Prince Fedorovitch Cuirassiers

From Project SYW

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Contents 1 Origin and History 2 Service during the War 3 Uniform 3.1 Troopers 3.2 NCOs 3.3 Officers 3.4 Musicians 4 Colours 5 References

Origin and History

Until 1732, the regiment was a unit of dragoon known as the "Iaroslavskiy Dragoon Regiment". In 1732, when baron Munnich reorganised the Russian army, the regiment was converted into the "3rd Cuirassier Regiment". It then successively became the "Bevern Cuirassier Regiment" in 1733, the "Braunschweig Cuirassier Regiment" in 1738, and the "Holstein-Gottorp Cuirassier Regiment" in 1742. The regiment was finally renamed the "Fedorovitch Cuirassier Regiment" in 1752.

The regiment counted 5 squadrons (10 companies for a total of about 800 men) and was stationed in Estonia and Livonia. Because of recruitment difficulties, it usually fielded only 4 squadrons while the fifth served as a reserve and for replenishing the ranks of the other squadrons. Each company consisted of 4 officers, 5 NCOs, 2 musicians and 69 troopers.

During the Seven Years' War, the regiment was under the command of:

• no information available yet

Service during the War

In July 1757, the regiment could field only 2 or 3 squadrons. It took part in the campaign in East Prussia under field-marshal count Apraxin. On August 30, at the battle of Gross-Jägersdorf, it was part of the rearguard. When the Russian army deployed, it was placed in the first line of the cavalry right wing.

In January 1758, the regiment took part in the invasion of East Prussia. At the beginning of August, it followed the Russian army in its invasion of Brandenburg. On August 25, the regiment fought at the battle of Zorndorf where it was part of the first line of the cavalry left wing. About mid November, the regiment took its winter quarters in Riesenburg and Saalfeld (actual Zalewo) as part of Resanov's 2nd Division.

To do: campaigns from 1759 to 1762

Uniform

Russian cuirassiers had three distinct uniforms:

• a parade uniform
• a service uniform
• a uniform while not on active duty

Our plate depict the service uniform.

The parade uniform was very similar but a leather jerkin (kollet) was worn instead of the coat and waistcoat. While not on active service, the heavy chamois coat made of thick leather was simply replaced by a more comfortable blue coat lined and edged in red with a red collar, red lapels and red cuffs.

Troopers

Uniform Details

Headgear	black tricorne (reinforced with an iron skullcap for combat) laced gold, with a white cockade on the left side fastened with a white strap and a small copper button
Neckstock	black
Coat	chamois lined and edged in red; fastened with hooks and eyes Collar chamois laced red Shoulder straps none Lapels none Pockets none Cuffs chamois laced red Turnbacks chamois laced red
Gloves	buff
Waistcoat	sleeved red waistcoat fastened with hooks and eyes
Breeches	buff with white knee covers
Leather Equipment	Crossbelt natural leather Waistbelt white Cartridge Box black with a copper plate carrying the regimental arms Scabbard black leather Footgear black boots
Horse Furniture	Saddlecloth red without lace Housings red without lace Blanket roll cornflower blue cape lined red with a red collar

Troopers were armed with a short carbine, two pistols and a sabre. Cuirassiers also wore a blackened iron breastplate decorated with a brass imperial cipher and bordered red. This breastplate was worn over the coat and waistcoat.

The horses of the troopers were mostly black or dark brown.

NCOs

Corporals, armourers, quartermasters and sergeants wore uniforms similar to those of the troopers with the following distinctions:

• gold stripes above the red lace on collar, lapels and cuffs (1 stripe for corporals, 2 stripes for armourers and quartermasters, 3 stripes for sergeants)

Officers

Officers wore uniforms similar to those of the troopers but made of fabric instead of leather and with the following distinctions:

• golden laced tricorne bordered with golden plumes
• gold stripes on the red lace of the coat edges, collar, lapels and cuffs (thin 1/3” stripe for subaltern officers and large 3/4” stripe for superior officers)
• red waistcoat edged with a chamois braid carrying a gold stripe (thin 1/3” stripe for subaltern officers and large 3/4” stripe for superior officers)
• red breeches
• black and gold silken sash worn over the breastplate
• red saddlecloth and housings laced gold (thin 1/2” stripe for subaltern officers, one thin 1/2” stripe and one wide 1” stripe for superior officers) carrying the imperial cipher

Sometimes, for sulbaltern officers, the holster caps were edged with blue lace.

Musicians

Musicians wore uniforms similar to those of the troopers with the following distinctions:

• swallow nests at the shoulders

The kettle-drum and the trumpets were made of copper to the exception of those of the first company which were made of silver. The banners were blue. The banner of the kettle-drum was embroidered and fringed in gold.

Colours

Cuirassiers still carried standards of the 1731 pattern, measuring 60 cm by 70 cm fringed in gold. The flagpole had a gilt finial.

Regimental Standard: white damask field with;

• obverse: centre device: an Imperial Eagle bearing the regimental arms on a breastplate encircled by the necklace of the St. George’s Order and surmounted by a red and gold crown. In each corner: the crowned imperial cipher within a wreath all in gold.
• reverse: centre device: the crowned imperial cipher on a silver field, surrounded by a wreath of palm branches and surmounted by a gold and red crown. In each corner: the crowned imperial cipher within a wreath all in gold.

Squadron Standard: blue field, in its centre: the crowned golden imperial cipher on a silver field surrounded by a wreath of golden palm branches. In each corner: the crowned imperial cipher within a wreath all in gold.

        

The first squadron carried the white colonel (Leib) standard while the 4 other squadrons each carried one regimental standard.

References

Großer Generalstab, Kriegsgeschichtliche Abteilung II (Publisher). Die Kriege Friedrichs des Großen, Part 3: Der Siebenjährige Krieg 1756–1763. Vol. 4 Groß-Jägersdorf und Breslau, Berlin 1902

• chapter A: Das Kaiserlich Russiche Heer, page 1-46
• appendix: supplement 1, Das Kaiserlich Russiche Heer, page 3-18

Konstam, Angus, and Bill Younghusband; Russian Army of the Seven Years War, vol. 2, Osprey Military, London, Reed International, 1996

Knötel, Richard, Mittheilungen zur Geschichte des militärischen Tracht, Rathenow, 1894

Schirmer, Friedrich, Die Heere der kriegführenden Staaten 1756-1763, published by the KLIO-Landesgruppe Baden-Württemberg, Neuauflage 1989

Viskovatov, A. V., Historical Description of the Clothing and Arms of the Russian Army, vol. 3, Petersburg: 1900

Volker Ziegler, Brühl, Die Russische Kavallerie zur Zeit des Siebenjährigen Krieges (1756-1763

Zweguintzov, L'Armee Russe, 1973

N.B.: the section Service during the War is mostly derived from our articles depicting the various campaigns, battles and sieges.