Military Career
On 1 June 1880, Dimitri Constantinovich was appointed to the suite of Alexander II and given the rank of Flugel-Adjutant. Six months later, after completing his initial infantry training, the grand duke was appointed Lieutenant in the Horse Guards Regiment. He was to serve with the Horse Guards for twelve years as a junior officer, and finally as commander. After completing a training course with the General Staff Academy in 1880, Dimitri Constantinovich was promoted to Ordinance Officer and scheduled to make his first official appearance, when he would deliver the report as an Imperial Adjutant in the Guards Sappers Cavalry Regiment. The date for his first appearance was Sunday, 1 March 1881. Two hours after the review, his uncle Alexander II, who had been present at the insistence of Alexandra Iosifovna, was assassinated.
In November 1881, Alexander III promoted Dimitri Constantinovich to the position of Adjutant in the H. I. M. Retinue. Celebrating Dimitri's majority on 26 November of that year was delayed owing the assassination of Alexander II. The ceremony took place later and coincided with the Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovich and Grand Duke Michael Mikailovich taking an oath to the Emperor. Through the 1880s, Dimitri Constantinovich served with his regiment with unceasing energy and an eye toward correcting grievances from his men. He built himself a two-storied dacha at Krasnoye Selo, equipping the property with stables and exercise yard for the horses. Here he spent the summers with his regiment; in spring and fall, he invariably invited his regimental officers to his Palace, Strelna, which he inherited on the death of his father in 1892. Mornings were spent riding through the park in which, the grand duke put his men and their horses through intricate maneuvers; after lunch, he would lead the officers on walks through the exquisite gardens.
On 6 April 1889, the grand duke was promoted to the rank of Captain and given command of the 2nd Squadron of the Horse Guards. Three years later, on 10 December 1892, he was promoted to the rank of Colonel and owing to his distinguished service, he was given command of the House Guards Grenadiers Regiment by Alexander III. Dimitri was a popular commander, and a tough and demanding officer. He took pride in his soldiers, and was greatly concerned with their welfare.
Read more about this topic: Grand Duke Dimitri Constantinovich Of Russia
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