Martin Antonenko
A Fixture
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2008
- Messages
- 8,995
20. Day, November 28, 2017
So - I've rescheduled!
It will not continue with the head, but I'm now make the pedestal ready, because a part is still missing.
On the eve of the First World War, the Cossacks, once free, savage and subject only to themselves, their own rules and their own elected leaders, were "tamed" by the Russian state and grouped into eleven tightly organized Cossack armies (Cossack Hosts / Kasachi Woiskije).
Thus they had become a rapid reaction force, available to the authorities at all times against external and (this is surely the darkest spot in their history!) internal enemies, such as striking workers.
And as with any troop unit in Russia usual (again today!) each Cossack army had its own badge.
It took a while for me to get them all together to show you now:
Amur Cossack Host
Astrakhan Cossack Host
Don Cossack Host
Orenburg Cossack Host
Semirestschenk Cossack Host
Siberian Cossack Host
Transbaikal Cossack Host
Ural Cossack Host
Ussurij Cossack Host
And the two Caucasian Cossack formations, the so-called "Line Cossacks" (they guarded the "line" of the Terek and Kuban rivers, Russia's fragile southern border, against the ever-rebel Caucasian mountain tribes):
Kuban Cossack Host
Terek Cossack Host
In addition, I list here the "Personal Convoy of the Gussudar (Self-Governor) and Emperor", as the official name of the Tsar's bodyguard, which consisted of handpicked Cossacks from the Caucasus. There was a Terek-Sotnia (Hundreds) and a Kuban-Sotnia.
And of course, the "Konvoij" had its own badge ...:
Below the level of badges of the Cossack Hosts as a whole, there was a sheer number of badges for sub and troop units, regiments, etc.
So the Don Cossacks had their own artillery units - they wore for example the Don badge with added cannon barrels ...:
The Amur Cossacks were not only riders, but also sailors and manned and maintained their own fleet formation on the huge river, the so-called "Amur flotilla", which of course had its own badge:
And - last example:
The Caucasian Cossack Hosts of Terek and Kuban also had their own joint artillery unit (mountain guns), which were formed by teams from both Cossack armies together. Of course, even with its own badge ...:
All these badges were made of solid sterling silver during the tsarist period and were gold plated by hand and enamelled. You had to buy them from jewelers who had to show the state a special permission to make them!
Even then, these things were quite rare and expensive - and were therefore worn only by Cossacks who could afford it - mainly by officers and usually only for parade uniform.
I've scrolled the internet:
Currently (today) is offered in the entire German-speaking area, only one of these Cossack badges - and so I would like to have one, but I have to cry softly conclude that the price exceeds my financial means by far!
As I said, the advertisement is from today ...:
Sure, you can buy cheap copies for well under 50 euros in Russia, mostly made of painted metal ...:
But what should I do with such a peace of sh..!
**to be continued next post**
So - I've rescheduled!
It will not continue with the head, but I'm now make the pedestal ready, because a part is still missing.
On the eve of the First World War, the Cossacks, once free, savage and subject only to themselves, their own rules and their own elected leaders, were "tamed" by the Russian state and grouped into eleven tightly organized Cossack armies (Cossack Hosts / Kasachi Woiskije).
Thus they had become a rapid reaction force, available to the authorities at all times against external and (this is surely the darkest spot in their history!) internal enemies, such as striking workers.
And as with any troop unit in Russia usual (again today!) each Cossack army had its own badge.
It took a while for me to get them all together to show you now:
Amur Cossack Host
Astrakhan Cossack Host
Don Cossack Host
Orenburg Cossack Host
Semirestschenk Cossack Host
Siberian Cossack Host
Transbaikal Cossack Host
Ural Cossack Host
Ussurij Cossack Host
And the two Caucasian Cossack formations, the so-called "Line Cossacks" (they guarded the "line" of the Terek and Kuban rivers, Russia's fragile southern border, against the ever-rebel Caucasian mountain tribes):
Kuban Cossack Host
Terek Cossack Host
In addition, I list here the "Personal Convoy of the Gussudar (Self-Governor) and Emperor", as the official name of the Tsar's bodyguard, which consisted of handpicked Cossacks from the Caucasus. There was a Terek-Sotnia (Hundreds) and a Kuban-Sotnia.
And of course, the "Konvoij" had its own badge ...:
Below the level of badges of the Cossack Hosts as a whole, there was a sheer number of badges for sub and troop units, regiments, etc.
So the Don Cossacks had their own artillery units - they wore for example the Don badge with added cannon barrels ...:
The Amur Cossacks were not only riders, but also sailors and manned and maintained their own fleet formation on the huge river, the so-called "Amur flotilla", which of course had its own badge:
And - last example:
The Caucasian Cossack Hosts of Terek and Kuban also had their own joint artillery unit (mountain guns), which were formed by teams from both Cossack armies together. Of course, even with its own badge ...:
All these badges were made of solid sterling silver during the tsarist period and were gold plated by hand and enamelled. You had to buy them from jewelers who had to show the state a special permission to make them!
Even then, these things were quite rare and expensive - and were therefore worn only by Cossacks who could afford it - mainly by officers and usually only for parade uniform.
I've scrolled the internet:
Currently (today) is offered in the entire German-speaking area, only one of these Cossack badges - and so I would like to have one, but I have to cry softly conclude that the price exceeds my financial means by far!
As I said, the advertisement is from today ...:
Sure, you can buy cheap copies for well under 50 euros in Russia, mostly made of painted metal ...:
But what should I do with such a peace of sh..!
**to be continued next post**
