Imperial Russian Army - Cossacks

Cossacks

See article: Cossacks

In the Russian Empire, the Cossacks were organized into several voiskos (hosts), named after the regions of their dislocation, which lived along the Russian border, or internal borders between Russian and non-Russian peoples. Each host had its own leadership and regalia as well as uniforms and ranks. However, by the late 19th century the latter were standardized following the example of the Imperial Russian Army. Each host was required to provide so many military regiments for service in the Imperial Russian Army and for border patrol. While most Cossacks served as cavalry, there were infantry and artillery units in several of the hosts. Three regiments of Cossacks formed part of the Imperial Guard, as well as the Konvoi—the tsar's mounted escort. The Imperial Guard regiments wore tailored Government-issue uniforms of a spectacular and colourful appearance. As an example, the Konvoi wore scarlet cherkesskas, white beshmets and red crowns on their fleece hats.