Jacob Shaw's Regiment

Jacob Shaw's Regiment (Russian: Бельские немцы Яковлевы роты Ша) was a first Russian regular infantry regiment of the Russian Army. The regiments of the new order, or regiments of the foreign order ("Полки нового строя" or "Полки иноземного строя", Polki novovo (inozemnovo) stroya), was the Russian term that was used to describe military units that were formed in the Tsardom of Russia and Russian Empire in the 17th century according to the Western European military standards composed of Mercenary officers and soldiers of Russian origin.[1] Some number of soldiers and officers from Jacob Shaw's Regiment later participated in the New Russian Army reform that was done in cooperation with general Alexander Leslie with Boyar Boris Morozov.

Jacob Shaw's Regiment
Active~1613-1629
Disbanded1630
AllegiancePolish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
Tsardom of Russia
TypeInfantry
RoleLine infantry
Size150-200
Garrison/HQTula, Moscow
Nickname(s)Bel’skie nemtsy/Бельские немцы
EngagementsPolish–Muscovite War (1605–18), Russo-Crimean Wars
Commanders
Current
commander		Captan William Grim
Ceremonial chiefCaptain-Rittmeister Jacob Shaw

History

Formation
Main article: Polish–Muscovite War (1605–18)

During the Polish–Russian War (1605–18) a Regiment under the command of William Grim, later under captain-Rittmeister Jacob Shaw, (both Scots) was in the service of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.[2] In August 1613 a Russian army commanded by Voevoda Dmitrii M. Cherkasskii laid siege to the Bely fortress. After putting up a stout defence for almost a month, the garrison switched sides, surrendered the fortress and took service with Russia's military force.[3][4][5][6] Voevoda Cherkasski was impressed by the garrison's skill and determination, and he reported that to Moscow.[7] The ‘Bel’skie nemtsy’, as the Russians called them, consisted of excellent, wellordered soldiers with highly competent officers, it was raised in Scotland and another company was raised in Ireland[8][9]

Campaigns
Main articles: Russo-Crimean Wars and Polish–Muscovite War (1605–18)

In 1618 at least eighteen former members of the Belaia garrison served in military forces defending Moscow against a Polish army that contained many Irish and Scottish troops. Several of the ‘Bel’skie nemtsy’ were killed or wounded in the heroic defence of the capital. At least six of them, including George Learmonth, helped decisively turn back Prince Wladyslaw's troops in intense fighting at Moscow's Arbat Gates of Bely Gorod. In that battle, Ensign George Learmonth's bravery was on display ‘for all to see’. When Lieutenant David Edwards was killed in the defence of Moscow, the Irish soldiers in his company immediately petitioned to have George Learmonth replace him. Newly promoted Lieutenant Yuri Lermont received fifteen rubles per month.

The regiment participated in several Russo-Crimean Wars against the Crimean–Nogai raids.[10][11] Since year 1626 all foreign mercenaries starts to be written under the Russian names, and after converting to Orthodox Christianity they always received certain material benefits[12] (typically lands with serfs or rubles and clothes).

After 1629 was quickly disbanded, part of soldiers moved to Sweden, part continue their service under command of Alexander Leslie of Auchintoul, later Patrick Gordon of Auchleuchries. Some of them join first Moscouvite Reiters regiment of Charles d'Ebert,[13] like major/"ожидант" Petr Clelland/Петр Клилянт.

  • Scottish captain-Rittmeister Antz Op/Анц Оп and Irish Captain Siman Biy/Симан Бий[36]

Assimilation in Russia

In late 1610, many former members of the Swedish-Russian army participated in the Polish capture of the Russian border town of Belaia and newly served Belaia garrison composed of approximately 150 soldiers organized in two cavalry companies, one Scottish and one Irish. Those companies served side by side for three years while maintaining their separate identities and strong unit cohesion. Some of the men married local women and started families. After 1616 part of them had been sent to Tula, a major southern military headquarters, where they helped defend Russia's vulnerable steppe frontier against Tatar raids.

While living in the Tula region several officers of the former Belaia garrison, including George-Yuri Leirmont, petitioned Tsar Mikhail for an increase in status and salary. They requested transfer into the ranks of the Russian gentry militia called "pomeshchiks". That would qualify each of them to receive several hundred acres of land with servs.[37] In their petition, the men stated: "We your slaves do not wish to go to our own land, because we have married here and have children, and we want to spill our blood for Thee the Sovereign."[38] After a review of their condition, the Russians dismissed twenty one of them as unfit for further duty due to old age or infirmities; those men were honourably settled near Tula at half pay. About a dozen Scottish and Irish soldiers successfully petitioned the tsar to allow them to return home.[39]

See also

Notes
  1. This article includes content derived from the Great Soviet Encyclopedia, 1969–1978, which is partially in the public domain.
  2. Phipps, G.M. "Britons in Seventeenth-Century Russia: a study in the origins of organization, 1971
  3. Belsky Chronicle, at Russian National Library, Уваровское собрание, д. 569
  4. Belsky Chronicle about The Surrender of Belaya in 1614
  5. "Как мы, холопи твои, тебе государю твою государеву отчину город Белую здали" in Сташевский Е., Смоленская война 1632–1634 гг. Организация и состояние московской армии. Киев, 1919
  6. Babulin, I.B. The New Lines Regiments in the Smolensk War, 1632—1634 //Reitar, No.22, 2005
  7. Steuart A. Francis, Scottish influences in Russian history, 1913
  8. Legislative act by boyar prince Dmitry Pozharsky to Scottish and Irish companies under command of Jacob Shaw. September 1615, Original, РГАДА. Ф. 150. Дела о выездах иностранцев в Россию. Оп. 1. 1615. № 3. Л. 18–18 об. Подлинник.
  9. Chester S.L. Dunning and David R.C. Hudson, “The Transportation of Irish Swordsmen to Sweden and Russia and plantation in Ulster (1609-1613)”, Archivium Hibernicum 66 by Catholic Historical Society of Ireland, 2013
  10. Brian L. Davies, "Warfare, State and Society on the Black Sea Steppe 1500–1700", 2007
  11. A. Fisher, Muscovy and the Black Sea Slave Trade, Canadian-American Slavic Studies
  12. http://www.hist.vsu.ru/cdh/Articles/part8/08-05table.htm Official list of landlords from regiment of William Grim and Jacob Shaw in Russian Service
  13. Reitar Regiment of Colonel Charles d'Ebert in years 7140 – 7142 (1632 – 1634)
  14. Grosjean & Murdoch, SSNE, ID 4066
  15. Grosjean & Murdoch, SSNE, ID 1656
  16. In some records with his orthodox name Vladimir "...набатчик новокрещен Володимер Франц Сеуль"
  17. Grosjean & Murdoch, SSNE, ID 1661, James Auchterlony served as a witness to the will of Alexander 11th Lord Forbes in Stockholm in 1672. It is possible that they are the same.
  18. D. Fedosov, The Caledonian Connection, Aberdeen, 1996
  19. National Archives of Scotland, GD 52/1159. Copies of Testament of Alex Lord Forbes made at Stockholm, 6 April 1672. Reprinted in A. and H. Tayler, The House of Forbes, Bruceton Mills Edition, 1987
  20. Grosjean & Murdoch, SSNE, ID 3900 It is possible that they are the same with Alexander Gordon, who was a Scottish officer in Russian service. He fought at the rank of ensign in the Smolensk War in 1632/34 along with his namesake Captain Alexander Gordon (ID 3897).
  21. Due to Vasili Storozhev Laudie was in Irish Platoon
  22. Peter-Michael Menteith was an officer in the Russian army. In 1652 he was rewarded for conversion to Orthodoxy and "suffering imprisonment with the Turks". Network North: Scottish Kin, Commercial and Covert Associations in Northern Europe, 1603-1746 (2003), p. 93
  23. Due to Vasili Storozhev Laudie was in Irish Platoon
  24. His sons were landlords in Beloozero: Анц Анцов сын Обрамов, Анц Юрьев сын Обрамов, Юрий Юрьев сын Обрамов
  25. Grosjean & Murdoch, SSNE, ID 3865
  26. He was Presbyterian of Gentry in Grosjean & Murdoch, SSNE, ID 4037
  27. Grosjean & Murdoch, SSNE, ID 4053
  28. Академия наук СССР, Отделение истории архив АН СССР. Приходно-расходные книги московских приказов 1619-1621 гг. Составитель академик С.Б. Веселовский. Издательство Наука, Москва 1983 г. РГАДА, Ф. 210. 213-239
  29. Gabriel Bredon was always mentioned as a nobleman from Ireland "Ирлянские земли шляхтич"
  30. Grosjean & Murdoch, SSNE, ID 2857
  31. Due to Chester Dunning, Donoaghie Macgermerie was one of mercenaries from Ulster who was involved in O'Doherty's rebellion and get granted pardon by Sir Arthur Chichester, his son Jacob was ancestor of Kravtsovs
  32. Grosjean & Murdoch, SSNE, ID 1660
  33. Due to Vasili Storozhev Kriush was in Scottish Platoon
  34. His son Ivan was a landlord in Vologda and he was ancestor of Artamonovs
  35. Ian O'Collins/Ян Околон in records from years 1627, 1629 and 1630 is known under name Ivan Orlov/Иван Орлов. It's discussable if Counts Orlov (the most known Grigory Orlov), which due to their genealogical tale were descended from some "Polish Germans" and originally were from Bezhetsky highlands are descendants of Ian O'Collins/Ivan Orlov which probably had some lands in the same region.
  36. Академия наук СССР, Отделение истории архив АН СССР. Приходно-расходные книги московских приказов 1619-1621 гг. Составитель академик С.Б. Веселовский. Издательство Наука, Москва 1983 г. РГАДА. Ф. 210. Столбцы Приказного стола. № 45. Л. 200. "...во 122-м году выехали з Белой на государево имя два капитана Оп да Бий."
  37. Geraldine M. Philipps, "Brittons in Seventeenth-century Russia", 311 – 312, 1971
  38. E. D. Stashevskii, Smolenskaia voina 1632–1634. Organizatsiia i sostoianie moskovskoi armii, Kiev, 1919
  39. Paul Dukes, "The First Scottish Soldiers in Russia", Edinburgh, 1992

References
  • Grosjean, Alexia; Murdoch, Steve, "ID 1661", The Scotland, Scandinavia and Northern European Database (SSNE), published online by: Saint Andrews University
  • Vasili Storozhev "Георг Андреев Лермонтов, родоначальник русской ветви Лермонтовых", Москва, 1894
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