And the The Welcome to Russian History Retold, episode 134, the Russian Imperial Army.

Last time we covered a few of the important Russian generals during the Napoleonic era and I know I promised to go over the lives of the big three of the time

D'Toli, Katuzov, and Bograchon.

But instead, I thought it prudent to go over a history of the Russian Imperial Army

before I get into them.

First, though, I'd like to thank listeners Sandra and Thomas for their generous donations to the podcast.

It is because of people like you that I can continue the journey into recounting the history of Russia.

And if anybody would like, it would be greatly appreciated if any of my other of rulers history.com and click on the paypal button. Thanks. Now let's get on to the

topic at hand. It was under Peter the Great that the Russian Imperial Army came

into being but before we get into that, let's go back even

further and discuss the state of the Russian Army prior to his reign. Russian armies, for the most part in the

early 1100s, were small bands of men loyal to a local prince or Knyaz.

This was the time of Kieven Russe and the military was modeled after the Viking raiders of Rurik. But this was not unusual for the time.

Now the big change, as we know, came in two waves, 1237 and 1240, with the invasion of the Mongols.

Interesting, and this is a... and found that the frozen lakes and rivers were preferable for their cavalry to the marshy grounds of the spring and summer. Now the Mongols gave the Russians two choices.

Surrender and give service to their new masters or die.

Some did choose the farmer, but many the latter,

and those that selected surrender, though,

were taught in the way of the horde.

The Mongols were masters of the horse, which is why the Russian

cavalry became world-renowned.

The open order cavalry attack that the Russians used for over 700 years was known as the lava, which comes

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