Military regulations of Lieutenant General Stiepan Rżewski from the mid-1770s for Petersburg (St. Petersburg) Legion — a new tactical unit of the Russian army

Abstract

The paper is dedicated to the military regulations from the mid-1770s in a new tactical unit of the Russian army — Petersburg (St. Petersburg) Legion. The author of these documents was one of the distinguished tsarist commanders, Lieutenant General Stiepan Rżewski. Instructions, personnel lists and orders elaborated by the commander for the purposes of a small combined tactical unit formed during the Russo-Turkish War of 1768–1774, consisting of infantry, cavalry, and artillery detachments, constitute an exceptionally interesting example of the formation of Russian military legislation during the reign of Empress Catherine II (1762–1796). Thanks to their contents, it is possible to learn about the personnel composition and internal organisation of the unit, as well as significant issues, such as the training of infantry and cavalry soldiers or the performance of guard duties in the camp. Although Petersburg Legion operated for only six years, after which it was disbanded by decision of the Russian authorities (1775), the instructions, personnel lists and orders elaborated by commander Stiepan Rżewski became a model for other contemporary, as well as future Russian military theorists involved in the process of developing subsequent military regulations (instructions, rules etc.) for the purposes of the troops of different branches in the entire tsarist army.