| Unit Name: | Lifeguard Jaeger Regiment — III — |
| Dates: | 1796–1917 |
| Country: | Russian Empire |
| Branch: | Russian Imperial Guard |
| Type: | Infantry |
| Size: | Regiment |
| Garrison: | St. Petersburg (1914) |
| Ceremonial Chief Label: | Colonel-in-Chief |
| Identification Symbol Label: | Badge of the regiment |
His Majesty Lifeguard Jaeger Regiment (Russian: «Лейб-гвардии Егерский Его Величества полк»), short also Lifeguard Jaeger Regiment (or: LG Jaeger Regiment), was a Jäger regiment of the Russian Imperial Guard from 1796 to 1917.
The history of the LG Jaeger Regiment began in the year 1792 with the introduction of a new branch of service – the light infantry – under the leadership of Paul I of Russia. This new service branch was named Jaeger… (ru: Егер… in reference to the German noun Jäger). The role of the new corps matched those of the rifle regiments of the contemporary British Army and the Chasseurs of the French Army.
The first step taken was to identify suitable recruits from among the so-called Gattchino troops (ru: Гатчинские войска / Gatchinskie voyska) in Gatchina and Pavlovsk, and to concentrate these men in separate Jaeger companies under the command of Major Anton Rachinski. At the end of 1793 there was further restructuring, followed by the formal establishment of the new regiment in 1794. The adoption of light to medium green facings for the jaeger, using green camisol, was an innovation in the Russian Army.
By All Highest Order (i.e. from the tsar) dated November 20, 1796; all units of the Gattchino troops received the status of "Old Guard" (ru: старая гвардия). The hitherto separate Jaeger companies were further concentrated into a jaeger battalion, strengthened by a third Jaeger company. The already existing guard regiments: the Semjonov LG Regiment and the Ismailov LG Regiment, as well as the new LG Jaeger Battalion were all put under a common command. November 20, 1796[1] was henceforth to be celebrated each year as being the official date of the regiment's foundation. Anton Rachinski, now promoted to podpolkovnik, became the first commanding officer of the LG Jaeger Battalion. In 1800, Prince Bagration, Pyotr Ivanovich, replaced him. In order to strengthen the battalion, a third Jaeger company was added. During the Battle of Austerlitz, the new Jaeger Corps received their baptism of fire and performed with distinction. On May 22, 1806 the personnel strength of the battalion was doubled. This expansion led to the unit being renamed as LG Jaeger Regiment. A third battalion was recruited, in order to provide a further strengthening of the new regiment. In 1809 Polkovnik Karl von Bistram became the new commander. After sffering heavy losses during the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878) in fighting close to Varna on September 10, 1828, the second battalion had to be re-established. To provide the numbers needed detachments of the 13th and 14th Jager Regiments were transferred to the LG Jaeger Regiment.
During a holy memorial service on the battle area to Kulm in the year 1835, Nicholas I of Russia in person was evaluating the extraordinary merits of the LG Jager Regiment. In this connection the day of the Saint and martyr Miron, August 17, was selected to holyday or "great day of the regiment". From this point in time Miron became the patron saint of the regiment, and in 1854 the regiment's church received his name. In 1855 the regiment was renamed to Lifeguard Gatchinski Regiement. However, this decision was cancelled on the occasion of the great day of the regiment in 1870.
At the time of its creation the LG Jaeger Regiment was based in the Semyeonov barracks in the street Svenigorodskaya ulitsa (later: Old Jaeger-street; Starojaegerskaya ulitsa). Afterwards the regiment was relocated to the especially newly built New Jaeger Barracks in the street Rusovskaya ulitsa, No. 14, No. 16 und No. 18.
The winter barracks of the regiment: the so-called "Petersburg quarters", was located close to the Semyenov place.
The Lifeguard Jaeger church was consecrated to "Saint and martyr Myron". Emperor Nicholas I financed the building from the Privy Purse. The church itself was located close to the riverside of the Obvodnyi canal, near the estuary to the Vvedenskiy canal. It was constructed during the period from 1849 to 1854 in memory to the victory of the coalition forces of Russia and Prussia in the Battle of Kulm against Napoleon, August 17, 1813, and the day of Saint Miron. Building was according to the plans of the architect Konstantin Thon. Distinguished officers of the regiment were laid to rest there.
The church also served as a war memorial to the fallen in World War I. However, following the suppression of the Russian Orthodox Church the church of was used as a storehouse up to 1930. In 1934 the already-damaged building was demolished.[2] Today the former location of the church contains only a carwash. In line with city and church plans, the historic regimental church is to be reconstructed in accordance with the original plans and documents.
Throughout its history under the Russian Empire, the regiment wore the standard uniform of the Infantry of the Imperial Guard, which from 1683 to 1914 was predominantly of a dark green (eventually verging on black) colour. The main distinctions of the Lifeguard Jaeger Regiment were the light green facings (plastron, cuffs and shoulder straps) edged in white piping. Collars were of the same dark green as the tunic; piped in red and worn with distinctive regimental patterns of braid (litzen). In addition, the tsar's monogram appeared on the soldiers' crimson shoulder straps and officers' epaulettes (see charts below).[3] In 1896, in recognition of service during the Russo-Turkish War, the entire regiment received the right to wear small bronze scrolls enscribed "For Telich 12 October 1877" on its full-dress shakos. This distinction continued until World War I[4]
A peculiarity of the Russian Imperial Guard was that recruits for most regiments were required to meet certain criteria of physical appearance, in order to provide a standardised appearance on parade.[5] This tradition was taken so seriously that during the 19th century the tsar himself might make the selection from a line of new recruits, chalking the regimental initial on the coat of each recruit. For the Lifeguard Jaeger Regiment conscripts were selected for being relatively short and slim in build.[6]
The regiment had the distinction of carrying silver trumpets with the engraving "For distinction in the Battle of Kulm 17 August 1813". Nicholas II extended this privilege to include the issue of 63 bugle-horns to the Lifeguard Jaegers in place of the drums and fifes of other infantry regiments.[7]
The table below contains the regiment's chiefs or honour commanders from 1796 to 1917.
| Period | Name | Rank | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 9, 1796 — June 9, 1800 | Rachinsky, Anton Michailovich | 1800 Generalleutnant | |
| June 9, 1800 — September 12, 1812 | 1809 General of the infantry | ||
| November 27, 1813 — June 15, 1831 | Tsarevich (heir apparent) and Grand Duke of Russia | ||
| June 25, 1831 — February 18, 1855 | |||
| February 19, 1855 — March 1, 1881 | Emperor of Russia | ||
| March 2, 1881 — October 21, 1894 | Emperor of Russia | 2nd chief from October 28, 1866 | |
| November 2, 1894 — March 4, 1917 | Emperor of Russia |
The LG Jaeger Regiment participated in the Napoleonic Wars, Russo-Turkish War of 1828–1829, the campaign to put down the November Uprising in Poland in 1830-31, Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878 and First World War. The table below contains extracts from the combat calendar of the regiment.1805 — 1878
1914 — 1917 First World War:
The table below contains a selection famous people, who served in the LG Jaeger Regiment.
The table below contains the commanding officers of the regiment.