1745-1799

In the middle of the 18th century, Serbs crossed the southwestern border of Russia in droves and settled in New Russia. Political persecution in Turkey and religious persecution in Austria prompted Colonel Horvath of Kurtitz to ask the Russian ambassador in Vienna, Count M.P. Bestuzhev-Ryumin, for the right to resettle in Russia. In 1751 permission followed, and in the same year Horvath, with his family and with many of his co-religionists, moved to Russia. The following year, many more Serbian immigrants appeared under the leadership of Colonels Ivan Shevic and Raiko from Preradovich, who served in the troops of Empress Maria Theresa. They were assigned lands on the left side of the Dnieper steppe, between the rivers Lugan and Bakhmut, where they formed two hussar regiments

Zorich came from the Serbian nobility, was of the Greek religion, had no fortune. In 1754 he was enlisted as a hussar. In 1760, being a sergeant-major, he participated in the Prussian War and on March 1 was taken prisoner by the Prussians, where he stayed for about nine months, and was released "for password". Upon his return from captivity, he was promoted to cornet and on the same day to second lieutenant - for his repeated courage in battle. Once again in service, he continued to participate in the Prussian War until its very end as an officer, having only 16 years of age; in one of the battles he was wounded by a saber. Tall, handsome, brave, resolute, he easily gained general love and respect. A number of distinctions characterize him as a brilliant officer, and at the end of the war he was promoted to lieutenant.

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

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

On May 27 of the same year, Semyon Zorich and his team with strong artillery fire did not allow the enemy to build a bridge on the river. Prut and forced him to retreat. " During the seven-month command of Zorich's advanced detachments at a distance of 180 miles, the enemy did not have the opportunity to break through into the cordon, except for two times, and even then no further than five miles, and with great damage was driven away; so the Crimean Khan was driven away with three bunchy pashas, ​​with 9 thousand janissaries, with large artillery and with Budzhatsky and other hordes".

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

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

Zorin was then 30 years old; according to his contemporaries, he was a handsome man and a brave officer. Potemkin kept him with him in the rank of adjutant, and on May 26, 1777, presented the Empress with a report on the appointment of Semyon Zorin as commander of the Life Hussar squadron and the Life Cossack teams. On May 30, Zorich received the appointment requested by Potemkin with promotion to lieutenant colonel. Then he was introduced to the empress and granted the adjutant wing with promotion to colonel and appointment as chief of the life hussar squadron. Rumyantsev in his autobiography says this about this event: "Returning to St. Petersburg, we found Zavadovsky, losing favor, and without that short-lived. Zorich stood in his place. Honors, awards, wealth rained down on him." On September 22, Semyon Gavrilovich Zorich was granted the cornets of the Cavalier Guard Corps with promotion to major general, and two days later he was appointed chief of the Akhtyrsky Hussar Regiment.

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

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

The Empress, probably under the influence of Potemkin, once treated Zorich very coldly. Attributing this to Potemkin's intrigues, Semyon Zorich, being by nature very quick-tempered and unbridled, immediately uttered a bunch of impudence to the prince and challenged him to a duel, which Potemkin rejected. Zorich went to the empress and in desperation announced to her that in his life he cherished only her disposition towards him. After that, for two days, the Empress was again favorable to him, and everything seemed to go back to the old way. But it only seemed: the days of his influence at court were already numbered. The English envoy says that the empress personally announced to Zorich his resignation in the mildest forms, added to his pension, gave him a huge amount of money and 7,000 peasants. Zorich left Petersburg and went to travel abroad.

In September 1778, he returned from abroad to Shklov, where on the empress's name day, November 24, he founded the Shklov noble school.

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

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

Shortly after accession to the throne, on December 25, 1796, Emperor Pavel appointed Zorich the chief of the Izyumsky regiment, and a year later promoted to lieutenant general. This appointment was unsuccessful and brought a lot of grief to Zorich himself. Careless, ill-mannered, constantly in need of money and holding on only to loans, the terms of which he "rarely observed", accustomed in Shklov to the fulfillment of all his whims and to an obsequious attitude, Zorich became entangled in regimental sums of money, and with his impudent defiant behavior set his officers against himself. regiment, starting with the regimental commander Tregubov, who was put on trial on a complaint against him by Zorich.

The headquarters officers of the Izyumsky regiment filed a complaint against Zorich with the inspector of the Livonian division, Lieutenant General Numsen, accusing the chief of preventing them from checking the cash drawer. Upon learning of the sending of such a complaint, Zorich "considered this an indignation," which he reported to Numsen. Arriving in the metro Birzha, Numsen conducted the case "as soon as possible, so as not to compromise Zorich with his subordinates." He wanted to confine himself to interrogating the commander of the regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Dembrovsky, who used "the irrevocable power of attorney of the chief," but it turned out that Zorich did not allow him to access the regimental treasury either. To the request of the staff officers to allow them to examine the treasury, he replied that "subordinates must blindly obey", that he "has his own reasons for every enterprise, and maybe emergency orders", and finally said: "What do you want to look at in the treasury "There is no money, there are warrants, which I have not yet signed, but I will sign them immediately."

During Numsen's investigation, it turned out that over 12 thousand rubles were spent by the boss "for private needs". regimental money, that not only the officers, but also the lower ranks did not receive a salary, that "many of the lower ranks were forced to sell their own things for their maintenance," that Zorich used the lower ranks and government horses to build his own buildings, etc.

Having received Numsen's report, on September 15, Emperor Pavel dismissed Zorich from service, and three days later Rostopchin informed him of the following royal command: " The Sovereign Emperor deigned to instruct to write to c. np-woo, that after what happened in the reign of your regiment, it will not be bad for you to live in Shklov ..."

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

On May 29, 1799, the Shklov School burned down. The fire greatly saddened Zorich and responded to his shattered health: he took to his bed, and his position, according to the conclusion of the doctors, became hopeless.

In the same year, Semyon Gavrilovich Zorich died, exactly on the third anniversary of Catherine's death. "The sovereign is merciful, he will not leave you," the dying man said to his numerous relatives gathered at the bedside.

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

Alexander Dmitrievich Lanskoy

1758-1784

was the son of the Smolensk landowner Dmitry Artemyevich, who served as a lieutenant in one of the cuirassier regiments; demoted for arbitrariness and cured again during the Seven Years' War, Dmitry Artemyevich subsequently took the post of Polotsk commandant. Alexander was educated at home and in 1772 he began serving in the Izmailovsky regiment as a soldier, where he "was promoted to non-commissioned officers." From the sergeants of the Izmailovsky regiment, he was granted on June 19, 1776 to the cavalry guard corps with the production of army lieutenants. The condition of the young cavalry guard at that time was extremely poor. All his property, according to a certain Serra, who taught him French, was five shirts.

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

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

The Empress sincerely became attached to her young aide-de-camp. All her correspondence with Grimm is full of the most flattering, almost exaggerated, comments about Lansky. " To understand what this young man is,- the Empress wrote on June 25, 1782 to Grimm, - you need to know what Count Orlov said about him to one of his friends. “Oh,” he said, “you will see what a man she will make of him. He “devours” everything. In one winter he “devoured” poets and poems, in another several historians, novels bother us, and we are carried away by Algarotti and his comrades. Without education, we acquire innumerable knowledge, and we love only the most educated society. To all this, we build and plant, we are charitable, cheerful, honest and meek".

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

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

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

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

Contemporaries attributed the outcome of Lansky's illness to the fact that his body was shattered by strong doses of cantharid, as if prescribed by Dr. Sobolevsky.

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

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

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

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

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

Lanskoy, elevated by the will of the Empress to the highest degree of honor, during his lifetime was an example of such faithful devotion to Catherine, which she, according to her own statement and according to the testimony of her contemporaries, did not meet in her life. In this boundless devotion to the empress and in the fact that, having become strong man, Lanskoy did not use his influence to harm others, is his merit.

Count Alexander Matveyevich Dmitriev-Mamonov

1758-1803

His father had long served in the palace department. Alexander was brought up at home, then lived with his uncle Baron Stroganov "on his bed" (Kosht ​​- maintenance, subsistence; dependency; money) . Mamonov spoke Italian and French; "He spoke and wrote in French and Russian like few people in those days," and he drew well. When he entered military service and how he served is unknown. From the surviving materials it can only be seen that in 1784, being already 26 years old, he was the adjutant general of Prince G. A. Potemkin.

Two years later, Potemkin introduced Mamonov to the Empress. They say that it was agreed between Catherine and Potemkin that the prince would send her his adjutant with a picture, criticism of which would serve as an assessment of the bearer. Releasing Mamonov, Catherine told him to tell the prince that "the picture is good, but the coloring is bad." On July 19, 1786, Mamonov was promoted to colonel with an award to the adjutant wing, and on September 2 of the same year he was awarded the cornet of the Cavalier Guard Corps with the rank of major general. On January 20, 1787, he was granted a real chamberlain, and on June 11 of the same year, the prime minister of the Preobrazhensky regiment.

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

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

Bringing Mamonov closer to her, Catherine tried to work out of him statesman- all internal and foreign policy were always discussed and decided in the presence of Count Mamonov, but these efforts of hers were not crowned with success. Alexander was by no means a court person, and he ended his court life in the most, according to Potemkin, "stupid way."

Already in December 1786, only five months after his appointment as adjutant wing, Mamonov told the empress that it was “very boring for him to live at court” and that “between court people he honors himself as between wolves in the forest.” " The boy considers his life a prison, he is very bored", - says Zakhar Zotov.

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

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

And yet, awards rain down on him: on May 1, 1788, he was appointed chief of the Kazan cuirassier regiment; May 4 - lieutenant of the Cavalier Guard Corps with promotion to lieutenant general and with an award to adjutant general; On May 9, he was elevated to the Counts of the Roman Empire. But nevertheless, the Empress notices that Mamonov is burdened by his position. Finally, relations became so strained that Mamonov could not stand it and on June 17, 1789, he went to the empress, asking her for advice on what to do. The Empress promises to think about retroite brillante (brilliant resignation) to get him out of this situation.

Count Ribopierre, in his notes, speaking of this scene, quotes the words of Catherine: " I'm getting old, my friend; Your future worries me greatly. Although the Grand Duke is favorable to you, however, I am extremely afraid that envious people (and who do not have them at court) have no influence on his changeable temper.".

But Mamonov refuses to stay at court. In response to the empress's letter, he writes with a "trembling hand" that he has been in love with Shcherbatova for a year and six months since he gave his word to marry.

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

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

On November 24, 1796, Mamonov, on the orders of Paul I, was asked to either go to serve in the Kazan cuirassier regiment, in which he is considered the chief, or leave the service. Mamonov submitted a letter of resignation on December 14 and received it on the 20th of the same month.

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

1767--1822

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

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

The rapid career of Platon Alexandrovich was facilitated by the patronage of Count N. I. Saltykov, who liked the young man "for his modesty and respectfulness." In the spring of 1789, when the Empress was leaving for Tsarskoye Selo, Zubov asked his patron Saltykov for command over the Horse Guards detachment assigned to the Tsarskoye Selo guards. On June 20, it became already certain that it was Zubov who would be Dmitriev-Mamonov's successor.

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

The rise of Zubov was arranged by the enemies of G. A. Potemkin, wanting to have a face with the empress on which they could rely and thus strengthen their significance. But Potemkin was too powerful, it was dangerous to enter into an open struggle with him, it was even necessary to enlist his favor. All this was instilled in Zubov, who not only obediently rendered "his lordship the proper respect," but also tried to acquire the favor of persons close to Potemkin. Even Catherine herself hesitated for a long time to inform Potemkin about the resignation of his henchman Dmitriev-Mamonov and about the choice of his "deputy". In a letter dated September 6, 1789, the Empress “petitions” to Prince Potemkin for the appointment of Platon Zubov as a cornet of the Cavalier Guard Corps, of which the prince was the chief.

Following Zubov, his relatives - his father and brothers - begin to move forward. But will Platon Zubov himself, "an invisible man" and "a narrow-minded person", hold his own at court? Even his patrons were afraid for their pet and made sure that beautiful young people did not appear at the court. A. N. Naryshkina assured Catherine that Zubov was in love with her; Saltykov instructed the young man how to act in order to establish himself in place: “Never have a desire that would not coincide with the opinion of the empress, always flatter the whims of the empress and her main passions and ... humble yourself before Prince Potemkin and resist him not before, than when you are so strong that the prince could no longer overthrow.

From the very first days of Zubov's rise, the empress began to accustom him to state affairs. "I do a lot of good for the state by educating young people," she told Saltykov. The hours of the report were for Zubov the time of learning, and the complete inability of the student manifested itself. " In the morning, Zubov reported on the papers of the guards, and there was not without noise", - Khrapovitsky recorded on December 30, 1792. The studies on state papers were equally unsuccessful. " He torments himself with all his might over papers, having neither a fluent mind nor extensive abilities ... He is very diligent in business and, besides, he is alien to any amusements, but he is still new, and therefore the burden is higher than his real strength", - wrote Count Zavadovsky. Even the good-natured Khrapovitsky calls him "foolish Zubov." Suvorov also testified that "Prince Platon Alexandrovich has no tsar in his head," and recognized him "what is called crafty in the general people."

Suvorov was not mistaken. Zubov was neither modest, nor kind, nor good; he was only foolish. He pretended, cunning and cunning, until he consolidated his position at court. Having become the sovereign master of Catherine’s heart, dejected by years, Zubov appeared in all his moral disgrace - impudent to impudence, arrogant to arrogance, power-hungry and arrogant, a completely dishonorable person.

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

Rumors about the growing importance of Zubov reached Potemkin and could not but disturb him. Potemkin cherished the glory of Catherine, he understood the needs and knew the position of Russia; he saw that Zubov, about whom correct information reached him, could not do either. They say that, sending a courier to Petersburg with the news of the capture of Ishmael, Potemkin told him: "Report to the empress, I am healthy in everything, only one tooth prevents me from eating; I will come to Petersburg and tear it out."

February 28, 1791 Potemkin arrived in St. Petersburg. Much of what he saw did not bode well. It can be seen from Khrapovitsky's diary that during Potemkin's entire stay in Petersburg, his conversations with Catherine often ended in tears of the Empress and the gloomy mood of Potemkin, who understood well what could be expected from such a nonentity as Zubov. Many years later, Zubov himself voluntarily confessed: “Although I defeated him (Potemkin) halfway, I couldn’t completely eliminate him from my path, but it was necessary to eliminate him, because the empress herself always went towards his desires and was simply afraid of him, as if exacting spouse. She only loved me and often pointed to Potemkin so that I could take an example from him. " Zubov was not capable of this example.

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

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

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

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

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

The favor of Paul I to Zubov was short-lived. Already in early December, Zubov asked for dismissal from his posts. On February 3, 1797, he was dismissed for two years in foreign lands to improve his health with permission to call in Lithuanian villages lying on the way. His path lay through Riga. From Riga, Zubov traveled for some time to his Lithuanian estates, from there he went to Germany, where he amazed everyone with his wealth. In Berlin, he was received very well; at the various German courts which he visited, he was also favorably received.

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

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

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

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

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

Zubov's position, however, was very precarious. He was treated with suspicion; secret police supervision was established over him and Count N.P. Panin. Zubov asked for a vacation abroad, which he was allowed on December 24, 1801, and in October 1802 he was already back in Russia. He usually lived on his estates. In September 1805, Zubov received Emperor Alexander in his Vitebsk estate Usvyat, in the house where in 1780 and 1787. Ekaterina P. stayed. In memory of this event, he erected an obelisk.

Since 1814, Zubov settled in his estate Janishki, Shavelsky district, Vilna province, the center of his vast Lithuanian possessions. Zubov had up to 30 thousand souls of peasants who inhabited many towns, farms and villages, with an appropriate amount of arable land, forests, etc. On his estates, Zubov set up a proper field economy and stud farms. Trusting no one but his chief executive, Bratkovsky, he went into all the economic details himself. In autumn, buyers of wheat and other household products and horse dealers from Prussia, the kingdom of Poland and the Baltic region came to him. Only then was Zubov cheerful, traveling with his visitors around the estates, treating merchants and selling them goods at the best prices for himself. The remains of unsold products and rejected horses were sent to Mitava, Riga and other trading posts.

All income from trade turnover, dues and rent, all in specie, Zubov took to the cellars of his Janishk castle, and piles of gold and silver were stored here inviolably. On holidays, he, accompanied by Bratkovsky, went down to the cellars, admired his treasures and put in order the randomly crumbling mountains of hard cash. After the death of Zubov, according to Bratkovsky, it turned out to be 20,000,000 silver rubles.

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

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

Life Guards Cavalier Guard Regiment.

Seniority from 01/11/1799

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

1799 January 11. By the highest order for the preparation of the Guards of the Person of the Grand Master of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem Emperor Paul I, the Cavalier Guard Corps was established. The emperor himself, having appointed officers and non-commissioned officers of the corps, granted the right to choose to the rank and file of the Cavalier Guard from the non-commissioned officers of the entire guard, who was in the rank of lieutenant of the Grand Master, Vice Admiral of the Baltic Rowing Fleet Count Litta. On April 6 of the same year, the staff of the corps was approved: Chief - in the rank of full General; Commander - Major General, 2 colonels, 1 captain, 2 cornets. 9 non-commissioned officers, of which one is for the watchman, 75 cavalry guards, 1 timpani player, 4 trumpet players, 32 non-combatants of various ranks. All non-commissioned officers and ordinary cavalry guards were from the nobility.

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

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

1730 February 12. Empress Anna Ioannovna accepted the title of Captain of the Cavalry Guard without changing anything in the composition, and on July 7, 1731, a command was issued to disband the Cavalry Guard. Some of her ranks entered the newly established Izmailovsky Life Guards Regiment, others went to serve in the army; the greater part was assigned to the new Life Guards Cavalry Regiment, in which Yaguzhinsky was appointed Lieutenant Colonel.

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

1742 During the celebrations on the occasion of the sacred Coronation of the Empress, 60 grenadiers of the Life Company with 1 sergeant, 1 vice sergeant and 4 corporals were the Empress for the cavalry guards and had the uniforms and weapons of the former Cavalry Guards with the most insignificant change. Lieutenant-Captain was General-Feldzeichmester, Landgrave Ludwig of Hesse-Homburg. Upon returning to St. Petersburg, the Cavalry Guards again became part of the Life Company.

1762 March 21. Emperor Peter III ordered the dissolution of the Leib Company. On July 6 of the same year, Empress Catherine II ordered the Real Chamberlain General-in-Chief Count Gendrikov to recruit the Cavalry Guards mainly from the ranks of the dissolved Life Company, indicating that the staff should be taken as the foundation on April 30, 1726. Count Gendrikov was appointed Chief of the Cavalry Guards; besides him, they were in it: 1 sergeant major in the rank of Colonel, 1 vice sergeant major and 3 corporals in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, 3 vice corporals - Prime Major, 60 privates - Second Major, Captain and Lieutenant, 1 clerk - Captain and 2 copyist - Sgt. Under the Cavalry Guards, two more trumpeters, a timpani player, and a blacksmith were appointed. a doctor, 2 medical students, 4 paramedics and 6 watchmen for uniform things. The coronation of the Empress took place in Moscow on September 15, and the Cavalry Guards participated in it according to the same ceremonial that was adopted at the coronation of Elizabeth Petrovna. Upon arrival in St. Petersburg, during the entire reign of Empress Catherine II, the cavalry guards kept an internal guard near her chambers in a special room, which received the name of the cavalry guard from that.

1764 March 24, a new state of the Cavalry Guards was approved, renamed the Cavalier Guard Corps. It is supposed to be in it: the Chief (Count Grigory Grigoryevich Orlov) in the rank of a full General, the Lieutenant - the rank of Lieutenant General, the Wahmister - Colonel, 2 corporals - Lieutenant Colonel, 2 corporals of the Prime Major and 60 Cavalry Guards in the ranks of Lieutenants. Lieutenants and lieutenants of the army.

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

1777 Added to the staff of Cornet (Adjutant Wing of the Empress Major General Zorich). After the death of Prince Potemkin, the patron's vacancy remained unfilled for two years. On October 21, 1793, General Feldzeugmeister Count Zubov was appointed Chief of the Cavalry Guards. and Count Dmitriev-Mamonov, who was under Potemkin, was left as Lieutenant. In this composition, the Cavalry Guards remained throughout the entire reign of the Empress; after her death, they daily kept 16 guards at the body of the deceased empress, participated in the funeral procession, and after that, after 6 weeks after her death, they were promoted and dismissed, who wished to what kind of service. At the same time, Emperor Paul I ordered Count Musin-Pushkin to recruit a new Cavalier Guard squadron, all of whose officers and half of the lower ranks were chosen from the Life Guards of the Horse Regiment.

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

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

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

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

1804 March 14. The new staff of the regiment was approved according to the five-squadron composition. On May 26, the Reserve Squadron was approved for the regiment.

November 8, 1810. The reserve squadron is turned to reinforce the existing ones.

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

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

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

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

January 25, 1842, for the formation of the Reserve Troops, it was ordered to have 8 squadrons in the cadre of the indefinitely vacation lower ranks.

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

November 6, 1860. The regiment was ordered to continue to be called the cavalry guard.

December 29, 1863. The fifth reserve squadron was separated from the regiment into a special Guards reserve cavalry brigade and ordered to call it without a number the reserve squadron of the Cavalier Guard Regiment.

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

December 24, 1866. Approved: the new staff of the regiment in the composition of 4 active squadrons and the regulation on reserve squadrons.

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

March 2, 1881. The regiment was named Her Majesty's Cavalier Guards.

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

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

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

Having approved the main seat of the [Maltese] order in St. Petersburg, Emperor Paul wished to have with him, by the rank of Grand Master, a special guard, composed exclusively of nobles. The first order to form this guard, under the name of the Cavalier Guard Corps, was announced to Count Litte on January 8, 1799, and on the 11th of the same month, the following Highest Order took place: , are appointed: Chief - Lieutenant Grand Master Count Litta, and Lieutenant - Major General Prince Dolgorukov, who is in the retinue of His Imperial Majesty - 4th ...
The staffing of the corps took place only in April 1799, and before its approval, there were no written rules regarding the size and officer ranks of the corps. According to the highest confirmed staff on April 6, 1799 ... in the Cavalry Guard Regiment, they were appointed: chief, in the rank of full general, commander - major general; 2 colonels, 1 captain, 2 cornets, 9 non-commissioned officers, of which one is for the watchman; 75 cavalry guards, 1 timpani, 4 trumpeters and 32 non-combatants of various ranks. From the Chef to the cavalry guards, inclusive, all the ranks named here were supposed to be, as intended when the corps was established, from the nobility, and ordinary cavalry guards were directly promoted to cornets and ensigns of the guards and army cavalry and infantry. In addition to the dignity of the nobility, the chief and commander relied without fail from the Commanders, and the entire staff, ober and non-commissioned officers - from the Knights of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem. The commanders wore an order cross (white, enamel, with golden lilies in the corners and with a golden crown at the upper ends) around the neck, and the gentlemen had it in their buttonholes; both on black tape. In addition, commanders and cavaliers on the left side of the tunic and uniform were sewn with an image of an order cross made of linen or other matter. white color. The corps also received - for the first time since 1731 - a crimson damask standard with a white rectilinear cross.
On August 9, 1799, Emperor Pavel appointed Major General Uvarov, chief of his Adjutant General, who, with the name of a brave officer, combined fame with an expert in cavalry service.
Exactly one year after the establishment of the Cavalry Guards Corps, on January 11, 1800, Emperor Pavel ordered it to be reorganized into a three-squadron Cavalry Guards Regiment, on the same position as the regiments of the Life Guards.
Emperor Pavel, taking care of the brilliant, in all respects, organization of the new Cavalry Guard Regiment, made it almost all of the Horse Guards, for which he personally chose 7 non-commissioned officers, 5 trumpeters, 249 privates and 245 horses. Together, 9 officers moved from this regiment to the Cavalry Guards.

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

Her Majesty Empress Maria Feodorovna's Cavalier Guard Regiment

Seniority of the regiment - 01/11/1799 Regimental holiday - September 5, the day of St. Zacharias and Elizabeth.

The lower ranks of the regiment were recruited from tall blue-eyed and gray-eyed beardless blonds. The general regimental suit of horses is bay. The suits differed by squadrons: 1st squadron - light bay without marks, 2nd squadron - bay with marks, 3rd squadron - bay without marks, 4th squadron - dark bay without marks. The color of the weather vane is white with red.

03/30/1724 - Peter I ordered the Major General Lefort to form in Moscow for the coronation celebrations from the army and supernumerary officers in the amount of 50 drabants ( cavalry guard). The title of captain of the company was taken by Peter I, captain-lieutenant - Yaguzhinsky.

05/26/1724 - the cavalry guards were disbanded and handed over their uniforms to the Moscow uniform office.

04/30/1726 - The Highest ordered to re-form cavalry guard, under the same conditions as under Peter I, and issue uniforms from the Moscow uniform office to the cavalry guards. Staff: lieutenant (to the rank of lieutenant general), cornet (to the rank of major general), sergeant major (to the rank of colonel), 3 corporals (to the rank of lieutenant colonels), 60 privates (to the rank of captains).

12.1726 - The cavalry guard is formed.

1728 - staff: lieutenant commander, lieutenant, non-commissioned lieutenant, sergeant major, 3 corporals, 3 vice corporals (with the rank of majors), 72 privates and a clerk.

July 7, 1731 - The cavalry guard was disbanded.

1742 - The cavalry guard was restored to participate in the coronation celebrations of the Imp. Elizabeth Petrovna. The ranks are not recruited from the life campaign.

03/21/1762 - The cavalry guard was disbanded.

07/06/1762 - The cavalry guard was restored.

03/24/1764 - Cavalry Corps, new states are given.

1796 - ordered to form a new Cavalier Guard Squadron. Officers and half of the lower ranks are separated from the Life Guards of the Horse Regiment

12/31/1796 - it was ordered to form two more Cavalier Guard squadrons from 500 ranks of all regiments of the guard.

01/26/1797 - the staff of cavalry guards was approved.

07/20/1797 - the regiment was reorganized into 5 squadrons.

09/21/1797 - the regiment was disbanded, part of the personnel was transferred to other regiments, part was dismissed from service.

01/11/1799 - established Cavalry Corps. Officers and non-commissioned officers were personally appointed by Emperor Paul I, Count Litte was instructed to recruit privates from non-commissioned officers of the nobles of all parts of the guard.

04/06/1799 - the staff of the corps was established: chief - in the rank of full general, commander - in the rank of major general, 2 colonels, 1 captain, 2 cornets, 9 non-commissioned officers (one of them is a sergeant major), 75 cavalry guards, 1 timpani player , 4 trumpeters, 32 non-combatants of various ranks. All non-commissioned officers and privates from the nobility.

01/11/1800 - The cavalry guard corps was reorganized into Cavalier Guard Regiment with the rights of regiments of the guard.

05/16/1800 - the staff of the regiment was approved, consisting of: 1 general, 3 colonels, 20 chief officers, 42 non-commissioned officers, 284 cavalry guards, 7 trumpeters, 116 non-combatants.

03/14/1804 - the regiment was reorganized into 5 squadrons.

05/26/1804 - a reserve squadron was formed.

11/8/1810 - the reserve battalion was disbanded to strengthen the existing ones.

12/27/1812 - the regiment was reorganized into 6 active and one reserve squadrons.

08/22/1831 -.

05/2/1832 - new states of the regiment were approved with the previous composition of 6 active and 1 reserve squadrons.

04/06/1836 - the Guards reserve squadron No. 1 was established and assigned to the regiment. The 7th reserve squadron was named the 7th reserve.

01/25/1842 - for reserve troops, it was ordered to have 8 squadrons in the cadre of indefinitely leave lower ranks.

07/26/1852 - the staff of the regiment was approved in 6 active and 2 reserve squadrons.

09/18/1856 - the staff of the regiment was approved in 4 active and one reserve No. 5 squadrons.

11/6/1860 - Cavalier Guard Regiment

12/29/1863 - The 5th reserve squadron was expelled into the Guards reserve cavalry brigade and named the reserve squadron of the Cavalier Guard Regiment (no number)

08/04/1864 - the reserve squadron was assigned to the regiment.

12/24/1866 - the new states of the regiment were approved as part of 4 active squadrons and the regulation on reserve squadrons.

07/27/1875 - the reserve squadron was renamed the reserve.

March 2, 1881 - Her Majesty's Cavalier Guard Regiment.

08/06/1883 - the reserve squadron was reorganized into the personnel department

11/2/1894 - Her Majesty Empress Maria Feodorovna's Cavalier Guard Regiment

11/12/1914-01/22/1915 - As part of the Guards Cuirassier Division.
March 4, 1917 - Cavalier Guard Regiment.

02.-03.1918 - the actual disbandment of the regiment in Livny, Oryol province.
The officers of the regiment in the autumn of 1918 served mainly in the Circassian Cavalry Division. From the end of 10.1918, the cavalry guards made up a platoon (from 01.1919, a squadron) of a team of mounted scouts of the Consolidated Guards Regiment. From 03/24/1919, the squadron of the regiment (18 officers), and then the division was part of the Consolidated Regiment of the Guards Cuirassier Division (from 06/19/1919 - the 1st Guards Cuirassier Regiment), where in 07.1919 the cavalry guards were represented by two squadrons . The third squadron, formed in Lubny, joined the regiment on 12/12/1919. On 12/15/1919, the squadron of the regiment was part of the Consolidated Guards Cavalry Regiment of the 1st Cavalry Division and the Consolidated Cavalry Brigade, and upon arrival in the Crimea from 05/01/1920. became the 1st squadron of the Guards Cavalry Regiment. The regiment lost 16 officers in the White movement (7 were shot, 5 were killed and 4 died of disease). Regimental association in exile - "Cavalry Guard Family". In 1938-1968. published on the rotator the annual magazine "Bulletin of the cavalry guard family", in 1951 there were 59 people. (Volkov's data)

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“We do not strive to be the first, but we will not allow anyone to be better than us” - these words of Count A.I. Musin-Pushkin could well become the motto of the cavalry guards. Created by Peter the Great, this privileged regiment did not become just a "parade army". He earned his honor and glory on the battlefields, and many cavalry guard officers served Russia in the peaceful field as well.

“Regimental traditions provided for a certain equality in relations between officers, regardless of their title. Putting on the uniform of a regiment, everyone became a full member of it, just like in some aristocratic club ”(from the memoirs of the cavalry guard Count A. A. Ignatiev).
Count Matvey Yurievich Vielgorsky (1794-1866)
Alexey Fedorovich Lvov (1798-1870)
“The way of regimental life was influenced by the fact that some ancient Russian families, like the Sheremetevs, Gagarins, Musin-Pushkins, Arapovs, Pashkovs, had a tradition to serve from generation to generation in this regiment. On the day of the centenary of the regimental jubilee, a group was photographed on this occasion, in the front row of which sat the fathers, former commanders and officers of the regiment, and in the second row stood one and two of their sons ”(from the memoirs of the cavalry guard Count A. A. Ignatiev).

Knight's Guard

My acquaintance with the cavalry guards began with a song. Yes, yes, from the same “Songs of the Cavalier Guard” from the movie “Star of Captivating Happiness”. Interestingly, in the poetry collections of Bulat Okudzhava, the first line sounds like this: “Cavalry guard s, the century is short, and therefore it is so sweet, ”in the songbooks, another option is more common:“ Cavalier Guard A the age is short ... ". Just one letter, but how the meaning changes! From an abstract reflection on the short duration of life to a very accurate description of the worldview of a person who risks himself every day and is always ready to die.

Who are these people, to whom the "short age" seemed sweet? Who are these mythical heroes who agreed to such conditions and linked their fate with the "knight's guard"?

Let's start with history.

For the first time, cavalry guards appeared with us in 1724 as an honorary escort of Empress Catherine I, on the day of her coronation. Peter I himself became the captain of the cavalry guard, generals and colonels were officers, lieutenant colonels were corporals, and 60 privates were chosen from chief officers, and, according to contemporaries, "the most tall and prominent of the entire army."

Throughout the 18th century, this military formation changed many times: it was dissolved, then it was born again, but it always remained the most elite and privileged regiment of the Russian army, recruited mainly from the highest aristocracy. Get a grasp of their names: Yaguzhinsky, Menshikov, Buturlin, Trubetskoy, Vorontsov, Shuvalov, the Orlov brothers, Potemkin-Tavrichesky. It seems that before us is the history of Russia of that time! It turns out that the cavalry guards made Russian history? Or vice versa: did those who made history strive to try on the uniform of this brilliant regiment? Be that as it may, the cavalry guards have always retained the status of a purely Russian formation, and even during periods of the most powerful European influences did not turn into a mercenary army of foreign bodyguards, as was often practiced in the same Europe. The Russian cavalry guards, which literally means “guardian horsemen”, were not only the personal guards of the sovereign emperor, but they understood their duty more broadly - serving Russia, protecting the entire state.

"There is no reliable glory until blood is shed"

Elite military units have always existed. Chosen squads of bodyguards had Egyptian pharaohs and the leaders of the Aztecs, the kings of Assyria and the rulers of Babylon had personal squads. The fighting corps of the peltasts in Athens, the Praetorian guards in Rome, the Skirites in Sparta - these were always the most skilled soldiers, the last trump card of any commander.

The Persian king eclipsed everyone: he had 10,000 soldiers of his personal guard in his service. They were called "atanaty", immortals - during the battle, a new one would immediately take the place of a retired warrior. For a long time they seemed invincible, they frightened the northern barbarians with their formidable appearance and bright clothes, but faltered when they met only three hundred guardsmen of King Leonidas on their way. Yes, the guard of the guard is different! Genuine guardsmen - guardsmen of the spirit, people of honor - are always few. The spirit of the guard is not born at parades and reviews, it is not acquired in palace intrigues and love adventures. Heroes are not born, heroes are raised. Okudzhava is right - to become a guardsman, you need a fight ...

The opportunity to prove to everyone that they are not a parade-court army, but a fighting unit, an army aristocracy, presented itself to the cavalry guards only in the 19th century. But what a case!

Austerlitz. His sky changed the fate of not only Prince Andrei Bolkonsky. The battle, hopelessly lost by Russia and the allies, became a field of glory for the Russian cavalry guards. Their brilliant attack, "which the French themselves were amazed at," was beautifully and accurately described by Leo Tolstoy in the novel War and Peace.

“Rostov was scared to hear later,” we read from Lev Nikolaevich, “that out of all this mass of huge handsome people, out of all these brilliant, on thousands of horses, rich young men, officers and cadets who galloped past him, only eighteen remained after the attack. Human". It could not have been otherwise: to die, bloodless to be taken prisoner - yes; allow yourself to retreat - never. So it will be at Borodino, so it will be in other battles. “Learn to die,” Napoleon threw to his officers, pointing to the field of Austerlitz, snow-white from the cavalry guard uniforms.

Regimental legends say that Napoleon, who was touring the battlefield, had the imprudence to joke about the "beardless boys" who died in a fruitless attack. This attack of the emperor was answered by a young cornet, the son of General Sukhtelen. Having taken a step from a group of wounded cavalry guards, on a beautiful French he said: "Youth does not interfere with being brave!"

Later, all generations of cavalry guards will learn from this phrase and they will learn their lessons of courage, contempt for death, insolence and chivalry perfectly. A hundred years after the Napoleonic Wars, on the battlefields of the First World War, another cornet, Veselovsky, will remind his comrades: “The cavalry guards do not leave at a gallop!” And this phrase will be enough for the squadrons to complete the forced maneuver emphatically calmly, with a step, not paying attention to the heavy fire of the German artillery. The traditions of the regiment are above all!

"In vain peaceful fun ..."

Not intentionally! The cavalry guards did not live by a single service. Many officers, having retired, played a prominent role in court and public life, became diplomats, politicians, dignitaries, and even philanthropists and musicians.

The latter refers to Count Matvey Yurievich Vielgorsky. Dismissed from service due to illness, he, along with his brother Mikhail, devoted himself to patronage - he provided patronage to scientists, writers, artists, and especially musicians. The Vielgorsky House became an "academy of musical taste". Matvey Yuryevich himself was a talented musician, he sang well and composed plays. In his house, he assembled the first Russian quartet and played the cello himself in it. By the way, he was the owner of a priceless instrument made by Stradivarius, but, once admiring the performance of the famous cellist Davydov, he gave him his treasure without hesitation.

The violin part in the Vielgorsky Quartet was performed by Aleksey Fedorovich Lvov, another cavalry guard and at the same time a talented violinist. But he became famous not for his virtuoso playing, but for writing the hymn “God Save the Tsar!” to the words of Zhukovsky. Creating a national anthem is a difficult task even for a professional composer. “I felt the need to write a majestic, strong, sensitive anthem,” Lvov wrote in his “Notes,” “understandable for everyone, having the imprint of nationality, suitable for the church, suitable for the army, suitable for the people, from a scientist to an ignoramus.” The first public performance of the anthem took place in Bolshoi Theater. With the first chords, all three thousand spectators rose from their seats. It was the composer's triumph.

Count Nikolai Ilyich Tolstoy, the father of the famous writer, also served in the cavalry guard regiment. Having retired as a lieutenant colonel, he, according to the recollections of his relatives, was actively engaged in farming, raised four sons and a daughter, was a kind, humane landowner who cared about the well-being of his peasants. Lev Nikolaevich gave the features of his father in "War and Peace" to Nikolai Rostov.

The Guard is dying, but not surrendering!

It is said that Napoleonic General Cambronne said this phrase in the decisive battle of Waterloo. He himself later denied this, but in vain - the words were heard, the legend took root. However, these words have no authorship, nationality or statute of limitations. They could be shouted out by any guard, in any language, in any battle. The cavalry guards are no exception... XX century. First World War. Heavy cavalry in knightly armor with knightly notions of honor against airplanes, machine guns and barbed wire seemed an anachronism. Cuirasses and white tunics had to be changed to khaki uniforms, and the equestrian formation was changed to trenches and a chain of foot. That's just ahead of the chain, just like before, with a naked saber in his hand, was the chief of the regiment - Prince Dolgorukov: the cavalry guards did not change their principles. They did not return from that war - there was nowhere to return. But it was not the war that destroyed them, but the revolution. You can’t send the elite of troops against your own people, the guards can’t play the role of policemen, it’s not their job to catch deserters. By November 1917, only four officers remained in the regiment. “With the departure of the last officers,” says the chronicler of the regiment V.N. Zvyagintsev, “the connection with the past was broken. The soul of the regiment flew away. The regiment died...” And yet the cavalry guards die, but do not give up, and this deserves immortality. After all, everything that these knights actually keep: courage, honor, nobility, is eternal, which means that it is still relevant today. Maybe that's why today's listeners are haunted by the "Song of the Cavalier Guard"?

to the magazine "Man Without Borders"

The cavalry guards are representatives of one of the most privileged regiments of the Russian Empire. He brought up in his ranks many famous people, such as:

• Denis Davydov - hero of the war with Napoleon and poet;
• Ivan Annenkov and Sergei Volkonsky - Decembrists;
• and Georges Dantes - the killers of Mikhail Lermontov and Alexander Pushkin;
• Alexander Ypsilanti - leader of the revolution in Greece;
• Mikhail Skobelev - general, hero of the war with the Turks;
• Pavel Skoropadsky - Hetman of Ukraine;
• Carl Gustaf is the President of Finland.

When was the regiment created and what were its functions?

The meaning of the concept

Cavalierguard is a name consisting of two French words: "cavalier" - "rider", and "guard" - "guard". The military association belonged to the heavy cavalry. Their weapons, uniforms and equipment were minor modifications of the cuirassiers.

Appearance in the Russian Empire

The cavalry guards are the officers or soldiers of the unit, which appeared in 1724 as an honorary guard of the empress. It was formed for the date of her coronation. The post of captain was assumed by Peter I. For Catherine 1, sixty of the tallest people were selected. The division was disbanded after the end of the coronation.

History of transformations

In 1726, Catherine 1 temporarily restored the cavalry guard. Elizabeth I and Catherine II did the same in their time. But these units were not military, they were an imperial escort or a noble guard.

The cavalry guard corps was established in 1799 by Paul I. It consisted of 189 nobles. The sovereign decided to create a corps that would really serve. So he wanted to attract noble youth to military affairs.

In 1800, the corps was transformed into the Cavalier Guard Regiment. New part no longer had the former privileges and began to be completed not only by nobles, but also by tall stately peasants or soldiers. Under Alexander I, the regiment was increased to 991 people.

Baptism of fire

In 1805, the Guards heavy cavalry took place and showed itself in it with better side. The cavalry guards managed to come to the aid of the Russian guards infantry in time, which was pinned down by superior French forces.

As a result of the battle, the fourth squadron of cavalry guards was almost completely destroyed. 18 people survived. In total, during the battle, out of 800 people, 26 officers and 226 soldiers were lost.

The regiment distinguished itself in 1807 at the Battle of Heilsberg. He came to the aid of the vanguard of General Bagration.

Battle of Borodino

During Patriotic War The regiment was held in reserve by command. The cavalry guards were the elite of the Russian cavalry. Therefore, it was used only in special cases. It was the same in 1812 during the Battle of Borodino.

The cavalry guards were brought in at the most dramatic moment of the battle. The guards rushed to attack the Polish lancers and Saxon cuirassiers. At this moment, the buckshot hit the head of the commander of the cavalry guards Levenvolde. The death of the colonel did not affect the attack, the enemy was crushed. The pursuit led to the fact that a hundred cavalrymen got too close to the superior enemy forces. They decided to join the battle, which frightened the enemy troops. This allowed them to return to their regiment without loss.

In the battle of Borodino, the cavalry guards lost 14 officers and about 90 soldiers.

The regiment took part in other significant battles of the Napoleonic wars, including those outside Russia.

Then for 100 years it was in a relatively peaceful state. For the last 36 years of its existence, Maria Fedorovna, the wife of Alexander III, was considered the chief of the regiment.

Participation in the First World

Even under Nicholas I, there was a certain selection in the regiment. Soldiers and officers were supposed to be blond with gray or blue eyes. Their horses were selected depending on the squadron:

• the first - light bay horses without marks;
• the second - bay horses with marks;
• the third - bay horses without marks;
• the fourth - dark bay horses without marks.

Such recruitment was preserved until the end of the history of the cavalry guards. The tragic events of the First World War brought this end closer. It started in 1914. The regiment was immediately sent to the front. The first battle took place near the village of Kaushen. It was the East Prussian operation.

The battle started badly for the Russians, as the Germans used artillery for which the horses were not prepared. The riders had to dismount and attack the enemy with carbines with bayonets. They managed to put the enemy to flight, but the price of this victory was too high. The cavalry guards lost a significant part of the officers.

In 1916, the regiment took part in battles on different fronts. They had to change from white uniforms to uniforms of a protective tone, instead of riding they were engaged in digging and crawling. The war strategy was changing and required new tactics.

They took part in the decisive Brusilov breakthrough. It became the last combat mission of the brave regiment. When in 1917 Nicholas II abdicated the throne, the cavalry guards began to guard the railway stations. Soon the Bolsheviks fired the officers of the regiment.

After the February Revolution

The Bolsheviks, having come to power, disbanded the regiment. But the cavalry guards did not cease to exist. Most of the officers took the side of the white movement, fighting for almost 3 years. They tried to stay together. The combat biography of the officers ended in 1920, when they emigrated from Russia through the Crimea.

Being in exile, the officers of the cavalry guard created their own organization called the "Cavalier Guard Family". Their society helped needy officers, published its own annual magazine, which was published for 30 years - until 1968.