Having been raised, together with the Semenovsky Regiment, by Peter the Great in 1683, the PREOBRAZHENSKY LIFE GUARD REGIMENT was the oldest regiment of the Imperial Russian Army and the senior regiment of FOOT GUARDS. - The march was adopted around 1709. It also served throughout the Imperial Russian Army as an Imperial and General Salute inspection march till 1917. After a hiatus of around 90 years it has made a glorious comeback in the ceremonial of the post-soviet Russian Army! - In 1964, on the occasion of the Tercentinary of the ROYAL MARINES, Admiral of the Fleet Lord Louis Mountbatten presented this march to the CORPS to be forthwith played as their REGIMENTAL SLOW MARCH. Mountbattens family, the Battenbergs, had close historic links with the Romanovs, Prince Alexander of Battenberg, a nephew of the Empress of Russia, had served in the Russian Army, before he became the first King of Bulgaria.
Posted on: Sat, 15 Nov 2014 20:15:41 +0000