1st Life Guards Rifle Regiment

1st His Majesty's Life Guards Rifle Regiment
Ле́йб-гва́рдии 1-й стрелко́вый Его́ Вели́чества по́лк
Officers of the regiment in 1909
Active1856–1918
Country Russian Empire
Branch Russian Imperial Army
RoleGuards Infantry
Garrison/HQSt Petersburg
Tsarskoye Selo
PatronAlexander II
Alexander III
Nicholas II
AnniversariesApril 17
Engagements

The 1st His Majesty's Life Guards Rifle Regiment (Russian: Ле́йб-гва́рдии 1-й стрелко́вый Его́ Вели́чества по́лк) was a regiment of the Russian Imperial Guard that existed from 1856 prior to being dissolved in 1918 after World War I and the Russian Revolution. It was part of the 1st Guards Infantry Division, which itself was part of the Guards Corps.

History

It was initially established on 27 March 1856 as the 1st His Majesty's Life Guards Rifle Battalion from several other regiments within the 1st Guards Infantry Division[1] and the 2nd Guards Infantry Division, along with some other units.[2] In 1863 the unit took part in quelling the Polish uprising and in 1870 became part of the newly formed Guards Rifle Brigade, under the command of Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich.[1] It later had the distinction of personally escorting Emperor Alexander II during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78.[2] In 1910 it was raised from a battalion to a full regiment and in 1914, with the outbreak of World War I and the general mobilization, it received a reserve battalion. In 1917 it was renamed "1st Guards Rifle Regiment" and was completely dissolved in May 1918. Several of its members went on to fight in the White Army during the Russian Civil War. In 1951 an organization for veterans of the regiment was formed by some White émigrés.[1]

Patron

The patron of the 1st His Majesty's Life Guards Rifle Regiment was the reigning emperor.[1]

Commanders

The list of battalion and regimental commanders.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Лейб-гвардии 1-й стрелковый Его Величества полк Archived 2017-11-11 at the Wayback Machine (in Russian). Ria1914.info. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  2. ^ a b Combined Infantry of His Imperial Majesty’s Own Regiment Archived 2017-11-11 at the Wayback Machine. St Petersburg Encyclopedia. Retrieved 10 November 2017.