Oderint Dum Probent: Slobodskie Cossacks sent to Prussia in 1756 (Cossacks in the Seven Years war)

понедельник, 27 февраля 2012 г.

Slobodskie Cossacks sent to Prussia in 1756 (Cossacks in the Seven Years war)

1. Cossacks colonel

2. Cossack of Kharkovskiy Reg.

3. Cossack of Akhtyrskiy Reg.

Drawing by I. Averin

(Military magazine "Voin" # 11, 2003)

North-Eastern Ukraine in the sec. half of XVII c. – XVIII c. was a part of Russian state, not Malorussian (Ukranian) autonomy (so-called getman’s Ukraine). It was called Slobodskaya Ukraine. It was divided into 5 districts called ‘Polk’. Each of them provided a regiment of Cossacks (in fact - mounted militia) around 1,000 men. The Corps sent to Prussia in 1756 consisted of 5 regiments totaled 5,116 men. Each Cossack had 2 horses. They were armed with a pike, rifle (unregulated) & a sabre. Some of them had pistols. Regiments had 2 cannons with 15 gun-crews per regiment.

Slobodskie Cossacks in 1744 received unified colors of dress. The coat (tcherkesska) was blue. Shirt (chekmen), trousers & top of a fur cap were in regimental color.

regiment	strength	Regimental color
Sumskiy	1,300	Light-blue
Akhtyrskiy	1,193	Green
Kharkovskiy	823	Yellow
Ostrogozskiy	775	Orange
Izumskiy	740	Red

P.S. Table in the Russian part of the post gives more detailed info about Corps composition.

Слободские казаки, отправленные в Пруссию в 1656 г.

В 1656 для похода в Пруссию с главной армией были назначены все 5 слободских казачьих полков. Согласно рапорту командующего Украинской дивизией г-л князя Кантамира, в поход выступили 5 116 чел. Каждый казак имел по две лошади, вооружение включало пику, ружье и саблю, некоторые дополнительно имели по пистолету.