Pyotrs Guards Regiments

🏰 Peter I’s “toy” regiments (Poteshnye polki) started as a kind of child’s game of soldiers for the young tsarevich, but quickly evolved into a serious military school. Even as a boy, Peter showed a keen interest in warfare: he was fascinated by the thunder of cannons, military marches, and siege operations. The first units were formed from the tsarevich’s peers and volunteers, and they were stationed in the villages of Preobrazhenskoe and Semyonovskoe near Moscow—so‑called “toy” residences. As early as 1683, recruitment of adult volunteers began; Sergei Bukhvostov, a court groom, was the first to enlist and later became known as the first Russian soldier. Gradually, what began as simple play grew into a real system of military training. 🛠️ A key stage in the development of the Poteshnye regiments was large‑scale drills and the construction of a training fortification. In 1684, the fortress of Presburg was built in Preobrazhenskoe; it was regularly stormed and defended to practice actual combat techniques. Peter personally took part in these “games,” often leading one of the sides. Foreign specialists were brought in to teach European military science, and artillery was added to the Poteshnye’s arsenal. Thus, the childish pastime acquired the features of professional training: troops practiced drill formations, shooting, siege and defense of fortifications, as well as discipline and coordinated action. ⚔️ Over time, the Poteshnye troops turned into a genuine fighting force and played an important role in Peter’s political rise. In 1691, two official regiments were formed from them—the Preobrazhensky and Semyonovsky regiments—which became the core of the future Russian Guards. These units were notable not only for their training but also for their personal loyalty to the tsar, which proved crucial during the conflict with Tsarevna Sophia. Already in 1695–1696, the regiments took part in the Azov campaigns, gaining their first major combat experience. The Poteshnye thus became the nucleus of a new type of army that combined European training methods with Russian initiative and resilience. 🎖️ The significance of the Poteshnye regiments goes far beyond a mere “child’s play”: they gave birth to the principles of the regular Russian army and the Guards tradition. The Preobrazhensky and Semyonovsky regiments later fought in all major wars of Peter’s era, including the Great Northern War, and became a model of military honor and discipline. The story of the Poteshnye is a vivid example of how a teenager’s hobby can grow into a large‑scale state reform. From these regiments emerged not just an army, but a new military culture for Russia, which shaped its successes on the international stage in the 18th century.