The hussar regiment is a special military formation that was part of the Russian imperial army and the troops of the Russian kingdom. These were lightly armed horsemen, who were distinguished by a characteristic form, in this they were similar to the lancers. In our country, the first hussars appeared in the middle of the 17th century, they fought as part of the White Army in the Civil War. In this article, we will talk about the history of their occurrence, functions and interesting facts.
History of Appearance
In Russia, the concept of "hussar regiment" was first mentioned in 1654, when Colonel Christopher Rylsky assumed command of the first such military unit. The hussars themselves appeared in our country two decades earlier. These were hussar companies, which were described as an army of a fundamentally new foreign system.
It is known that the hussar regiment of Rylsky set out from Moscow in the spring, but after somethe mention of him in the documents disappears. Apparently, he did not justify the hopes placed on him, he was transferred to the Reiter system.
After this, it is known that the hussar companies in 1660 were organized in Novgorod by Prince Ivan Khovansky. They proved themselves in the Russian-Polish war, the very next year they were expanded to a regiment. The last mention of them dates back to 1701.
In the time of Peter I
In 1707, the Russian Tsar Peter I instructed the Serbian colonel Apostol Kichich to form a hussar regiment from Serbian, Volosh and other southern Slavs, who at that time lived on the territory of modern Ukraine.
The order was fulfilled, these military formations took part in the Northern War. By 1711, when they were to go on the Prut campaign, the number of hussar regiments had grown to six. After the campaign, they were reorganized into three formations. They existed until 1721, after which they were disbanded as soon as the Treaty of Nystadt was signed.
Serbian regiment
Hussars in the Russian army were absent for a relatively short time. In 1723, Peter ordered Major Albanezov to form the Serbian Hussar Regiment.
There were serious problems with its occupancy. As a result, by 1733, it contained less than two hundred people from the personnel. Then his commander Ivan Stoyanov took steps to recruit Serbs. By the beginning of the Russian-Turkish war, the number of the regiment was increased to 1,100 people, who were divided into ten companies. Soon Transylvanians, Hungarians,Moldavians and Vlachs. The Serbian regiment participated in the assault on Ochakov, the battles of Khotyn and the Prut River.
Settled shelves
The next stage in the development of the hussars was the so-called settled regiments. In 1776, a decree was issued on the creation of ten such military formations, which were located on the territory of the Novorossiysk and Azov provinces. Their main task was to protect the borders of the Russian Empire in the south.
Later, twelve more hussar formations were created as part of the Russian imperial army. These were exclusively shelves.
By the beginning of the 20th century, only two guards regiments of the Life Guards were retained in the Russian army. Let's talk about several military formations that left the most noticeable mark in history.
Alexandria Regiment
This unit was formed in 1776 and was intended to protect the southern borders of the empire. The Alexandria Hussar Regiment originally consisted of six squadrons, for some time it was attached to the Kherson Cossack Regiment.
Among the famous personalities who served in it were Finnish General Karl Mannerheim, poet Nikolai Gumilyov, Soviet division commander Konstantin Ushakov, writer and playwright Mikhail Bulgakov, World War I hero Konstantin Batyushkov.
It was in this regiment at the age of three that Tsarevich Alexei, the son of Emperor Nicholas II, was enlisted.
During the Civil War, he participated in the Volunteer Army.
Akhtyrsky regiment
Akhtyrskythe hussar regiment is considered one of the oldest military formations of this type, as it traces its history back to 1651, when it was formed as a Cossack regiment. He received the status of a hussar during the time of Empress Catherine II, from 1882 to 1907. was considered dragoon.
The regiment was based in Pavlodar. Participated in the Russian-Turkish war. In particular, Izmail stormed, besieged Ochakov. At the beginning of the 19th century, he again participated in campaigns against Turkey, Napoleon's troops, and suppressed the Polish uprising in the Privislensky region.
After the Patriotic War of 1812, he went on a trip abroad. During the First World War, he acted on the Romanian and Southwestern Front. In 1918 he was finally disbanded when he was based near Odessa.
During the Civil War, attempts were made to restore it as part of the Armed Forces of the South of Russia. It was led by Colonel George Psiol.
His Majesty's Life Guards Regiment
The Hussar Regiment of His Majesty's Life Guards was founded in 1796. It was formed by Grigory Potemkin by decree of Empress Catherine II. He took an active part in the Napoleonic wars. For example, in 1807 near Friedland, where the Russian army suffered one of its most crushing defeats in that confrontation.
In 1812 he distinguished himself in the Battle of Borodino as part of the First Cavalry Corps of General Uvarov.
During the Russian-Turkish war, he besieged Varna, took part in the battles near the village of Telish and the battles near Philippopolis.
In 1905During the Russo-Japanese War, he was sent to the Far East to join the Manchurian army. During the First World War, he was involved in hostilities on the North-Western Front. In particular, he was actively involved in the Lodz, East Prussian and Seine operations.
Grodno Regiment
The Grodno Hussar Regiment was formed in the city of Toropets in 1806. It included five squadrons that were previously expelled from the Olviopol, Alexandria and Izyum regiments.
Already in 1807, the regiment received its first baptism when it participated in the Battle of Preussisch-Eylau. In the winter of 1808-1809, the Grodno hussars made an unprecedented raid on the ice of the Botanical Bay, ending up in Sweden. During the Patriotic War, they acted in the Petersburg direction. For example, they participated in the battle of Klyastitsy.
Since 1824, the historical name of the regiment was officially transferred to the newly formed Life Guards Grodno Hussar Regiment. It was decided to rename the old regiment to Klyastitsky.
It was in this hussar regiment that Lermontov was appointed in 1834 after graduating from the school of guards ensigns. At the same time, the poet continued to lead a rather riotous and dissolute life.
His contemporaries note that Lermontov in the Grodno Hussars was completely indifferent to the service. At the same time, it was then that he began to write his first famous works, which so amazed and surprised his contemporaries.
After publicationhis poem "The Death of a Poet" in 1837 was followed by a trial that ended in arrest. It is known that the process was followed by the emperor himself. Friends and relatives did everything possible to mitigate the punishment as much as possible. As a result, he was transferred to the Nizhny Novgorod Dragoon Regiment, and then sent to the Caucasus.
His first link was short lived. The influential grandmother ensured that in a few months he was returned to the Grodno Hussars near Novgorod. Lermontov went from there to the Life Guards, having traveled in its composition throughout the territory of modern Azerbaijan.
When he returned from the trip, everyone noted how he had changed morally. These changes greatly influenced his worldview and creativity.
Functions
Hussars served as light cavalry. However, they were rarely used in direct frontal attacks. Their main advantage was mobility, surprise and complete fearlessness, with which they simply demoralized the enemy.
Often they were entrusted with separate special tasks, they were indispensable when chasing the retreating enemy. They pursued the enemy, forcing them to withdraw deep into the rear, and on the way they beat off horses, carts, guns and provisions from the enemy.
In the 19th century, there was a real cult of the hussars, when almost everyone, without exception, dreamed of getting into this branch of the military. It was an elite military unit, in which only the best were selected.
Besides, afford itonly we althy people could, since only caring for their shape required serious investments. They had to cover from their own pocket. Moreover, it was believed that in peacetime, the hussars should lead a carefree and riotous lifestyle. They kept a lot of horses, reveled, played cards. All this required additional investments.
Not many people know that the symbol of the hussars was a skull and crossbones. This symbolism came from the French royalists, over time, firmly entrenched in the Russian units. A characteristic skull with bones was even officially approved on the coats of arms of some regiments, for example, Alexandria. This symbol meant not only death, but also victory over it. So the hussars demonstrated their complete fearlessness. Victory over the frailty of life, since the skull and bones personified not only death, but also Adam's head on Golgotha. That is why the hussars of these regiments were often called immortal. They proved their courage and fearlessness more than once on the battlefield.
