat engineers from pasture-lands. On April 22, 1860 the Engineer Combat Training Battalion was discontinued and its Banner and personnel were transferred to the Finlyandsky Engineer Combat Semi-Battalion.
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hidden The Guard (Naval) Company | |
The Guard (Naval) Company was the first guards unit of the Russia Navy. It was established in February 16 (27), 1810 on the basis of the Rowing Company established by Peter the First in 1710 ... | | The Guard (Naval) Company was the first guards unit of the Russia Navy. It was established in February 16 (27), 1810 on the basis of the Rowing Company established by Peter the First in 1710. The Guard Company consisted of four line units, an artillery company and a musical company (total 410 people). The Company took part in the Patriotic War of 1812. A group of volunteers of the Guard Company together with the Life-Guards Foresters Regiment negated the attack of the enemy’s division at Borodino Village and took out a bridge across the Kolocha River in the Battle of Borodino. In August 1813, the Guard Company received the St. George Banner for courage and bravery demonstrated at Kulm. Cruiser Oleg, destroyer Voyskovoy, and destroyer Ukraina were equipped by personnel of the Guard Company during the First World War of 1914-1918.
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hidden The Life-Guards Keksgolm Regiment | |
The Life-Guards Keksgolm Regiment is one of the oldest regiments of the Russian Army. Only three regiments of the Foot Guards were established by Peter the Great – Preobrazhensky, Semenovsky and Keksgolm Regiments ... | | The Life-Guards Keksgolm Regiment is one of the oldest regiments of the Russian Army. Only three regiments of the Foot Guards were established by Peter the Great – Preobrazhensky, Semenovsky and Keksgolm Regiments. All of them were called Peter’s Regiments. The Regiment was established in 1710. The Regiment took part in many battles. Personnel of the Keksgolm Regiment demonstrated courage and bravery during the Northern War. The Regiment distinguished itself during the Russo-Swedish War of 1808-1809. Two battalions of the Regiment negated the attacks of the French cavalry in the Battle of Borodino. The Regiment took part in the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878 and crossed the Balkan Mountains in severe winter conditions. It also took part in the actions during the First World War of 1914 - 1918. The Regiment was discontinued as a unit of the old army in 1918.
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hidden The Life-Guards 2nd Tsarskoselsky Rifle Regiment | |
The Life-Guards 2nd Rifle Battalion was established on March 27, 1856 on the basis of the rifle companies of the 2nd Guard Division. The Battalion was made a part of the Old Guard and given all rights and privileges of the Old Guard ... | | The Life-Guards 2nd Rifle Battalion was established on March 27, 1856 on the basis of the rifle companies of the 2nd Guard Division. The Battalion was made a part of the Old Guard and given all rights and privileges of the Old Guard. The Battalion was headquartered in the territory of the former uyezd town of Sophia in single-storey wooden barracks on Pavlovskoye Highway. In 1910, the Life-Guards 2nd Rifle Battalion was reformed into the Life-Guards 2nd Tsarskoselsky Rifle Regiment. The Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh designed by architect A.G. Uspensky was built in 1904. The construction was financed by Moscow merchant I.A. Protopopov. In 1910, the Church became the Regiment Church. The Life-Guards 2nd Tsarskoselsky Rifle Regiment was discontinued as a military unit of the Russian Army in April of 1918.
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hidden The Life-Guards 4th Imperial Rifle Regiment | |
A Rifle Regiment was formed of peasants of the Royal Demesne by order of Nikolay the First on October 25, 1845 (during the Crimean War of 1853-1856). The first ceremonial review of the Imperial Rifle Regiment took place on the Sophia parade ground ... | | A Rifle Regiment was formed of peasants of the Royal Demesne by order of Nikolay the First on October 25, 1845 (during the Crimean War of 1853-1856). The first ceremonial review of the Imperial Rifle Regiment took place on the Sophia parade ground in Tsarskoye Selo on June 21, 1855 in the presence of Alexander the Second who became the Honorary Colonel of the Regiment. The Regiment was discontinued after the peace treaty was signed. Alexander the Second ordered to establish the Life-Guards Royal Rifle Battalion headquartered in Tsarskoye Selo in remembrance of the Imperial Rifle Regiment. Crown prince Nikolay Alexandrovich (the elder son of Alexander the Second), Grand Dukes Konstantin Nikolyevich, Nikolay Nikolayevich and Mikhail Nikolayevich as well as famous Russian poet, Colonel, Count A.K. Tolstoy did their military service in the Battalion. The Battalion was reformed into the Life-Guards 4th Imperial Rifle Regiment in May of 1910. The Life-Guards 4th Imperial Rifle Regiment was discontinued as a military unit of the Russian Army in 1918.
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hidden The Model Infantry Battalion | |
The Model Training Battalion was established in Tsarskoye Selo in 1826.The Model Infantry Battalion prepared instructors in equipment, all types of rifled weapons, manuals, arrangement of garrison and guard service, and uniform and gear wearing ... | | The Model Training Battalion was established in Tsarskoye Selo in 1826. The Model Infantry Battalion prepared instructors in equipment, all types of rifled weapons, manuals, arrangement of garrison and guard service, and uniform and gear wearing, caretaking and fitting rules. In May of 1827 the Battalion was reformed into the Model Infantry Regiment and was quartered in Sophia, Tsarskoye Selo. The barracks and the outbuildings of the Regiment were located between Gusarskaya and Ogorodnaya Streets. The Sophia parade ground was located nearby. On March 21, 1882, the Model Infantry Training Battalion was reformed into the Officer Small Arms School.
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hidden The Officer Artillery School | |
The Officer Artillery School was established on March 14, 1882. Artillery battery commanders were trained there.The school occupied large territory in Sophia bordered by Kadetsky Boulevard, Srtilleriyskaya and Sapernaya Streets ... | | The Officer Artillery School was established on March 14, 1882. Artillery battery commanders were trained there. The school occupied large territory in Sophia bordered by Kadetsky Boulevard, Srtilleriyskaya and Sapernaya Streets. The administration of the school was situated in a threestorey building on Zakharzhevskaya Street not far from Kadetsky Boulevard. The first Russian anti-aircraft artillery battery under command of Staff Captain of the Guards V.V. Tarnovsky was established in March of 1915. The Officer Artillery School played an important part in development of artillery in Russia. Development of theory and practice of indirect artillery fire is one of the biggest achievements of the School.
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