Jacob Shaw's Regiment (Russian: Бельские немцы Яковлевы роты Ша) was a Russianregularinfantryregiment 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 BoyarBoris Morozov.
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, well-ordered soldiers with highly competent officers, it was raised in Scotland and another company was raised in Ireland[8][9]
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.
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 serfs.[33] 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."[34]
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.[35]
^"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
^Babulin, I.B. The New Lines Regiments in the Smolensk War, 1632—1634 //Reitar, No.22, 2005
^Steuart A. Francis, Scottish influences in Russian history, 1913
^Legislative actArchived 2 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine by boyar princeDmitry 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.
^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
^D. Fedosov, The Caledonian Connection, Aberdeen, 1996
^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
^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).
^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
^Gabriel Bredon was always mentioned as a nobleman from Ireland "Ирлянские земли шляхтич"
^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.
^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."
^Geraldine M. Philipps, "Brittons in Seventeenth-century Russia", 311 – 312, 1971
^E. D. Stashevskii, Smolenskaia voina 1632–1634. Organizatsiia i sostoianie moskovskoi armii, Kiev, 1919
^Paul Dukes, "The First Scottish Soldiers in Russia", Edinburgh, 1992
Grosjean, Alexia; Murdoch, Steve, "ID 1661", The Scotland, Scandinavia and Northern European Database (SSNE), published online by: Saint Andrews University
Vasili Storozhev [ru] "Георг Андреев Лермонтов, родоначальник русской ветви Лермонтовых", Москва, 1894
