Novotroitskiy Cuirassiers

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Origin and History

Until 1756, the regiment was a unit of dragoons known as the "Novotróitskiy Dragoon Regiment". On March 30 1756, when the Russian Cavalry was reorganised, the regiment was converted into the "Novotróitskiy Cuirassier Regiment".

The regiment counted 5 squadrons (10 companies for a total of about 800 men). Each company consisted of 4 officers, 5 NCOs, 2 musicians and 69 troopers. Because of recruitment difficulties, it usually fielded only 4 squadrons while the fifth served as a reserve and for replenishing the ranks of the other squadrons.

During the Seven Years' War, the regiment was under the command of:

• no information available yet

Service during the War

In 1756, the regiment was initially stationed on the western border until the Autumn when it was transferred to Orel and Novgorod.

In July 1757, the regiment could field only 2 or 3 squadrons. It took part in the campaign in East Prussia under General-in-Chief Apraxin. On August 30, at the Battle of Gross-Jägersdorf, it was part of the vanguard. When the Russian army deployed, it was placed in the second line of the left wing.

In January 1758, the regiment took part in the invasion of East Prussia. In July of the same year, it also took part in the invasion of Brandenburg. On August 25, it fought at the Battle of Zorndorf where it was part of the first line of the cavalry right wing. On September 11, during the retreat of the Russian army, half the regiment was part of Rumyantsev's Corps who made a junction with the main army at Landsberg and encamped on the left bank of the Wartha. Around mid-November, the regiment took up its winter-quarters in Heiligenbeil and Brandenburg.

On July 23 1759, the regiment took part in the Battle of Paltzig where it was attached to Jeropkin's Brigade deployed in the second line of the left wing. A few weeks later, on August 12, the regiment fought in the Battle of Kunersdorf where it was deployed in the second line of the left wing as part of Jeropkin's Brigade once more.

To do: campaigns from 1760 to 1762

Uniform

Acknowledgements for this section: Daniel Milekhin

Since the regiment was converted from a dragoon regiment to a cuirassier regiment in March 1756, just before the war, it seems to have initially retained its dragoon uniforms. The regiment received the regulation cuirassier uniform illustrated in the next section at the beginning of the campaign of 1757. In January 1757, Rumyantsev received orders to train the cavalry and noted that only half the soldiers of the former dragoon regiments wore cuirassier uniforms. However, in the spring of the same year, he reported that all soldiers had now received new uniforms but without breastplates. At the end of July 1759, when Villebois entered Frankfurt an der Oder with a Russian force, he immediately required the local smiths to produce the "cuirasses that his heavy horsemen had lacked since 1757."

Therefore, we illustrate both uniforms here. The regiment also kept its light Russian horses which were ill suited for its new role as heavy cavalry.

Dragoon uniform

During summer, Russian dragoons did not wear coats. These were left in the baggage. For this reason, we present two different plates.

N.B.: another interpretation states that, on active duty, the dragoons did not wear their cornflower blue coat.

There seems to have been important variations of the uniform in the field:

• “kollet” edged with a cornflower blue braid or undecorated
• “kollet” totally absent due to supply problems and replaced by the cornflower blue coat and/or the cornflower blue waistcoat

Troopers

Uniform in 1757 - Source: Richard Couture Summer uniform in 1757 - Source: Richard Couture

Uniform Details Headgear Dragoon black felt tricorne laced white with a white cockade on the left fastened with a copper button Grenadier until 1759: mitre with a brass front plate embossed with trophies of weapons and standards and carrying in its centre the regimental coat of arms surmounted by the Imperial Eagle, a black leather skull-cap and neck guard with brass reinforcements and decorations, a white wool pompom from 1759: black felt tricorne laced white with a white cockade on the left fastened with a bronze button Neck stock black Coat cornflower blue lined red; with copper buttons and red trimmed buttonholes N.B.: the coat was not worn during summer Collar red Shoulder straps none Lapels none Pockets none Cuffs red, each with 3 copper buttons Turnbacks red Gloves buff Kollet chamois leather fastened with hooks and eyes; with cornflower blue collar and cuffs; horizontal pockets, each with 3 copper buttons. N.B.: this so-called “kollet” could also be edged with cornflower blue braid made from old winter capes Waistcoat a cornflower blue waistcoat made from old winter capes, which was worn under the “kollet” Breeches chamois leather with white knee covers Leather Equipment Crossbelt natural leather Waistbelt white Cartridge Box black with a copper plate carrying the regimental arms Scabbard black leather Footgear black boots Horse Furniture Saddlecloth cornflower blue without lace Housings cornflower blue without lace Blanket roll n/a

Troopers were armed with a short carbine, two pistols and a sabre. They also had a cornflower blue epancha (cape) for winter. Cuirassiers were also supposed to wear a breastplate but this regiment remained an exception until it received its new regulation cuirassier uniforms later during the war.

Other interpretations

The representations of the "tails" of the kollet differ widely. Some authors show rather long tails others illustrate short tails.

NCOs

Corporals wore uniforms similar to those of the troopers.

Other NCOs wore uniforms similar to those of the troopers with the following distinctions:

• gold laced tricorne
• gold laced collar
• gold laced cuffs:
  • 1 stripe for Unterfähnrich
  • 2 stripes for armourers and quartermasters
  • 3 stripes for sergeant

Officers

Officers wore uniforms similar to those of the troopers with the following distinctions:

• gold laced tricorne
• gilt buttons
• no turnbacks
• black and gold silken sash
• cornflower blue saddlecloth and housings laced gold carrying the imperial cipher

Musicians

Musicians wore uniforms similar to those of the troopers with the following distinctions:

• swallow nests at the shoulders

The kettle-drum and the trumpets were made of copper. The banners were of the colour of the squadron standards. The banner of the kettle-drum was embroidered and fringed in gold.

Cuirassier Uniform

The regiment finally received regulation cuirassier uniforms. Russian cuirassiers had three distinct uniforms:

• a parade uniform
• a service uniform
• a uniform while not on active duty

Our plate depict the service uniform.

The parade uniform was very similar but a leather jerkin (kollet) was worn instead of the coat and waistcoat. While not on active service, the heavy chamois coat made of thick leather was simply replaced by a more comfortable blue coat lined and edged in red with a red collar, red lapels and red cuffs.

Troopers

Service uniform in 1757 - Copyright Kronoskaf

Uniform Details

Headgear	black tricorne (reinforced with an iron skullcap for combat) laced gold, with a white cockade on the left side fastened with a white strap and a small copper button
Neckstock	black
Coat	chamois lined and edged in red; fastened with hooks and eyes N.B.: the coat was probably not worn during summer Collar chamois laced red Shoulder straps none Lapels none Pockets none Cuffs chamois laced red Turnbacks chamois laced red
Gloves	buff
Waistcoat	sleeved red waistcoat fastened with hooks and eyes
Breeches	buff with white knee covers
Leather Equipment	Crossbelt natural leather Waistbelt white Cartridge Box black with a copper plate carrying the regimental arms Scabbard black leather Footgear black boots
Horse Furniture	Saddlecloth black leather Housings black leather Blanket roll cornflower blue cape lined red with a red collar

In Russian regulatory documents, regulated description of the shape of the mustache dates back to 1755.

“Every cuirassier and dragoon should grow a mustache. When a private is in the ranks and on guard duty, a mustache should always be combed up, the mustache should be blackened,… If you are still young and do not have a natural mustache, then you should get fake ones.”

Until the early 1760s, according to modern iconography and statutory documents, cuirassiers in the Russian army wore mustaches with long ends and without sideburns, according to the Prussian fashion that had existed since the 1730s.

Troopers were armed with a short carbine, two pistols and a sabre. Cuirassiers also wore a blackened iron breastplate decorated with a brass imperial cipher and bordered red. This breastplate was worn over the coat and waistcoat.

The horses of the troopers were mostly black or dark brown.

NCOs

Corporals, armourers, quartermasters and sergeants wore uniforms similar to those of the troopers with the following distinctions:

• gold stripes above the red lace on collar, lapels and cuffs (1 stripe for corporals, 2 stripes for armourers and quartermasters, 3 stripes for sergeants)

Officers

Officers wore uniforms similar to those of the troopers but made of fabric instead of leather and with the following distinctions:

• golden laced tricorne bordered with golden plumes
• gold stripes on the red lace of the coat edges, collar, lapels and cuffs (thin 1/3” stripe for subaltern officers and large 3/4” stripe for superior officers)
• red waistcoat edged with a chamois braid carrying a gold stripe (thin 1/3” stripe for subaltern officers and large 3/4” stripe for superior officers)
• red breeches
• black and gold silken sash worn over the breastplate
• red saddlecloth and housings laced gold (thin 1/2” stripe for subaltern officers, one thin 1/2” stripe and one wide 1” stripe for superior officers) carrying the imperial cipher

Sometimes, for sulbaltern officers, the holster caps were edged with blue lace.

Musicians

Musicians wore uniforms similar to those of the troopers with the following distinctions:

• swallow nests at the shoulders

The kettle-drum and the trumpets were made of copper. The banners were of the colour of the squadron standards. The banner of the kettle-drum was embroidered and fringed in gold.

Colours

Cuirassier Colours

Cuirassiers still carried standards of the 1731 pattern, measuring 60 cm by 70 cm fringed in gold. The flagpole had a gilt finial.

Colonel Standard: white damask field

• obverse: centre device: an Imperial Eagle bearing the regimental arms on a breastplate encircled by the necklace of the St. George’s Order and surmounted by a red and gold crown. In each corner: the crowned imperial cipher on a silver field within a gold wreath.
• reverse: centre device: the crowned imperial cipher on a silver field, surrounded by a wreath of palm branches and surmounted by a gold and red crown. In each corner: the crowned imperial cipher on a silver field within a gold wreath.

Ordonnance Standard: green damask field

• obverse: centre device: an Imperial Eagle bearing the regimental arms on a breastplate encircled by the necklace of the St. George’s Order and surmounted by a red and gold crown. In each corner: the crowned imperial cipher on a silver field within a gold wreath.
• reverse: centre device: the crowned imperial cipher on a silver field, surrounded by a wreath of palm branches and surmounted by a gold and red crown. In each corner: the crowned imperial cipher on a silver field within a gold wreath.

Colonel standard - Source: rf-figuren from an original black and white plate by Viskovatov

Ordonnance standard - Source: rf-figuren from an original black and white plate by Viskovatov

The first squadron carried the white colonel (Leib) standard while the 4 other squadrons each carried one ordonnance standard.

Dragoon Colours

Dragoons still carried standards of the 1731 pattern, measuring 123 cm by 142 cm (some sources indicate square 150 cm by 150 cm standards). The flagpole had a gilt finial.

Colonel Standard: white field fringed in gold; centre device: an Imperial Eagle, crowned double-headed, bearing the regimental arms on a breastplate encircled by the necklace of the St. George’s Order and the cross of St. Andrew.

Ordonnance Standard: green field fringed in gold; centre device: a crown surmounting a gold shield bearing the regimental arms.

The first squadron carried the white colonel (Leib) standard while the 4 other squadrons each carried one ordonnance standard.

References

Großer Generalstab, Kriegsgeschichtliche Abteilung II (Publisher). Die Kriege Friedrichs des Großen, Part 3: Der Siebenjährige Krieg 1756–1763. Vol. 4 Groß-Jägersdorf und Breslau, Berlin 1902

• chapter A: Das Kaiserlich Russiche Heer, page 1-46
• appendix: supplement 1, Das Kaiserlich Russiche Heer, page 3-18

Konstam, Angus, and Bill Younghusband: Russian Army of the Seven Years War, vol. 2, Osprey Military, London, Reed International, 1996

Schirmer, Friedrich: Die Heere der kriegführenden Staaten 1756-1763, published by the KLIO-Landesgruppe Baden-Württemberg, Neuauflage 1989

Viskovatov, A. V.: Historical Description of the Clothing and Arms of the Russian Army, vol. 3, Petersburg: 1900

Volker Ziegler, Brühl: Die Russische Kavallerie zur Zeit des Siebenjährigen Krieges (1756-1763

Zweguintzov: L'Armee Russe, 1973

N.B.: the section Service during the War is mostly derived from our articles depicting the various campaigns, battles and sieges.

Acknowledgements

Charles S. Grant for the info on the availability of breastplates for this new cuirassier regiment.