The toy army of Peter I (Russian: Потешные войска, Poteshnye voiska, literally amusement forces or fun forces) was initially called vikas Петровский полкhi kiel evans (Petrovskiy polk, Peter's regiment) and was a collection of young Peter's playmates, noblemens' sons and attendants of his father Aleksei's court.[1]
In 1682, when Peter with his mother, Natalia Naryshkina, relocated to the royal lodge in Preobrazhenskoye, he gradually formed a miniature army, ostensibly to school himself in the modern art of war.[2] Besides fellow children, the servants and retainers were being enlisted, with 25-year-old Sergei Bukhvostov recorded in 1683 as the 'first Russian soldier'.[2] Initially, the "play soldiers" were organized as a 100 men strong Company of Bombardiers.[2]
The boys played war, and as they grew, their games became more complex and realistic. Professional military advice was sought, and foreign officers were hired as instructors, eventually becoming part of the permanent officer corps of the Poteshnyi.[2] By 1685 the Poteshnyi numbered 300 and were quartered in specially built barracks near Preobrazhenskoye and as their numbers increased, a second similarly sized group was barracked in neighboring village, Semenovskoe.[2] With further drafts of Streltsy volunteers, the Poteshnyi were organized into the Preobrazhensky and the Semenovsky companies in 1687. At this stage both companies included artillery and cavalry components.[2]
During the 1689 coup attempt by regent Sophia Alekseyevna, the Poteshnyi had been part of the units supporting young Peter, among with most of the Streltsy, and leading members of Russian nobility.[2]
The companies were being expanded and on 25 April 1695 officially became Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky Regiments of the Guard.[3] These regiments became the beginnings of the Russian Imperial Guard. As Peter matured, the regiments did as well, and Peter participated fully in the army, joining its ranks as a bombardier[2] and rising up to colonel and head of the regiments.[4]
The toy army of Peter I (Russian: Потешные войска, Poteshnye voiska)- a linguistic mistake, became widely spread after russian historian W. Klutchevskij wrongfully interpreted the old-Russian word "potecha" (потеха) as "fun, game, entertainment". The true meaning of this term in the old-Russian language is "fight" or "battle". The original documents from the 17th and 18th centuries while reporting about "Poteshnye voiska" mean infantry - soldiers or military units that fight on foot. The "toy army" of Peter the Great was his infantry and what he did was training maneuvers with it. Any descriptions of "fun forces" of Russian Emperors Peter the Great as also his Grandson Peter III are honest mistakes, inspired by this very first one and shall not be taken as serious historic information. For instance, some authors claim it was a collection of young Peter's playmates, sons of noblemen and attendants of his father Aleksei's court. The boys allegedly played war, and as they grew, their games became more and more realistic.[1] Or another wrong example: As Peter matured, the regiments did as well, and Peter participated in the army, joining its ranks as a bombardier and rising up to colonel and head of the regiments.[2]
The only correct interpretation of this historic issue is the following: in order to protect himself and his mother from his half-sister Sophia, who usurped the Russian throne and threatened him with her Streletzkij regiments, Peter the Great established two regiments of his own. Both regiments became known as Preobrazhensky (after the Moscow suburb village, Preobrazhenskoe, where Peter lived with his mother) and Semenovsky.[3] These regiments were the beginning of the Russian Imperial Guard.