The Scots in Russian history played key roles, served in the Russian army and reformed it.
Start
The history of Russian-Scottish relations is long, but at the same time, scientists still cannot reliably establish exactly when it began. It is known, for example, that already in 1495, Peter Davidson, the ambassador of the Danish king Christian I, arrived in Moscow. He came to Russia on a ship with "copper … and four excellent craftsmen from Scotland who have experience in casting such half-hoses and whole hoses." That is, the first Scottish guest workers were in Russia in the 15th century.
In Russia, already in the 16th century, the Scots were not perceived as something unusual, as some kind of "overseas miracle." Scotland quite successfully served as mercenaries in the Russian army. In the 18th century, the Scotsman Ogilvy, the favorite of Peter I, will achieve inconceivable heights in the Russian military career - he will rise to the rank of lieutenant general-field marshal, will be the commander-in-chief of the Russian army and even try to reform it. It was Ogilvy who made the first staffing table of the Russian army.
Jimmy against the Tatars
In the 16th century, Russia disputed disputed territories with Sweden, and there was a war. Thus, the first Scots in the Russian army were the Scots from among the prisoners. Jerome Horsey wrote in his Russian notes that he personally ensured that the captured Scots were transferred to Moscow, and also convinced the tsar that the Scots were not the same as the enemies of Russia Livonians, Poles and Swedes. According to Gorsey's definition, the Scots of that time were "a nation of itinerant adventurers, mercenaries for military service, ready to serve any Christian sovereign for their maintenance and salary." The king listened to Horsey. Since that time, the Scots have become their own in the Russian army.
Promotional video:
The first officially established Scotsman in the Russian service can be considered Jimmy Linget. It is known about him that even in the 16th century he headed a detachment of Scottish mercenaries in the service of the Russian Tsar.
According to Horsey, the Scottish detachment fought "more successfully than the twelve thousand Russians with their short bows and arrows." It was all about the Scots firearms. "The Crimean Tatars, who did not know guns and pistols before, were scared to death by the shooting cavalry, which they had not seen before, and shouted."
The king, of course, was pleased with such efficiency, so he showed mercy to the Scots - he began to grant the Scots lands on which they could live and start families. I must say that not many Scots left back. Jimmy Linget also stayed in Russia.
Lermont
Let's not forget that one of the Russian classics, Mikhail Lermontov, had Scottish roots. His ancestor, Georg Lermont, arrived in Russia from Lithuania at the beginning of the 17th century. In Moscow, Georg became Yuri Andreevich. The Russian tsar greeted the guest as it should be: he presented him with a couple of villages, signed up for the service. It was this Georg Lermontov who became the pioneer of the Russian branch of the Lermontovs.
It is also interesting that the Russian poet Lermontov is also a blood relative of George Gordon Byron, since back in the 16th century the blood of the Gordons and Lermonts united. Hence our poet has his fatalism and penchant for romanticism. And the most distant Scottish ancestor of Lermontov was, by the way, also a poet - Thomas Lermont. He was called a seer, he dared to predict the death of the king himself, and was not mistaken in the forecast, for which he received the nickname "Honest". According to legend, when it was time for Thomas to die, two white deer came for him and took him to the kingdom of fairies, but he said that he would return to earth and again be a poet.
In Scotland, a group is still working, making a genetic map of all Lermont's descendants. Scientists are faced with one problem: the Russian Lekrmontovs are not willing to make contact.
What about Leslie?
The Scottish military was convenient for the Russian army because, as a rule, they had good connections in other countries. During a war, it was often more productive to hire several thousand mercenaries than to arrange full mobilization in a country living on peasant labor. Who will feed the people?
In the first third of the 17th century, a certain Alexander Leslie, a senior colonel, is the son of a famous Scottish military leader, in the Russian army. His voyage for the army, for 5000 "hunting soldiers and foot soldiers" ended in success. He signed agreements with German and British colonels for the delivery of 5,000 mercenaries to Russia. At the same time, one of the four regiments was recruited from some English and Scots.
In the years 1631-1632. this regiment takes part in the siege of Smolensk and in the capture of Dorogobuzh. In 1654, with the rank of general, Alexander Leslie took part in the capture of Smolensk and the siege of Riga.
Mysterious Bruce
One of the most famous and mysterious Russian Scots is Jacob Bruce. He was one of the closest associates of Peter I, Field Marshal (1726). Participated in the Crimean (1687, 1689) and Azov (1695, 1696) campaigns of Peter I, for the command of the Russian artillery in the Battle of Poltava in 1709 was awarded the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called. Participated in the foundation of St. Petersburg on May 16, 1703. Signed by the Nystadt Peace Treaty.
In 1721 Bruce received the title of Count of the Russian Empire. On August 30, 1725, he was awarded the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky.
In 1706, the Moscow Civil Printing House was transferred to Bruce's jurisdiction. Its most famous publication was the reference and astrological "Bruce calendar" (1709-1715).
Bruce was one of the most educated people in Russia, a naturalist and astronomer, and owned the largest library (about 1500 volumes), almost exclusively of scientific, technical and reference content. He did not study anywhere and achieved everything by self-education.
Bruce's contribution is difficult to overestimate. He compiled the Russian-Dutch and Dutch-Russian dictionaries, the first Russian textbook on geometry, "Map of the Lands from Moscow to Asia Minor." In 1702 he opened the first observatory in Russia at the Navigation School (he was its director) in the Sukharev Tower. Popular rumor attributed to Bruce the glory of a warlock and sorcerer.
Barclay
Barclay de Tolly was also descended from the old Scottish family. The first time he distinguished himself during the assault on Ochakov, when he saved the wounded Prince of Anhalt from death. The prince will not forget his adjutant and will promote Mikhail in the service. On April 19, 1790, at the Battle of Kernikoski, the prince will be mortally wounded and die in the arms of Barclay.
Before his death, Anhalt will give Mikhail Bogdanovich his sword, which he will order to put in the coffin with him twenty-eight years later, although he will have swords with diamonds and golden hilt.
The Patriotic War of 1812 became the brightest page in the military biography of M. B. Barclay de Tolly. Knowing the strategy of the Emperor Napoleon - to defeat the enemy in a general battle on the border and force him to peace - Barclay begins a retreat to unite the scattered Russian forces and prevent the French marshals from smashing them piece by piece. His actions were heavily criticized by the generals, and the nobility began to demand his resignation. As a result, the emperor appoints Kutuzov as commander-in-chief. The idea of leaving Moscow was also first expressed by Barclay, but even then his words were not heard.
