The Preobrazhensky Regiment (Russian: Преображенский полк), was one of the oldest and elite regiments of the Russian army. Along with the Semenovsky regiment, Preobrazhensky Regiment also served as a gendarmerie unit for the state Secret Chancellery (secret police) in the 18th century, headed by the Prince Fyodor Romodanovsky.
It was formed by Peter the Great in the late 17th century from his poteshnye voiska (потешные войска, 'droll forces') during his military games in the village of Preobrazhenskoye (now, a locality in Moscow). The Preobrazhensky regiment distinguished itself during the Great Northern War of 1700–1721, the Patriotic War of 1812, and the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878. The regiment was disbanded by its last commander, Colonel Alexander Kutepov (later a general) in December 1917. The body-guard of Catherine the Great, as well as the main supporter of her bloodless coup against her husband Peter III, this regiment was declared the highest in order of military precedence from 14 July 1762.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, membership was reserved to young Russian aristocrats and was considered a proof of loyalty to the government and Tsar. Among its membership was the Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky.
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—Desiderius Erasmus (c. 1466–1536)