Chevalier Guard

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Officers of the Chevalier Guard
Officers of the Chevalier Guard

Chevalier Guard regiment (Кавалергардский полк) was a Russian heavy cavalry guard regiment, reformed in 1800 from the Chevalier Guard corps (created in 1764 by Catherine the Great). As well as other Russian heavy cavalry guard regiments (Life Guards Horse Regiment, His Majestys Life Cuirassiers and Her Majestys Life Cuirassiers), Chevalier Guards (Кавалергарды) were equipped as cuirassiers (with some differences in uniform and equipment from army cuirassiers and other guard cuirassier regiments).

1805 - The regiment first saw combat in the Battle of Austerlitz, where the Chevalier Guards fought bravely, covering the retreat of units from the Russian guard infantry (Preobrazhensky and Semyonovsky regiments). They where countercharged by French Horse Grenadiers of the Old Guard, the unit suffered heavy casualties.

1812 - The regiment distinguished itself during the Patriotic War of 1812. In the Battle of Borodino the Chevalier Guard lost their colonel early in battle, but effectively stopped (together with the Life Guard Horse Regiment) the decisive charge of Saxon cuirassier regiments, and defeated french Horse Carabiniers.

The regiment was disbanded in 1918. Many famous persons has served in the regiment, such men as Potemkin, Orlov and Mannerheim

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