Pavlovsky Life Guards Regiment

Pavlovsky Guard Regiment (Russian: Павловский лейб-гвардии полк) was a Russian Imperial Guard infantry regiment. It was formed out of 2 battalions of the Moscow Grenadiers in November 19, 1796. They were given the title of Pavlovsky Life-Guard on April 13, 1813 for their deeds during the 1812 Patriotic war.

Pavlovsky Life Guards Regiment
Badge of the regiment
Active	1796-1918
Country	Russian Empire
Branch	Russian Imperial Army
Role	Guards Infantry
Garrison/HQ	Saint Petersburg
Engagements	French Invasion of Russia War of the Seventh Coalition Decembrist revolt Russo-Persian War (1826–1828) Russo-Turkish War (1828–1829) November Uprising January Uprising Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78 World War I Russian Civil War

Uniforms of the Pavlovsky Regiment

Barracks of the Pavlovsky Regiment, Field of Mars (yellow building with three courtyards along the park's shorter long edge, right-upper in the picture)

History

1796-1813

The Pavlovsky Grenadiers were formed from 2 detached battalions of the Moscow Grenadiers in November 19, 1796. The basis of their formation was the 77th Tengisky infantry regiment who possessed a similar uniform. They were sent as part of the expedition to Holland in 1799. They were sent to Hanover as part of the Hanover Expedition in 1805 and participated in the War of the Fourth Coalition as well. They're noted to have taken part in battles such as Battle of Czarnowo, where they repulsed the 2nd French attack and under the command of Major Palibin and Lieutenant Colonel Lokhov recaptured a height on the Russian left, dislodging the French in hand-to-hand fighting and recapturing a light battery. The battle of Czarnowo is also where the regiment is known to have distinguished themselves in the fighting.

Their participation in the Battle of Eylau included flanking the French under Major Makhov and Captain Panov, utilising a battalion and 2 companies respectively. They turned back a cavalry charge from Murat's horsemen and captured multiple prisoners, and went on to repulse attacks from Moran, Saint-Illaire and Gudin's divisions.

With the regiment's battalions effectively dispersed across the 3rd Infantry corps under Tuchkov's 1st Western Army and the 32nd infantry division, they fought in numerous battles.

The Battle of Klyastitsy is among their distinguishing moments. Under Captain Kyrlov, the 2nd battalion pursued the dislodged French, who had set fire to the only bridge across the Nischu river. They stormed the bridge regardless and continued a pursuit of the French infantry, routing them off the field at bayonet point.

Their contributions to the Battle of Borodino were made in the fight against V Corps (Grande Armée), initially repulsing them from the Utitska village and heavily damaging a French column in the fighting.

On the day of April 13, 1813, they were given the title of Pavlovsky Life-Guard for the courage rendered in the Patriotic war.

Campaigns

1799–1813

Napoleonic Wars

1828–1829

Russo-Turkish War

1831

Polish campaign

1863–1864

Polish campaign

1877–1878

Russo-Turkish War

1914–1917

First World War

Commanders

• Dmitry Neverovsky
• Richard Troyanovich Meves

Memorials

Memorial to the Pavlovsky regiment at Borodino's fields.

Sources

• Gorokhoff, Gerard. Russian Imperial Guard. 2002.
• Handbook of the Russian Army 1914 by the British General Staff. Battery Press reprint edition, 1996.
• Govault O.X. History of the Life-Guard Pavlovsky Regiment. 1852.