Preobrazhensky Life Guards Regiment

Categories / Army. Navy/Garrison
PREOBRAZHENSKY LIFE GUARDS REGIMENT, the oldest infantry guards regiment. Founded by Peter I in 1683 in the village of Preobrazhenskoe by Moscow (hence the name), raised to a regiment in 1692, received the title of guards in 1700. Participated in the Azov campaigns 1695 and 1696, Northern War 1700-21, wars with Turkey (1828-29 and 1877-78), Sweden (1808-09), France (1805, 1806-07, 1812-14), and WW I of 1914-18. A number of the regiment's sub-divisions took part in the wars with Turkey in 1735-39, Sweden in 1741-43 and 1788-90. During the Great Northern War the Preobrazhensky regiment engaged in the assault of Noteburg (1702, see Schliesselburg Fortress), capture of Nyenschantz, seizure of the Swedish fleet at the mouth of the Neva river, and in the foundation of St. Petersburg (1703). The regiment was the major driving force of palace coups of the18th century. One of the most aristocratic regiments of the Russian army. Enlistment of officers and generals into the regiment (on the regular and irregular basis) was a form of recognition. Heirs to the Throne received military training in the regiment. Command, and from the beginning of the 19th century, patronage of the regiment rested with the reigning monarch. Disbanded in January 1918. The regiment formation was active abroad until the 1970s (after the death of the last regiment officer it was reorganised into the Union of Descendants of the Preobrazhensky Regiment (preobrazhentsy). From 1723 the regiment was stationed in St. Petersburg, first billeted, and from the late 1730s - in the regiment settlement (sloboda) on the territory between the present-day Liteiny avenue, Zhukovskogo Street, Suvorovsky Avenue and Tchaikovskogo Street. In 1742 a detachment from the Regiment Life Company was stationed in Millionnaya Street (from 1765 the 1st regiment's battalion was quartered there). In the early 19th century a barracks complex and other regiment constructions were built (barracks of the 1st battalion – at 33 Millionnaya Street; Officers House of the 1st battalion – at 35 Moika River Embankment; quarters of other battalions, military hospital, Officers House, manege and other buildings -in the area between the present Kirochnaya, Radischeva, Paradnaya and Krasnoy Svyazi Streets. The regiment chapel was the Holy Transfiguration Cathedral. Toponyms Paradnaya, Gospitalnaya Street, Preobrazhenskaya Square, Manezhny and Ozerny Lanes (in honour of the regiment's officer P.P. Ozerov) trace back to the life of the regiment.

Reference: История Лейб-гвардии Преображенского полка, 1683-1883 г.: В 4 т. СПб., 1883-1888; Бобровский П. О. История лейб-гвардии Преображенского полка: В 2 т. СПб., 1900-1904. G. V. Kalashniov. Ozerov P.P.
Peter I, Emperor
Gospitalnaya St./Saint Petersburg, city
Kirochnaya St./Saint Petersburg, city
Liteiny Ave/Saint Petersburg, city
Manezhny Lane/Saint Petersburg, city
Millionnaya St./Saint Petersburg, city, house 33
Millionnaya St./Saint Petersburg, city
Moika River Embankment/Saint Petersburg, city, house 35
Olminsky St./Saint Petersburg, city
Paradnaya St./Saint Petersburg, city
Preobrazhenskaya Square/Saint Petersburg, city
Radishcheva St./Saint Petersburg, city
Suvorovsky Ave/Saint Petersburg, city
Tchaikovskogo St./Saint Petersburg, city
Vilensky Lane/Saint Petersburg, city
Zhukovskogo Street/Saint Petersburg, city
История Лейб-гвардии Преображенского полка, 1683-1883 г.: В 4 т. СПб., 1883-1888
Бобровский П. О. История лейб-гвардии Преображенского полка: В 2 т. СПб., 1900-1904 Shlisselburg Fortress.
Holy Transfiguration Cathedral