* The table is compiled based on data contained in the publications: Atlas of Asian Russia. – (Map of the lands of the Cossack troops). St. Petersburg, 1914; Civil war and military intervention of the USSR. Encyclopedia. – Ed. 2nd. – M., 1987; Russian Cossacks. Directory. Comp. V. Markin. – Rostov-on-Don, 1995; Soviet military encyclopedia. – T. 8. – M., 1980; Soviet historical encyclopedia. -T. 6. – M., 1965.

** Taking into account the Cossack population of the Yenisei (14 thousand people) and Irkutsk (7 thousand people) provinces - 4 million 498 thousand people.

* The table is compiled according to data from: GARO. – F. 353. – Op. 1. – D. 773 (our calculation – V.T.); RGVIA. – F. 29. – Op. 3. – D. 2214; South-Eastern statistical collection. Rostov-on-Don, 1918; Report of the head of the Kuban region and the ataman of the Kuban Cossack army on the state of the region for 1915. – Ekaterinodar, 1916; Report of the head of the Terek region and the ataman of the Terek Cossack army on the state of the region for 1915. – Vladikavkaz, 1916; Terek calendar for 1912. – Vol. 21. – Statistical yearbook. – Vladikavkaz, 1911; Review of the Semirechensk region for 1913. Verny, 1914; Great Soviet Encyclopedia. Ed. 3rd. T. 30. M., 1978; Civil war and military intervention in the USSR. Encyclopedia. Ed. 2nd. M., 1987; Soviet historical encyclopedia. T. 6. M., 1965; Voronina A.Ya. On the issue of land management of the Transbaikal Cossack army. // Socio-economic development of Siberia in the 19th-20th centuries. – Irkutsk, 1976; Dudar E.I. The struggle for the establishment and strengthening of Soviet power in the Orenburg region (March 1917 - June 1918). – Orenburg, 1967.

** With the exception of the lands of the “Cabinet of His Imperial Majesty”.

*** Without taking into account 5 million 785 thousand acres of land of the so-called “Dukhovsky allotment”, abolished in 1913.

**** Without taking into account 9 million 42.9 thousand acres of land of the so-called “Dukhovsky allotment”, abolished in 1913.

***** The calculation is ours. – V.T.

* The table is compiled according to data from: GARO. – F. 46. – Op. 1. – D. 3910; GACK. -F. 449. – Op. 5. – D. 189; South-Eastern statistical collection. – Rostov-on-Don, 1918; Report of the head of the Kuban region and the ataman of the Kuban Cossack army on the state of the region for 1913. – Ekaterinodar, 1914; Report of the head of the Kuban region and the ataman of the Kuban Cossack army on the state of the region for 1915. – Ekaterinodar, 1916; Report of the head of the Terek region and the ataman of the Terek Cossack army for 1905. -Vladikavkaz, 1906; Report of the head of the Terek region and the ataman of the Terek Cossack army for 1915. – Vladikavkaz, 1916; Great Soviet Encyclopedia. – Ed. 3rd. – T.30. – M., 1978; Civil war and military intervention in the USSR. Encyclopedia. – Ed. 2nd. – M., 1987; Soviet historical encyclopedia. – T. 6. – M., 1965; Land question in Siberia. M., 1919; Korshunov B.V. A comparative economic overview of the military departments of the Siberian Cossack Army on the eve of the First World War. // Ural-Siberian Cossacks in the panorama of centuries. – Tomsk, 1994 (our calculation. – V.T.); Mashin M.D. From the history native land. Orenburg Cossack army. – Chelyabinsk, 1976; Orenburg Cossack army: history and modernity. – Chelyabinsk, 1993.

* The table is compiled according to data from: GARO. F. 353. Op. 1. D. 863. L.L. 15, 19, 22, 26, 30, 33, 34, 42, 46, 50, 54, 58, 61, 62. (Our calculation - V.T..)

1st Don Cossack Division

as part of the 9th, 10th, 13th and 15th Don Cossack regiments

(all regiments of six hundred were formed from Don Cossacks).

2nd Consolidated Cossack Division

as part of the 16th and 17th Don, 1st Linear and 1st Volga Cossack regiments

(all regiments of six hundred were formed from the Don, Linear - from the Kuban, and Volga - from Terek Cossacks).

1st Caucasian Cossack divisions

as part of the 1st Kuban, 1st Uman, 1st Khopersky and 1st Gorsk-Mozdok Cossack regiments

(all regiments of six hundred strength, Kuban, Uman and Khopersky were formed from Kuban Cossacks, and Gorsko-Mozdoksky is from Terek).

2nd Caucasian Cossack Division

as part of the 1st Black Sea, 1st Labinsk, 1st Zaporozhye and 1st Poltava Cossack regiments

(all regiments of six hundred were formed from Kuban Cossacks).

3rd Caucasian Cossack Division

as part of the 1st Yekaterinodar and 1st Kizlyar-Grebensky Cossack regiments, the Dagestan cavalry regiment and the Ossetian cavalry division

(Cossack regiments of six hundred, Ekaterinodar - from Kuban, and Kizlyar-Grebensky - from Terek Cossacks; Dagestan regiment - from volunteers, residents of Dagestan, Ossetian division - from Ossetian volunteers).

1st Turkestan Cossack Division

as part of the 1st Semirechensky, 2nd Ural, 4th Isetsk-Stavropol and 5th Orenburg Cossack regiments

(all regiments of six hundred strength, Semirechensky - from Semirechensky, Ural - from the Ural, and Isetsko-Stavropol and Orenburg - from Orenburg Cossacks).

Transbaikal Cossack Brigade

as part of the 1st Verkhneudinsk, 1st Chita and 1st Argun Cossack regiments

(all regiments of six hundred were formed from Transbaikal Cossacks).

Transcaspian Cossack Brigade

as part of the 1st Caucasian and 1st Taman Cossack regiments and the Turkmen cavalry division

(Caucasian and Taman regiments of six hundred, formed from Kuban Cossacks; Turkmen cavalry division - from Turkmen volunteers).

Siberian Cossack Brigade

as part of the 1st Siberian and 2nd Siberian Cossack regiments

(both regiments were six hundred strong, formed from Siberian Cossacks).

Ussuri Cossack Brigade

as part of the 1st Amur and 1st Nerchinsk Cossack regiments, the Ussuri Cossack division and the Primorsky Dragoon Regiment

(Amur and Nerchinsk regiments of six hundred, formed respectively from Amur and Transbaikal Cossacks; the Ussuri division consisted of three hundred, formed from Ussuri Cossacks; Primorsky Dragoon Regiment was a regular cavalry unit).

1st Kuban Plastun Brigade

as part of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th Kuban Plastun battalions, formed from Kuban Cossacks.

Cossack regiments

Life Guards Cossack Regiment (six hundred strong, formed from Don Cossacks), was part of the 1st Guards Cavalry Division;

Life Guards Ataman Regiment (six hundred strong, formed from Don Cossacks), was part of the 1st Guards Cavalry Division;

Life Guards Consolidated Cossack Regiment (consisted of the Ural and Orenburg hundreds, Siberian and Transbaikal fifty, Amur, Astrakhan, Semirechensk and Ussuri platoons, formed respectively from the Ural, Orenburg, Siberian, Astrakhan, Semirechensk and Ussuri Cossacks).

The 1st Don Cossack Regiment (six hundred strong, formed from Don Cossacks), was part of the 1st Cavalry Division.

The 2nd Don Cossack Regiment (six hundred strong, formed from Don Cossacks), was part of the 2nd Cavalry Division.

The 3rd Don Cossack Regiment (six hundred strong, formed from Don Cossacks), was part of the 3rd Cavalry Division.

The 4th Don Cossack Regiment (six hundred strong, formed from Don Cossacks), was part of the 4th Cavalry Division.

The 5th Don Cossack Regiment (six hundred strong, formed from Don Cossacks), was part of the 5th Cavalry Division.

The 6th Don Cossack Regiment (six hundred strong, formed from Don Cossacks), was part of the 6th Cavalry Division.

The 7th Don Cossack Regiment (six hundred strong, formed from Don Cossacks) was a separate regiment.

The 8th Don Cossack Regiment (six hundred strong, formed from Don Cossacks), was part of the 8th Cavalry Division.

The 11th Don Cossack Regiment (six hundred strong, formed from Don Cossacks), was part of the 7th Cavalry Division.

The 12th Don Cossack Regiment (six hundred strong, formed from Don Cossacks), was part of the 11th Cavalry Division.

The 14th Don Cossack Regiment (six hundred strong, formed from Don Cossacks), was part of the 14th Cavalry Division.

The 1st Orenburg Cossack Regiment (six hundred strong, formed from Orenburg Cossacks), was part of the 10th Cavalry Division.

The 2nd Orenburg Cossack Regiment (six hundred strong, formed from Orenburg Cossacks), was part of the 13th Cavalry Division.

The 3rd Ufa-Samara Cossack Regiment (six hundred strong, formed from Orenburg Cossacks), was part of the 12th Cavalry Division.

The 1st Ural Cossack Regiment (six hundred strong, formed from the Ural Cossacks), was part of the 9th Cavalry Division.

The 3rd Ural Cossack Regiment (six hundred strong, formed from Ural Cossacks), was part of the 15th Cavalry Division.

The 1st Astrakhan Cossack Regiment (six hundred strong, formed from Astrakhan Cossacks) was a separate regiment.

The 1st Sunzhensko-Vladikavkaz Cossack Regiment (six hundred strong, formed from Terek Cossacks), was part of the Caucasian Cavalry Division.

The 2nd Verkhneudinsk Cossack Regiment (six hundred strong, formed from Transbaikal Cossacks) was a separate regiment.

The 3rd Siberian Cossack Regiment (six hundred strong, formed from Siberian Cossacks) was a separate regiment.

Separate Cossack divisions

A separate Kuban Cossack division (three hundred strong, formed from Kuban Cossacks) was a separate unit.

A separate Orenburg Cossack division (three hundred strong, formed from Orenburg Cossacks) was a separate unit.

Life Guards "His Imperial Majesty's Own Convoy"

as part of the 1st and 2nd Kuban, 3rd and 4th Terek Cossack hundreds (a convoy of four hundred, formed exclusively from Kuban and Terek Cossacks).

Version of historian G.L. Voskoboynikova

“The 3rd Don Cossack Regiment moved at the forefront of the division. A Cossack patrol of six people under the command of K. Kryuchkov, having safely crossed the border of East Prussia, the next day discovered first one enemy patrol of 10 people, then another patrol of 17 people. Kryuchkov sent two Cossacks to the regiment with a report, and with the remaining three Cossacks - Astakhov, Ivanov (as in the text, it should be Ivankov. - V.T.) and Shchegolkov decided to take the fight. The Cossacks dismounted and, as the enemy patrols approached, from an ambush (?!) opened fire on the German cavalrymen. The Germans began to retreat in panic, leaving several dead and wounded on the battlefield. Then, at Kryuchkov’s command, the Cossacks, with pikes at the ready and whooping, rushed to pursue the German cavalrymen. Kryuchkov, having far outstripped his comrades, crashed into the thick of the retreating and, working with a saber, destroyed several Germans, the Cossacks who arrived in time destroyed several more enemy soldiers, of the 27 German cavalrymen, only three managed to gallop away from the Cossacks, the rest were left lying dead and wounded, they received many wounds and Cossacks K. Kryuchkov received 16 puncture wounds in the battle. Wounded, he fought to the bitter end, destroying 11 enemy soldiers. The fame of the Don Cossack's feat spread throughout the army, all newspapers wrote about him.

The army commander telegraphically congratulated the Nakazny military ataman of the region of the Don Army on awarding the first St. George Cross to the Cossack of the Nizhne-Kalmykos farm (as in the text. - V.T.) Ust-Khoperskaya village of Kozma Kryuchkov. The seriously wounded (?!) Cossack, after recovery, was released to the Don on vacation. Astakhov and Ivanov were awarded St. George crosses and medals (as in the text. - V.T.), Shchegolkov". (Cm. Voskoboynikov G.L. Cossacks in the First World War 1914-1918 - M., 1994. - P. 14.)

Version of the writer and local historian G.A. Sivovolova

On the night of July 27, the head of the post, Astakhov, announced the order of the commander of the hundred to leave for the post at dawn. Ivankov, Kryuchkov, Rvachev, Popov and Shchegolkov are traveling with Astakhov... We left at dawn. Along the way, as usual, there were jokes and laughter. Having taken up post, the Cossacks took turns on duty with binoculars, the rest were sleeping or doing whatever they could. Ivankov was also on duty with binoculars. The day passed in idleness. Around midnight, border guards passing by the post said that the border regiment had been removed from the border. On the exposed section of the border, the Cossacks were left alone, and behind the nearest forest were the Germans.

In the morning Rvachev left for the hundred. No reinforcements came from there. Shchegolkov and Ivankov were mowing the grass for the horses when a Pole boy came running and said that the Germans had arrived. Soon Astakhov saw an approaching group of mounted Germans through binoculars. There were more than twenty of them. The head of the post decides to fire at the border violators and drive them to the neighboring post. Having dismounted, they fired a volley. One of the Germans fell down. The Cossacks on horseback began to pursue the Germans. Another one was brought down against the second post. In the direction of the town of Lyubov in the basin, the Germans disappeared from sight. Astakhov sent Ivankov to see where they were.

Having significant superiority, the Germans attacked a handful of Cossacks. Ivankov turned back, the Germans rushed after him. Neglecting the danger, Astakhov, Kryuchkov and Shchegolkov rushed to the aid of Ivankov. Astakhov killed at point-blank range with a rifle German officer. This was the turning point in the battle - having lost an officer, the dragoons scattered and retreated to the border.

For this battle, Kozma Kryuchkov, the favorite of the commander of the hundred, received a Georgy, he was transferred to the division headquarters, three more Georgies were added there, and his comrades in the fight remained in the shadows. (Cm.: Sivovolov G.Ya."Quiet Don": stories about prototypes. Notes from a literary local historian. – Rostov n/d.: Book. publishing house, 1991. – P. 142-143.)

Version of the compilers of the “Cossack Dictionary-Reference Book”

G.V. Gubarev and A.I. Skrylova.

“Kryuchkov Kuzma Firsovich (don) – b. in 1890 on the Nizhne-Kalmykovsky farm in the Ust-Khoper village; popular folk hero. Graduated from the village school; on military service drafted into the 3rd Don Cossack Regiment of Ermak Timofeevich. At the beginning of the First World War, his fame thundered throughout Russia as a warrior who accomplished an unprecedented feat of stubborn resistance to the Germans. This was one of the first combat meetings. A guard patrol of four privates, led by the orderly K-vy, unexpectedly came across a patrol of 30 enemy men. Surrounded by them, K. fought back with a rifle and saber, and then, snatching a pike from the hands of a German uhlan, forced him to break the encirclement ring with it and managed to escape from the hands of the enemy, leaving 14 enemy corpses on the battlefield; Of these, K-va accounted for 12. He himself received 16 puncture wounds. The horse, wounded eleven times, carried out its rider, who had lost consciousness and was bending over his neck. For this feat, K., the first of all privates in the Russian army, was awarded the St. George Cross in 1914. By the end of the war, he earned 2 St. George's crosses and 2 medals." Cm.: Gubarev G.V., Skrylov A.I. Kryuchkov Kuzma Firsovich. Cossack dictionary-reference book. – T. 2. San Anselmo, 1968. – P. 94-95.)

* See: RGVIA. – F. 2003. – Op.2. – D. 276. – L.L. 96-98; Voskoboynikov G.L. Cossacks in the First World War 1914-1918. – M., 1994. Appendix 1. – P. 150-162; Trut V.P. Cossacks of Russia during the First World War. – Rostov-on-Don, 1998. – P. 68-71. Appendix 3. For the first time this list, compiled on the basis of archival data, was published in the work of G.L. Voskoboynikova. At the same time, some minor technical inaccuracies were made. Firstly, instead of inventory 2, inventory 1 is erroneously indicated (p. 162); secondly, instead of the 7th Orenburg Cossack Regiment, the 1st Orenburg Cossack Regiment is incorrectly indicated (p. 162); thirdly, the list given in the work omitted the 46th Don Cossack Regiment (p. 161); fourthly, the numbering of the Plastun battalions of the 3rd Kuban Plastun Brigade is mixed up (p. 161). – V.T.

“Russia in the World War 1914-1918. (in numbers). – M., 1925. – P. 34. Trut V.P. Cossacks during the First World War. – Rostov-on-Don, 1990. – P. 72. Appendix 4.

In addition, by August 1, 1917, more than 345 thousand people had deserted from the army (of which 195,130 people were before the February Revolution, and over 150 thousand people during the period from March to early August). There are no more recent data. – V.T.

Padalkin A."Steppe March" and the beginning of the Cossack uprisings on the Don. // Homeland. – 1969. No. 80-81. – P. 44-45; Denisov S.V. White Russia. – Album No. 1. – New York, 1937; Don wave. – 1918. – August 12 (25).

** In the work of S.V. Denisov, the total strength of this detachment is determined to be 1,500 people with 10 guns and 28 machine guns, which is inaccurate. The number of this detachment at 1800 people was also incorrectly determined in the magazine “Don Wave” dated August 12 (25), 1918. – V.T.

* The application is compiled according to: Denisov S.V. White Russia. – Album No. 1. – New York, 1937.

Badge of the Life Guards Cossack Regiment

Approved September 14, 1909. The sign is a four-pointed cross with forked ends (in the shape of the Maltese cross), covered with crimson enamel, with a gold rim. The cross is superimposed on a gold rosette in the form of a four-pointed star.

Saint Petersburg. Workshop "Karl Blank". 1911–1917 Size 42.5 x 43 mm. Weight 24.3 g. Silver, enamel, gilding. Hallmarks: on the reverse side - hallmark “84” with a female head in a kokoshnik, turned to the right, with the letter “alpha”, nameplate “KB”.

Photo from the site http://www.book.ua-ru.com

Badge of His Majesty's Life Guards Cossack Regiment (for lower ranks)

Size 42 x 42 mm. Firm "E. Kortman".

Photo from the Leibstandarte website http://www.ww2.ru

Insignia of the Military Order of St. George No. 64155

The insignia of the Military Order of St. George No. 64155 was awarded to a Cossack of the Life Guards Cossack Regiment Clementius Kalinin."For distinction during the retreat to Tikochin and near Ostralenki on May 14, 1831."

1775 April 20. Court Cossack teams were formed in Moscow for the Convoy of EMPRESS KATHERINE II: Donskaya and Chuguevskaya.

November 7, 1796. The Don and Chuguev court Cossack teams were united with the Gatchina Cossack Regiment of HIS Imperial Highness the Heir to the Tsarevich troops (the regiment was founded in 1793), reorganized into two squadrons and made up half of the Life Hussar Cossack Regiment, which was granted rights on November 14 and the advantages of the Old Guard.

January 27, 1798. Life Guards Cossack Regiment is separated from the Life Guards Hussars. The password order stated: Lieutenant General Denisov to command the Life Guards Cossack Regiment and have HIS MAJESTY's squadron. June 10 - The regiment's staff of two squadrons was approved.

1811 May 18. The newly formed Guards Black Sea Cossack Hundred was assigned to the regiment.

February 2, 1861. The Black Sea Army was renamed the Kuban Army, Leningrad Guards. The Black Sea division was abolished, part of its available personnel was sent to form the 1st Life Guards of the Caucasian Cossack squadron of HIS MAJESTY'S Own Convoy.

1863 June 10. The Leningrad Guards was abolished. Crimean Tatar squadron and in return it was ordered to have, under the Leningrad Guards. Caucasian Cossack squadron of HIS MAJESTY'S Own Convoy in addition to the set of the L.-Gv. Crimean Tatars.

October 14, 1874. The first division of the regiment was ordered together with the 1st division of the Leningrad Guards. The Ataman Regiment will form the Life Guards Consolidated Cossack Regiment, while the remaining divisions will receive benefits.

1877 June 19. From the second divisions that arrived to replace the first divisions sent in May to the Active Army on the Danube, the 2nd Leningrad Guards was formed. Consolidated Cossack Regiment; in September, this regiment was sent to the Active Army, and in its place a new one from the third preferential divisions was formed.

1884, March 13. Commanded instead of the L.-Gv. The Consolidated Cossack Regiment contains the Life Guards. Cossack of HIS MAJESTY and L.-Gv. Atamansky regiment of His Highness the Heir to the Tsarevich, in which to have 4 squadrons in peacetime, and in war time form the Leningrad Guards. Reserve Cossack regiment of 6 squadrons.

1891 March 14. The squadrons were renamed hundreds and cavalry ranks and ranks were replaced by Cossack ones, and on July 15 it was ordered instead of the L.-Gv. In wartime, form the Cossack Reserve Regiment No. 52 Cavalry Regiment.

MARKS OF EXCELLENCE:

1) St. George's standard, with St. Andrew's anniversary ribbon, with the inscription: “For distinction in the defeat and expulsion of the enemy from the borders of Russia in 1812 and for the feat performed in the battle of Leipzig on October 4, 1813” and “1775-1796-1875” . The highest charter on March 19, 1826 and April 20, 1875.

2) 22 silver trumpets, with the inscription: “For distinction against the enemy in the last campaign of 1813.” The highest order of July 15, 1813. The highest charter of June 4, 1826.

3) Badges for hats, with the inscription in the 1st, 3rd and 4th hundreds: “For distinction in Turkish war 1877 and 1878,” and in the 2nd hundred: “For Lovcha on July 5, 1877.” On April 17, 1878, they were granted the command of the Adjutant Wing of Colonel Zherebkov. The highest charter August 2, 1878

CHEF OF THE REGIMENT:

His Imperial Majesty Sovereign Emperor Nikolai Alexandrovich, from November 2, 1894 (deigns to be listed on the regiment's lists from May 6, 1868).

FORMER REGIMENT CHEFS*):

*)Note. BY THE HIGHEST order of January 24, 1798, the regiment was ordered to have a squadron of HIS MAJESTY and since then this name was given to the 1st squadron, although Emperor ALEXANDER I did not accept the title of Chief of the regiment. From November 9, 1800 to January 4, 1801, Count Denisov was called the chief of the regiment.

LISTED IN THE REGIMENTAL LISTS:

His Imperial Highness the Heir Tsarevich Grand Duke ALEXEY NIKOLAEVICH since 1904 July 30.

THE HIGHEST PERSONS IN THE REGIMENT:

Participation in campaigns and affairs against the enemy.

1799 BY THE HIGHEST command of June 2 from the Life Guards Cossack Regiment, 32 Cossacks with two officers were appointed to the detachment of General Herman, who was going to Holland. At the beginning of September they landed on the Dutch coast near Gelderaa, on September 8 they took part in the battle of Bergen, on September 21 and 25 at the village. Bakum; in mid-October they were put on ships to return to Russia, but by special order they went for the winter, first to the islands of Guernsey and Jersey, and then to Portsmouth, from where at the end of July 1800 they returned to their homeland. In the same 1799, the 3rd squadron was sent to observe the shores of the White Sea in the port of Onega, where it remained until December 19, and on January 15, 1800 it returned to St. Petersburg.

1805 August 10, the first two squadrons of Life Cossacks in the fifth echelon of the Guards Corps (Cavalry Guards, Life Hussars and part of the Foot Artillery) set out from St. Petersburg on a campaign to join the Austrian Army; On November 20, they took part in the battle of Austerlitz; Therefore, by March of next year we returned to St. Petersburg.

1807 In mid-February, the first two squadrons set out on a campaign in Prussia; from the middle of May they were in the vanguard of Prince Bagration; took part on May 21-27 in several skirmishes with Ney’s retreating corps; 29 in the battle of Gutstadt, and June 2 at Friedland.

January 28, 1808, the same squadrons set out on a campaign to Finland, where they formed part of the 1st column, under the command of Prince Gorchakov; On February 12, they took part in the case of Forsby; February 18 at Helsingfors; On June 13, HIS MAJESTY's squadron, quartered in the village. Plelax was accidentally attacked at night by secretly conspiring residents and lost 70 Cossacks and 2 officers. On July 1, the Life Cossacks cut down the Swedes near the same village and took away from them 7 cast-iron guns and a significant convoy; On July 7, they took part in the battle of Kaska; July 12-20 in daily skirmishes with the Swedes on the Christinenstadt road; August 25 near the village. Emos. On February 7, 1808, the regiment returned to St. Petersburg for recruitment.

1812 In March, the regiment set out on a campaign consisting of 4 squadrons in the city of Vilno, where it was assigned to be in the vanguard of the 3rd Corps, General Tuchkov; On the night of June 12-13, the Life Cossack picket, standing on the bank of the river. Neman, near Kovno, was the first to notice and inform about the French crossing of the Neman; On June 14, the 2nd squadron had a skirmish with the French Hussars near N. Trok; On June 15-23, the Life Cossacks fought without interruption with the advancing French vanguard; On July 10, they attacked and routed the French cavalry along the Vitebsk road near the Dvina; On July 15, near Vitebsk they took the French battery; 16 and 17 participated in skirmishes during the retreat to Porech; On August 5 and 6 they fought near Smolensk; On August 7, at Zabolotye (near Valutina Mountain; on August 26, near Borodino, rapid attacks disrupted the left flank of the French Army, as a result of which the battle was stopped; on the 29th, in the rearguard, they stopped the onslaught of Murat’s Cavalry, near the village of Krutitsy; on September 2, 3 squadrons, cut off from the rearguard, joined the detachment of General Wintzingerode, which covered the path to St. Petersburg, and then until October 11, together with other Cossack regiments, they maintained outposts on the roads: Yaroslavl, Vladimir and Dmitrovskaya: on October 6, the 1st squadron, which was under Count Orlov-Denisov, distinguished itself in the battle of Tarutino , I and 12 October the same squadron took part in the affairs of Maly Yaroslavets; 22 October near Vyazma; 27 October at Lyakhov with the complete defeat and capture of the Augereau Corps; 30 at Clementine; 3 November at Krasny, and then in the vanguard of the Army, under the command of Platov, he pursued the enemy right up to Kovno, which he occupied on December 3.

1813 In January, with the arrival of the GOVERNOR Emperor to the Army, Life Guards. The Cossack regiment was assigned to serve in HIS MAJESTY's Convoy and therefore participated in all the battles of 1813 and 1814. was placed near the place where the GOVERNOR was located. He took part in squadrons: on May 8 near Bautzen, and on October 4 he especially distinguished himself near Leipzig.

1814 March 13, near Ferchampenoise; On March 19, at the head of the Russian Guard, he solemnly entered Paris, where he bivouaced in the Champs Elysees; On March 21, he set out on a return trip and arrived in St. Petersburg on October 23.

1828 April 7, the squadrons located in St. Petersburg set out (except for the 3rd, which was left in place) on a campaign against the Turks; On August 22 we arrived at Varna; and the 1st and 2nd Life Cossack squadrons became part of the siege corps located in the camp near Varna, and the 7th Black Sea squadron on September 3 was sent to the detachment of Adjutant General Golovin. The 4th, 5th and 6th preferential (from the Don) squadrons were recently stationed at the Imperial Main Apartment. On July 14, one of the convoy squadrons had a heated battle with the Turks in the detachment of Major General Simansky near the village of Madirdu. On August 29, the 3rd squadron was sent to observe the enemy and had a firefight with the Turks for several days in a row; On September 15, the detachment of Adjutant General Sukhozanet distinguished himself at Haji-Gassan-Lara; On September 18, in the detachment of Prince Eugene of Wirtemberg near Hassan-Lara, they repelled the Army of Omer-Vrione: on September 29, pursuing the retreating enemy, they dealt with him on the river. Kamchik; On October 12 we went to winter quarters in the Volyn province. From July 1821 to July 11, 1830, they occupied the cordon line along the Dniester, due to the plague that appeared in the Bessarabian region, and then the 1st, 4th, 6th and 7th squadrons returned to St. Petersburg, and the 2nd and 5th to the Don.
1831 The entire regiment gathered in Vilna in January; in the month of March in Tykochin, the Life Squadron was assigned to the Headquarters of the Guards Corps, 2 was sent to Lomza; 3 and 4 entered the vanguard of the Guards Corps; 7 Chernomorsky was assigned to escort the Imperial Main Apartment, and 5 and 8 were left in Kovno. From March until the end of the campaign, the Life Cossacks, in squadrons and individual teams, took an active part in affairs, constantly being in front of the troops and not giving rest to the rebels; On August 25 and 26, he covered artillery in different places.

February 7, 1832, two Don squadrons and the Black Sea squadron followed for service in St. Petersburg, and the rest were given benefits.

1848 March 19, the squadrons that were in service set out on a campaign against the Hungarians; On August 26, in Warsaw, they united with their preferential units that came there from the Don. The Life Cossacks did not take part in the affairs of the Life Cossacks, and after standing in the vicinity of Warsaw until October 25, 1849, they dispersed again, the 2nd division to St. Petersburg, and the rest to the Don. During the war of 1854-1856, the Leningrad Guards. The Cossack regiment was part of the Baltic Army and did not take direct part in dealings with the enemy.

1863 The 1st division of the regiment, which was in service in St. Petersburg, was sent to the Vilna Military District and took an active part in pacifying the Polish uprising, from March to November.
1877 set out on a campaign across the river. Danube to Turkey: 1st division on May 11, 2nd division on August 17.

At first, the campaigns took part in affairs with the Turks in flying detachments, squadron by squadron, and the 2nd squadron in the detachment of the regiment commander Fligel-Adjutant Colonel Zherebkov especially distinguished himself during the raid on July 5 on Lovcha, which was taken despite the significant superiority of the enemy. From September 28 until the end of the campaign, both divisions were in the Convoy under His Imperial Highness the Commander-in-Chief.

Disbanded in March 1918. The Cossacks of the regiment fought as part of the armies of General Krasnov and General Wrangel. The regiment had the St. George standard.

At all times, monarchs sought to create a brilliant environment for themselves, emphasizing the importance of the royal person and the wealth of the state.

History has left us with numerous descriptions of convoys, retinues, and guards units that existed at different times in different countries. Russia was no exception in this regard.

In April 1775, Empress Catherine II ordered the formation of two special Cossack escort teams, in addition to the personal guard she already had - the cavalry guards: Chuguevskaya and Donskaya. According to the states approved a year later, the Don team was supposed to have 77 people: 1 colonel, 4 captains, 65 Cossacks and 7 orderlies. G. A. Potemkin himself took up the selection of the Donets. His exactingness is evidenced, for example, by the fact that 23 Cossacks who arrived on the team were sent back home with the requirement to send a replacement. Soon, at a review organized in the highest presence, the convoys appeared in all their glory - in their original ceremonial uniforms, combining elements of the uniform of modern light cavalrymen and traditional ancient costume. The Cossack escort service did not last long. In 1796, Paul I included teams in the newly formed unit, which received a somewhat strange name - the Life Hussar Cossack Regiment. Two years later, the hussars and Cossacks were nevertheless separated, and the latter, uniting with the Cossacks of the Gatchina squadrons, formed the Life Guards Cossack Regiment, the history of which we get acquainted with in this article,

In terms of numbers, the regiment was for a long time noticeably inferior to other cavalry regiments. In 1799, there were only 384 Cossacks in service, distributed among three squadrons. In 1811, the Black Sea Cossack Hundred (1 staff officer, 3 chief officers, 14 officers and 100 Cossacks) joined the unit, and only on March 4, 1816, Alexander I ordered to deploy it to six squadrons, not counting the Black Sea troops.

Neither the small composition of the regiment, nor its belonging to the guard prevented already in 1799 from sending a small team of Cossacks to the active army, fighting the French in Holland. There, near Bergen, the baptism of fire of the Life Cossacks took place.

The full regiment took part in the famous Battle of Austerlitz on November 20, 1805, the Life Cossacks under the command of Colonel P. A. Chernozubov 5th, together with the Life Guards Cavalry Regiment, formed the vanguard of the second column of Lieutenant General P. F. Malyutin. This vanguard approached the Rausnitsky stream, beyond which on the field the Russian guards infantry desperately fought off the French who were pressing on it.

The cavalry guards entered the battle, crossing the stream along the dam. The lighter and more maneuverable Cossacks forded to the left of the dam and managed to attack the enemy before their comrades. The French cavalrymen repulsed the attack of the Cossacks, but the onslaught of the Donets to some extent made the task easier for the cavalry guards. The Life Cossacks energetically participated in the general cavalry cutting and retreated across the stream only together with other Russian squadrons upset by the battle. Of the 293 people who took part in the attack, the regiment lost 1 officer and 22 Cossacks killed.

In the battles, the combat skill of the Cossacks grew, it was reinforced by the traditional mutual assistance for the Russian warrior. Thus, in the battle of Wolfsdorf on May 28, 1807, the Cossacks, recklessly dealing with numerous enemy infantry, noticed that their cornet, Prince G.I. Melik-Osipov, was tightly surrounded by enemies. Six guardsmen rushed to the rescue and, in an almost incredible fight, managed to recapture the officer. Three - Mikhailov, Erofeev, Ustinov - died in the process. The survivors Chernyshev, Komarov, Kureno were awarded the insignia of the Military Order, established shortly before. In total, 20 Cossacks received an honorary award for this battle. Perhaps no guards unit took such an active part in the hostilities as the Life Cossacks. In the Russian-Swedish war of 1808-1809. The regiment fought under the new commander, Major General V.V. Orlov-Denisov, who remained in this position until 1827. A hereditary Cossack from an old family of warriors, a tall, handsome man, a future cavalry general, holder of the Order of St. George 3rd and 4th degrees. His portrait can still be seen today in the Military Gallery of the Winter Door.

On the night of June 12, 1812, the pickets of the Life Cossacks heard a rumble. Soon fires were lit, which allowed the guards to see on the other side of the Neman many people, pontoons and boats with enemy soldiers. This is how the Patriotic War began, and the first shots were fired at the enemy by the Guards Cossacks. The Russian army was retreating. The regiment was always in the thick of things. He fought at Vitebsk and Porechye, Smolensk and Valutina Mountain. At the Battle of Borodino, Orlov-Denisov led the Guards Hussars, Cossacks and Elisavetgrad Hussars, along with other light cavalry regiments, in a raid on the French left flank. This raid, for a number of reasons (including due to the mistakes of generals M.I. Platov and F. P. Uvarov) did not bring the results that AL had hoped for. I. Kutuzov. Therefore, its participants did not receive any special thanks. The low activity of the attackers is indirectly confirmed by their losses. In particular, only 13 people of the Life Cossacks were out of action, which is not comparable with the losses of other units. However, this episode in regimental history is more likely an accident. The guardsmen deservedly received awards for their military exploits in the Patriotic War. From the order dated June 15, 1813: “... the Life Guards of the Cossack Regiment and the Black Sea Hundred, assigned to it during the war, who have repeatedly distinguished themselves against the enemy in the current campaign... grants them silver pipes.” Twenty-two silver pipes with a total weight of 1 pood 27 pounds and 67 spools (27.285 kg) were specially manufactured and handed over to the regiment in January 1819. Another precious award was the St. George Standard with the inscription: “For distinction in the defeat and expulsion of the enemy from Russia in 1812 and for the feat performed in the battle of Leipzig on October 4, 1813.” In the history of every regiment there is a battle that became its finest hour. For the Guards Cossacks it was the “Battle of the Nations” near Leipzig. At the height of the battle, Napoleon throws striking forces to break through the center of the Allied position. In the near rear, from a high hill, three allied monarchs watched the progress of the battle; Emperor of Russia Alexander I, Austrian Emperor Franz I and King of Prussia Frederick William III.” The Cossacks who formed their convoy were located under the hill. There were no other units nearby at that moment. A fierce attack by part of the French cavalry managed to break through the front, and the enemy horsemen began to approach the hill. Here they were met by the guards. The Life Cossacks flew like a whirlwind into the advanced groups of French cuirassiers, who were already heavily galloping towards the hill on horses, tired from a long gallop across the swampy ground. .. and, as if the men-at-arms were blown away by a whirlwind, the Cossacks instantly overturned them to the pond, then into the pond and took possession of the narrow dam. The Cossacks did not stop there, crossed the dam and crashed into the mass of fighting horsemen, crushing the enemy with the blow of their terrible lances. Their unexpected intervention determined the outcome of the battle in this sector - the French wavered and ran, and the guards turned to their original location. The Cossacks walked with songs... literally torn to pieces: some without a shako, some in a torn uniform and with bloody faces and hands; but on everyone’s face one could read that he had honestly fulfilled his duty of the oath. Admired by what he saw, Alexander called to him Colonel I. E. Efremov, who led this attack, and attached the Order of St. to his uniform. George. For the remaining officers, the emperor chose unusual way awards. In the evening, he ordered a piece of paper to be given to him, on which everyone had to write what he wanted: rank or order. All officers (21 people) received what they wanted, and 24 Cossacks received the insignia of the Military Order. The regiment's losses that day amounted to 56 people, including 4 officers.

So the Life Cossacks fought their way to Paris and became a bivouac on the Champs Elysees, performing the functions of the imperial convoy and his close guard. The war ended, but the peaceful life of the Cossacks did not last long. In 1828, the Russian-Turkish war began. Cossacks fought on the Danube. They were commanded by regiment veteran I.E. Efremov, already with the rank of major general. His career was quite typical for warriors of the late 18th - early XIX century. Coming from a poor Cossack family, Ivan Efremovich began serving as a private. I learned to read and write only in the capital. He learned the basics of military affairs, went through all the wars with Napoleonic France, was repeatedly wounded in battles, received many awards, Died in 1843 with the rank of lieutenant general and was solemnly buried in Novocherkassk next to Platov, Orlov-Denisov, Baklanov, During the 19th century Life Guards Cossack Regiment fought with the Poles in 1831 and 1863, guarded the shores of the Gulf of Finland during Eastern War 1853-1856 fought with the Turks for the freedom of the Bulgarians in 1877-1878. It is curious that the regimental march of the Life Cossacks during the last Russian-Turkish war was the famous wedding march of Mendelssohn, since, according to Alexander II, they went into battle as if they were going to a wedding. At the end of this campaign, the regiment received a general award - badges on their hats with the inscriptions: “For distinction in the Turkish War of 1877-1878.” (1st, 3rd, 4th squadrons) and “For Lovcha on July 5, 1877,” (2nd squadron).

On April 20, 1875, the regiment turned one hundred years old. IN Russian army The anniversaries of regiments that existed for 100 years or more were celebrated very solemnly. As a rule, on these days a regimental history was published, gifts were prepared for chiefs, officers, and soldiers, awards were given, everyone who once served in the regiment was invited, and the holiday itself stretched over several days. By that time, it had become a practice to award units with “anniversary ribbons” attached to standards or banners.

The Life Cossacks celebrated their holiday magnificently. On April 19, a solemn ceremony took place in the St. George Hall of the Winter Palace in the presence of Alexander II, members of his retinue and staff, regiment officers and veterans of the Battle of Leipzig, and numerous guests. Wide blue St. Andrew's ribbons were attached to the newly made standards (army units received red Alexander's ribbons) with the inscriptions: “1775, Court Don and Chuguev Cossack teams”, “1793 Cossack regiment of the Gatchina E. I. V. Heir to the Tsarevich's troops ", "1817. For distinction in the defeat and expulsion of the enemy from Russia in 1812 and for the feat performed in the battle of Leipzig on October 4, 1813", "1872 L-Gv. His Majesty’s Cossack Regiment”, the date “1875” was on the bow at the top. The next day the holiday dinner for the ranks of the regiment and, of course, a parade. In general, parades were an indispensable part of any military holiday. The annual traditional May parades on the Champ de Mars were considered especially solemn and prestigious. Presenting a grandiose spectacle, they attracted many spectators. Life Cossacks also took part in the last parade. We can judge what they looked like that day from the notes of one of the spectators: “... the regiment is led by Major General Bernov. Following directly behind the cuirassiers, the Cossacks give the impression of extreme lightness. Dry and light Cossack horses, not tied by mouthpieces, run at a shallow trot. The Cossacks themselves, brunettes and brown-haired men with thick beards, are dressed in black hats with a scarlet top and St. Andrew's Star, with a forelock protruding from under the hat, in scarlet uniforms with double yellow basson buttonholes on the collars and cuffs, in wide dark blue trousers without stripes And Wellingtons. Behind them are rifles, worn over the right shoulder. Horses of dark colors are dressed in scarlet saddlecloths with white trim along the edges and corners. They hold scarlet peaks without weathervanes “on their hips” (Pototsky A.V. War story. No. 84. - Paris, 1967. - P. 15).

The Life Cossacks, like the rest of the guard, received the order to mobilize at the beginning of the First World War at a camp training camp near Krasnoye Selo. Their road lay to the North-Western Front. Three regiments (Life Guards Cossack, Ataman and Consolidated Cossack) according to the staffing table made up the third brigade of the 1st Guards Cavalry Division, but the command singled them out, and the Cossacks fought on their own. Brilliant use of weapons and excellent horse riding made the Donets very dangerous for the enemy. Teaching these subtleties has long been part of the Cossack training program. Back in 1898, the famous author of Cossack instructions N. Krasnov wrote: “Good cavalry always approaches the natural... I consider the natural principles of cavalry: speed, agility, cohesion of the blow, at least not only in mass, but also in loose, elusiveness, endurance,.. The rider must, in addition to riding well, also ride boldly, be agile and agile, and have pure cavalry courage. He must be able to wield a weapon... I consider horse riding the best school for developing not only the body of a cavalryman, but, most importantly, the spirit.” The horse riding program included picking up objects from the ground while galloping, jumping off a horse and landing, riding standing, horse riding in groups, transporting infantrymen, the wounded, shooting from different positions, etc. Unfortunately, in numerous battles and campaigns, the old cadres of the regiment melted away. The recruits did not have such high fighting qualities. In the book “The Russian Army, Early 1917,” published in Vienna, the following description is given: “Cossacks are the most original branch of the Russian army. Of the former military caste, only the fiction of independence and only a few special rights have been preserved. In training and use... they are almost no different from army cavalry units.”

The majority of the Cossacks did not accept the October 1917 revolution, and soon the Life Cossacks were already fighting as part of the Volunteer Army. They fought on the Don, retreated, crossed to the Crimea, defended Perekop. The last is a retreat in the rearguard of the Don Corps, boarding ships and Constantinople. Further fate Cossacks' life was different: they served as border guards in Serbia, built railways, worked in factories. The regimental brotherhood helped the Cossacks survive in a foreign land. Thanks to him, many relics have been preserved, sometimes having not only historical, but also material value. In the Russian army, almost all regiments had their own museums, which contained trophies, works of art by outstanding Russian masters, products from precious stones and metals, one way or another connected with regimental history. Exported abroad, they, however, were not dispersed, despite the extremely difficult financial situation of their keepers. During many years of wandering, the Cossacks managed to preserve their museum. In 1917, a specially dedicated team led by an officer took it from Peterhof through Novorossiysk to Constantinople. Only in 1926 on the outskirts of Paris, working in free time, the Cossacks managed to put the small building in order and place priceless exhibits in it. Since then, on the memorable day of the Battle of Leipzig - the day of the regimental holiday, the surviving guardsmen gathered in the museum. Invitations had already been sent out throughout Europe and America. More recently, in 1989, the chairman of the administrative council of the regiment and the permanent keeper of the museum was military foreman Boris Fedorovich Dubentsev - a living witness to the history of the Life Cossacks since the First World War. Thus, the history of the Guards Regiment and the museum continues. There is an association of descendants of the Cossack Life Guards, consisting of representatives of several generations.

In the photo: Shaposhnikov Kirill Arefievich - military foreman. Sub-horuner of the 2nd Khoper Regiment of the Kuban Cossack Army.

The Khopyor Cossack Regiment is one of the oldest regiments of the historical Kuban Cossack army. Throughout the history of his existence and service to the Fatherland, he made a significant contribution not only to the history of Russia, but also to the history of the entire Cossacks. The author of one of the articles published in the literary and political monthly magazine “Russian Bulletin” noted: “In the history of the Kuban Cossack army there are three main points: the first of them is the formation of the Khopyorsky regiment and then its relocation to the Mozdok line, the second is the relocation to Kuban of the Black Sea Army and, finally, the third - the merger of the Black Sea Army with most of the Caucasian Linear..."

As we see, the Khopyor regiment is rightfully considered the oldest and is at the heart of the Kuban Cossack army, and for the Cossacks of the Upper Don and Khoper this is a source of pride for their glorious ancestors.
The history of the Khopyor Regiment begins with the emergence of the Khopyor Cossacks (“Verkhovsky”, “Chigs”), who lived in the area between the Upper Don, Vorona, Khopr, Buzuluk and Medveditsa rivers. The first written sources about the Khoper Cossacks date back to the times of the Golden Horde; in the acts of the Moscow Principality, Christians of the Sarsk and Podolsk diocese living within Chervlyony Yar were mentioned: “along the Great Crow near Khopory, to the Don on guard duty” - “a people of Christian military rank living, called Kozatsi." Here we see a mention of the Cossacks as a “Christian people” who live according to military order. The non-sovereign Cossack state (vassal of the Golden Horde) within Chervleny Yar united Turkic (Berendei), Slavic (Vyatichi) and Finno-Ugric (Meshchers and Mordovians) communities with military-democratic communal governance. The church events of the Nikon reform became the reason for the settlement of the Cossack state by hundreds of Old Believers along with their families. The way of life and strong faith of the Old Believers became a striking example not only in economic activity, but also in military service. The majority of the schismatic Cossacks became prosperous and wealthy, disciplined and efficient. Courage and boldness in battle, disdain for laziness and idleness, discipline, diligence, responsibility before God, family and community were the striking features of the schismatic Cossacks. Risking their own lives, they came to the aid of a fellow Cossack, regardless of what faith he belonged to. This is how the famous “Cossack brotherhood” and Cossack self-government were founded.
The Khopers differed from the “lower” Donets not only in their clothes and speech, but also in their character. This determined their attitude towards both the state and other Cossack entities. In 1650, trying to separate from the Don Army, the Khoper Cossacks founded the fortified town of Ragu, which was destroyed by the verdict of the Army.
The transfer of the ancestral Khoper lands on the left bank of the Don to the newly formed pro-government Ostrogozhsky Sloboda Cossack Regiment aroused the indignation of the Khoper Cossacks, which became the reason for supporting the uprising of Stepan Razin.
General V. G. Tolstov, a Cossack of the Temizhbek village, wrote the history of the Khopyorsky regiment. Here are excerpts from his book:
“Located on the main Moscow-Azov highway, the Khopra region has long been known to the freedom-loving people of neighboring provinces. People of the Tambov Voivodeship, dissatisfied with the order, infiltrated here, and in 1669, Stepan Razin himself settled here for a time ... "
In 1695, as part of the Russian army under the command of General P. Gordon, the Khoper Cossacks took part in the siege of Azov. This year did not produce results, and the Turkish fortress was not taken. Just on next year The Khopers, together with the Don people as part of the army of boyar A.S. Shein, with a sudden attack, showing extraordinary daring and courage, captured two bastions with cannons and held strategically important points in the defense of the fortress. Azov was taken, and this became the beginning of the creation of the Khopyor Cossack regiment. At the end of the Azov campaign, the Khoper Cossacks were sent home.

The year 1696 became a new period in the history of the Khopyor Cossack Regiment. The Khopyor team was formed from local Cossacks, and thus began the sovereign's service. The Cossacks of the Khopyorsky Cossack Regiment were placed in the settlements of Alferovka, Krasnaya, Pykhovka and Gradskaya.
In 1705, the Khopers made up half of the two thousand-strong detachment of the Donets, which, on the orders of Ataman Filippov, was sent to pacify the rebellious archers in Astrakhan.
During the Northern War, the Khopyor Cossack Regiment was included in the Russian army and took an active part in almost all major operations until 1717. He took part in military operations for Livonia, Poland and Galicia.
A special event in the history of the Khoper Cossacks is their participation in the Bulavinsky uprising of 1707–1708. During the suppression of the rebellion, more than 7,000 Cossacks were executed, and the first Cossack settlements were burned and devastated.
The Cossacks, who confessed to the tsar, were forgiven, and they were sent to war with the Swedes. Old women, women with “little children,” old and frail, having collected their belongings, scattered to other Don towns.
In 1716, the Novokhopyorsk fortress was built on Khoper, which was populated by free Little Russians - Cherkasy, as well as posad hunters. The settlers of the fortress received hayfields and arable lands, the lands of the former Pristansky and Belyaevsky Cossack yurts, into eternal possession.
Beginning in 1731, with the accession of Anna Ioannovna, the Khopyor Cossacks began to receive wages and provisions, thereby receiving support from the government.
In 1774, the Khoper Cossacks acted against Pugachev’s detachments in the Voronezh province. Two hundred Cossacks restored order and regularly carried out the tasks assigned to them.
On April 24, 1777, Catherine II signed a decree on the creation of the Azov-Mozdok line of fortifications to protect the southern borders Russian state. The Khopyor Cossacks were forced to move to North Caucasus leaving their native land. In Kuban and Kum, the Khopers began to settle down, creating Cossack villages with fortified points at the turn of the new border, where there were constant raids by their Circassian neighbors. In the course of the formation and strengthening of borders, military operations and the transformation of units, the Khopyorsky regimental district of the Batalpashinsky department of the Kuban Cossack army was formed, and the old-line regiment itself began to proudly be called the Khopyorsky Her Imperial Highness Grand Duchess Anastasia Mikhailovna cavalry regiment.
The Khopyorites took part not only in the development and strengthening of the borders of Russian statehood in the North-West Caucasus, but also in the creation of all subsequent Cossack formations on the right flank of the Caucasian line. The Khoperts are deservedly called “old-timers” of the Kuban region, among them there are many former representatives of the “Tambov voivodeship” and natives of the Tambov lands.
The Khopyor people, who settled on the Azov-Mozdok line in 1778–1781, even before the appearance of the Black Sea people on the Kuban lands, became acquainted with the steppe Kuban right bank, developed and examined the gorges and mountains of Circassia under the leadership of famous administrators and military leaders of the late 18th century, P. S. Potemkin, S. A. Bulgakov, P. A. Tekelli, Yu. B. Bibikov, N. I. German, I. V. Gudovich.
In the Kuban Cossack army, the Khopyorsky regiment is recognized as the oldest. Based on the order of the military department No. 106 of March 28, 1874, the beginning of the entire Kuban Cossack army was to be counted according to the oldest of its regiments - Khopyorsky. This was confirmed by the Senate decree of June 2, 1724, placed in the first edition of the Complete Collection of Laws Russian Empire, where it was indicated that the Cossacks living in the Novokhopyorsk fortress, “...were on a campaign near Azov and in various Swedish battles...”. The founding date of the Kuban Cossack army was finally approved as 1696.

The Khopyor Cossacks took part in the skirmishes and battles of the Khopyor Regiment during the Caucasian and Russian-Turkish (1877–1878) wars. During the years of peace, the 1st Khopyor Regiment was already stationed in Kutais, in the heart of beautiful Georgia. Before the beginning Great War The 1st Khopyorsky Regiment was renamed the 4th Khopyorsky Regiment of the Caucasian Cavalry Division. As part of this division, the regiment spent the entire war, fought in Persia, made an 800-verst march from Julfa, passing through Tabriz along the southern shore of Lake Urmia, and entered Turkey. During the Great War, Khoper Cossacks took part in battles as part of four Plastun battalions and three cavalry regiments.

The events of 1917 led to the disbandment of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Khopyor regiments at the beginning of January 1918. The Cossacks of the disbanded regiments had difficulty returning home from Galicia, Persia and Turkey. In the territories where Soviet power was established, the Cossacks had a hard time, especially since the Cossacks treated the new government with caution and hostility. There have been cases in history when Khoper Cossacks raised uprisings and took part in raids to liberate Cossack lands from the Bolsheviks. Unfortunately, the liberated villages and cities were not free from the “soviets” for long. Due to disagreements at the top of the high command, attempts to create independent Cossack units led to the defeat of the Cossacks in the Civil War. Part of the Cossacks left their native lands, going to a foreign land, and part remained in the villages and farmsteads dear to their hearts. Many of those who remained experienced repression, prison and the pain of losing loved ones. This is how it ended long history the legendary Khopyorsky regiment.

Insignia of the Khopyor Regiment

1. Regimental banner of St. George with the inscriptions: “For distinction in the Turkish war and in cases against the highlanders in 1828 and 1829 and during the conquest of the Western Caucasus in 1864” and “1696–1896”, with a commemorative Alexander ribbon. Granted 09/08/1896.
2. Eight St. George silver trumpets with the inscription: “For crossing the Caucasus Range in battle in 1877.” In the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 6th hundreds. Granted 01/06/1879.
3. Four St. George silver trumpets with the inscription: “For distinction in suppressing the uprising in Dagestan in 1877.” In the 4th and 5th hundreds. Granted 01/06/1879.
4. Insignia for headdresses with the inscription: “For distinction in 1854.” In the 1st fifty of the 1st hundred. Granted 08/30/1856.
5. Insignia for hats with the inscription: “For Distinction in 1855.” In the 2nd fifty of the 1st hundred. Granted 08/30/1856.

Igor Martynov,
military foreman, deputy ataman of the Tambov branch Cossack society

His Majesty's Life Guards Cossack Regiment traces its history back to the Don Cossack team sent to the imperial court on April 20, 1775 during the reign of Catherine II.

The initiative to create this formation came from Prince G.I. Potemkin, who proposed sending two teams of noble Cossacks from the Don to Moscow to celebrate the anniversary of the Kuchyuk-Kainajir Peace. For this purpose, in 1774, Potemkin ordered the ataman of the Don Army, A.N. Ilovaisky. select 65 Cossacks from noble families and send them to Moscow.

G. Potemkin and Catherine II

From those sent, they formed their own imperial convoy, which from 1776 received the name “Don Court Team”. After the accession to the throne of Paul I, on November 7, 1796, the court Cossack teams were merged with the Cossack regiment of the Gatchina troops of His Imperial Highness the heir to the Tsarevich (this regiment was established in 1793), reorganized into two squadrons, and made up half of the Life Hussar Cossack Regiment, who was granted the rights and benefits of the Guard.

Traditionally, the regiment was replenished with Don grassroots Cossacks: Cossacks from the Lower Don (mountain Cossacks served in the Ataman Regiment). It was staffed by bearded, broad-shouldered, short brown-haired and brunette men. The general regimental color of horses is bay (for trumpeters it is gray). The rank and file wore red short caftans and dark blue trousers without stripes. There are yellow guard buttonholes on the red collar and cuffs. Instead of shoulder straps - yellow garus (woolen) epaulettes of the Uhlan type. The saddle blankets and cushions on the saddles are red with yellow lining.

Regimental holiday - October 4 - St. Martyr Hierotheus. The regiment was stationed in the Cuirassier barracks of St. Petersburg.

Story

January 27, 1798 - Life Guards Hussar Cossack Regiment is divided into Life Guards Hussars and Life Guards Cossack regiments.

1799 - One of the regiment's units took part in the landing in Holland.

1805 - At the Battle of Austerlitz he drove back the French cavalry, providing assistance to the life hussars and cavalry guards covering the guards infantry. As part of Bagration's rearguard, he covered the retreat of the Russian infantry until late at night.

1807 - Participated in the battles of Gutstadt and Friedland.

1808-1809 - two squadrons of the regiment took part in the Russian-Swedish war. During the capture of Helsingfors, they recaptured 18 guns from the Swedes and took part in the siege of the Sveaborg fortress.

Patriotic War of 1812

As part of four squadrons (3 Don and 1 Black Sea), the regiment took part in the Patriotic War (1st Western Army, I Cavalry Corps under Lieutenant General F.P. Uvarov).

On June 12, the regiment took part in the first battle with the French at the crossing on the river. Neman. After Napoleon crossed the Neman, the Life Cossacks covered the retreat of our army and from July 14 to 23 fought without interruption with the advancing French vanguard. On July 15, in the battle of Vitebsk, the regiment captured a French battery: “The Life Cossacks were the first to attack several times. In one of them, selected Don troops attacked the battery near which Napoleon was standing, and created such alarm around him that he stopped his actions for a while.”

Life Cossacks fought with valor in the 2-day battle of Smolensk and Valutina Mountain.

Cossacks of His Majesty's Life Guards Cossack Regiment in 1812

On August 26, the regiment distinguished itself in the Battle of Borodino, participating in the rapid attack of Platov and Uvarov on the French left flank. During the army's retreat to Moscow, the Life Cossacks were in Platov's rearguard and repeatedly stopped the enemy's onslaught. On September 2, three squadrons of the regiment, cut off from the rearguard, joined the detachment of General Winzengerode, which covered the path to St. Petersburg. The squadron, which was under Count Orlov-Denisov, remained in the main army and took part in the battles of Tarutin, Maroyaroslavets, Vyazma, Lyakhov and Krasnoye. At the end of December 1812, the regiment united together and settled in the vicinity of Vilna.

After the arrival of Emperor Alexander I, the regiment formed the imperial convoy and accompanied the Emperor in all campaigns and battles of 1813-1814.

On May 8, 1813, in the battle of Bautzen, one of the exadrons was assigned to the detachment of gr. Orlov-Denisov and carried out several attacks.

October 4, 1813 - the regiment distinguished itself in the Battle of Leipzig by attacking the French cuirassiers of Latour-Maubourg, which saved Emperor Alexander I from capture and rescued the Russian light guards cavalry, which was attacked by the enemy on the march and did not have time to form. Awarded the St. George Standard and silver trumpets.

March 13, 1814 - In the battle of Fer-Champenoise, a hundred regiment as part of the Guards light cavalry division broke through to the rear of the advancing troops of Mortier and Marmont near the village of Vaurefroy, forcing the enemy to retreat, then took part in a battle with the French cavalry near the village of Lenare and attacked the square of Mortier and Marmona on the heights of Linta. On March 19, 1814, the regiment solemnly entered Paris and bivouacked on the Champs-Elysees. The Cossacks of the regiment accompanied Napoleon to the island of Elba.

Regiment in 1815-1900

On April 7, 1828, the regiment set out on a campaign against the Turks and, having crossed the Danube, took part in the siege of Varna. 2 squadrons were at the main apartment and, forming the convoy of Emperor Nicholas I, had a heated skirmish with the enemy on July 14 near the village of Madiru. In 1829, the regiment occupied the cordon line along the Dniester due to the plague that appeared in Bessarabia and only returned to St. Petersburg on November 8, 1830.

Cossacks of His Majesty's Life Guards Cossack Regiment in 1815

In 1831, the Life Cossacks took part in the suppression of the Polish rebellion.

March 8, 1832 - The Crimean Tatar Squadron was assigned to the regiment (abolished on June 10, 1863).

July 1, 1842 - The Life Guards Black Sea Squadron was reorganized into a division. During the war of 1853-1856, it was part of the Baltic Corps and maintained observation posts on the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland. On February 2, 1861, the Life Guards Black Sea Division was abolished, part of it went to form E.I.V.’s Own Convoy.

E. Gau. Life Guards Cossack Regiment. Guard in the Winter Palace. 1866

On August 14, 1872, Emperor Alexander II, wishing to commemorate his arrival on the Don, gave the regiment the title of His Majesty.

October 14, 1874 - From the 1st divisions of the Cossack Life Guards and the Ataman Life Guards regiments, the Life Guards Consolidated Cossack Regiment was formed, which on May 11, 1877 set out on a campaign against Turkey. June 19, 1877 - From the 2 divisions of the Cossack Life Guards and the Ataman Life Guards regiments, which arrived with benefits, the 2nd Life Guards Consolidated Cossack Regiment was formed, which also went on a campaign against Turkey. Both divisions took part in battles with the Turks, and from September 28 they were in the convoy under the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich.

Nicholas II in the uniform of His Majesty's Life Guards Cossack Regiment

On March 13, 1884, the Life Guards Consolidated Cossack Regiment was abolished and the Life Guards Cossack of His Majesty and the Ataman Life Guards of His Highness the Heir Tsarevich regiment were restored.

First World War and Civil War

1914-1918 - Participated in the First World War.

March 1918 - The actual disbandment of the regiment.

1918 - Reformed as part of the Don Army (All-Great Don Army).

1919-1920 - Acted as part of the Russian army of General Wrangel in the Crimea.

November 1920 - Life Guards Cossack Division (Lemnos Island).

1921 - Life Guards Cossack Regiment.

Since 1924, the Association of L.Gv. His Majesty's Cossack Regiment (among the Chairmen are General. Shatilov P.N., General. Oprits I.N., General. Farafonov V.I., General. Pozdeev K.R., Higher Art. Dubentsev B.F., regiment Grekov V.N. /did not serve in the Russian army/)

The march of the regiment was the march of Mendelssohn, which was the highest will of Alexander the Second, who saw during the Balkan War how the Cossacks went to war against the Turks.

In the Don Army, the regiment was part of the Guards Brigade of the 1st Don Cavalry Division. In 1918, 28 officers served in the regiment and 22 were recruited again, 7 more served for some time (including 5 old ones), in 1919 another 14 officers were recruited plus 2 seconded, in 1920 - 5 plus 9 seconded. During the war, 4 officers were transferred to other units, 3 officers retired, and 2 officers were expelled. The ratio between officers and Cossacks was approximately 1:12 - 1:15. The regiment lost 34 officers killed in the White movement, 73 were wounded, and 36 fell ill with typhus.

Regimental commanders

11/07/1796 - 01/24/1798 - colonel (from 11/12/1796 - brigadier, from 12/28/179 - major general) Kologrivov, Andrey Semenovich

01/24/1798 - 03/10/1799 - Lieutenant General (from 04/06/1798 cavalry general) Denisov, Fedor Petrovich

03/10/1799 - 03/11/1799 - Major General Orlov, Alexey Petrovich

03/11/1799 - 03/18/1800 - cavalry general Denisov, Fyodor Petrovich

01/04/1801 - 12/30/1802 - Major General Orlov, Alexey Petrovich

12/30/1802 - 07/21/1808 - colonel (from 05/24/1807 major general) Chernozubov, Pyotr Abramovich

07/21/1808 - 10/03/1827 - major general (from 01/29/1811 admiral general, from 09/15/1813 lieutenant general, from 08/22/1826 cavalry general) Count Orlov-Denisov, Vasily Vasilyevich

12/06/1827 - 01/01/1833 - Major General (from 06/25/1829 Lieutenant General) Efremov, Ivan Efremovich

01/01/1833 - 02/10/1836 - Major General Nikolaev, Stepan Stepanovich

10/04/1837 - 02/04/1842 - Major General Kononov, Alexander Nikolaevich

02/04/1842 - 04/11/1843 - Major General Kuznetsov, Mikhail Mikhailovich

04/11/1843 - 09/09/1848 - Major General Krasnov, Ivan Ivanovich

09.09.1848 - 09.02.1850 - Lieutenant General Yanov, Alexander Petrovich

02/09/1850 - 08/26/1856 - Major General Andriyanov, Alexey Ivanovich

09.09.1856 - 26.02.1872 - Major General of the Suite Shamshev, Ivan Ivanovich

02/26/1872 - 11/01/1878 - Major General of the Suite Zherebkov, Alexey Gerasimovich

03/13/1884 - 02/26/1886 - Major General of the Suite Zherebkov, Alexey Gerasimovich

02/26/1886 - 04/13/1889 - Major General Ilovaisky, Ivan Vasilievich

05/11/1889 - 02/04/1893 - Major General Korochentsov, Vasily Petrovich

02/04/1893 - 02/24/1895 - Major General Varlamov, Semyon Nikolaevich

03/08/1895 - 03/04/1899 - Colonel Novosiltsov, Anton Vasilievich

04/09/1899 - 04/21/1902 - Major General Dembsky, Konstantin Varfolomeevich

04/28/1902 - 06/18/1904 - Major General Bernov, Emmanuil Ivanovich

06/30/1904 - 02/10/1907 - Major General Rodionov, Alexey Viktorovich

04/22/1907 - 12/31/1913 - Major General Ponomarev, Georgy Logginovich

12/31/1913 - 12/26/1915 - Major General (from 01/23/1914 in His Majesty's Suite) Orlov, Ivan Davydovich

12/26/1915 - 09/22/1917 - Colonel (from 04/10/1916 - Major General) Grekov, Alexander Mitrofanovich

09.22.1917 - 03.1918 - Colonel Misharev, Alexander Andreevich

09/04/1918 - 04/06/1919 - Colonel Dyakov, Vasily Avraamovich

04/06/1919 - 03/05/1920 - Colonel (from 10.1919 - Major General) Farafonov, Vladimir Ivanovich

06/08/1920 - Colonel Pozdeev, Konstantin Rostislavovich

xx.11.1920 - 1921 - Major General Oprits, Ilya Nikolaevich, he was in exile and until his death (August 1964) he was the commander of the L.Gv division. Cossack regiment, recreated in Russia by order of Ataman Fedorov N.V.

Regiment chiefs

09.11.1800-04.01.1801 - cavalry general Fedor Petrovich Denisov

The highest persons included in the regiment:

His Imperial Highness Heir Tsarevich Grand Duke Alexei Nikolaevich since July 30, 1904.

Combat distinctions

St. George's standard with St. Andrew's anniversary ribbon and the inscriptions: “For distinction in the defeat and expulsion of the enemy from Russia in 1812 and for the feat performed in the battle of Leipzig on October 4, 1813” and “1775-1796-1875”; on the tape: “1775 court Don and Chuguev Cossack teams”, “1793 Gatchina Cossack regiment of His Imperial Highness the Heir to the Tsarevich troops”, “1817 for distinction in the defeat and expulsion of the enemy from Russia in 1812 and for the feat , found in the battle of Leipzig on October 4, 1813”, “1872 His Majesty’s Life Guards Cossack Regiment”; on the bow: "1875". The first inscription was granted on 03/22/1817, the rest - on 04/20/1875 (Vys. pr. from 03/19/1826 and 04/20/1875) The standard was taken out at the end Civil War abroad, now located in the Life Cossack Museum-Collection near Paris.

Badge of the Life Guards Cossack Regiment

22 silver trumpets with the inscription: “For distinction against the enemy in the last campaign of 1813” (Vys. pr. from 06/15/1813, Vys. pr. from 06/4/1826)

Signs on hats with the inscriptions:

in the 1st, 3rd and 4th hundreds - “For distinction in the Turkish War of 1877 and 1878”,

The regimental association in exile - the "Officer Society of Life Cossacks" - had an officers' meeting, a museum (in Courbevoie), officer apartments (Aniers) and a dining room (Paris). From 10.1961 to 04.1968 it published the “Information Bulletin of the Association of Life Cossacks” (13 issues were published: rotator, 100 copies). In 1951 there were 50 people.