Jacob Shaw's Regiment facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jacob Shaw's Regiment
Active	≈1613-1629
Allegiance	Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth Tsardom of Russia
Type	Infantry
Role	Line infantry
Size	150-200
Garrison/HQ	Tula, Moscow
Nickname(s)	Bel’skie nemtsy/Бельские немцы
Engagements	Polish–Muscovite War (1605–18), Russo-Crimean Wars
Disbanded	1630
Commanders
Current commander	Captan William Grim
Ceremonial chief	Captain-Rittmeister Jacob Shaw

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. 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.

History

Formation

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. 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. Voevoda Cherkasski was impressed by the garrison's skill and determination, and he reported that to Moscow. The Bel'skie nemtsy, as the Russians called them, consisted of excellent, well-ordered soldiers with highly competent officers, it was raised in Scotland and another company was raised in Ireland

Campaigns

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. 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 (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, like major/"ожидант" Petr Clelland/Петр Клилянт.

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

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. 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." 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.

See also

• Thirty Years' War
• Scottish Russians