Strelets

“Svyatogor” stone carving workshop
2015

Streltsy were soldiers using firearms who were employed for guard service and defence of the southern borders of Muscovy in the 16th century. Streltsy were in regular service. They were paid wages in cash and in kind (food). The streltsy’s troops included equestrian units, but there were far more soldiers in the infantry.

History

The streltsy troops played an important role in the military history of Russia in the 16th — 17th century. They participated in the Kazan campaign in 1552, in the Livonian war in 1558 – 1583, the annexation of Siberia, defence of Russian cities against foreign invaders in the Troubled Times, the war between Russia and Poland in 1654 – 1667, the Chigirin campaigns in 1687 and 1689, and other wars that Russia waged. In the last quarter of the 17th century, the streltsy of Moscow became a political force to be reckoned with.

In 1682, the streltsy’s uprising brought to the throne Princess Sofia Alekseyevna. The streltsy decided to repeat this move in 1698 and rebelled again. Peter the Great was outraged, and his rage was terrible — he announced a search for those involved and acted without mercy. He executed over a thousand streltsy and dismissed the streltsy troops.

The Stone

The sculpture represents a collective image of the streltsy in the second half of the 17th century. At that time, the uniform colours (the caftan, the boots, and the hat) became a sign of belonging to a certain order (unit). The caftan from ochre coloured jasper is adorned with a buckle — a flat galloon made of tiger’s eye. The winter suit, with a black sheepskin hat (made of agate) and collar (flint, jasper), matches with the base of the figure. The soldier is standing with his red jasper boots in the fresh snow, with a fresh ice crust that is carved with amazing accuracy using the natural weathering crust on the white cacholong.

Each piece of the strelets’s armament — the musket (jasper), the sabre (moss agate), and the bardiche (silver, niello) is shown in the minutest detail. The eye is drawn to the wide ribbon of the berendeika (abelt that the streltsy used for attaching small wooden boxes with powder charges) over the strelets’ left shoulder. The sabretache bag used for keeping a few items needed in the daily life is perhaps the most striking element of the costume. It is decorated with an incised pattern and applique carved from orange and blue-and-green jasper.

Johann Georg Korb
A Brief Description of the Dangerous Rebellion of the Streltsy in Muscovy in 1699

Johann Georg Korb was an Austrian diplomat, author of a diary about his trips to Russia. Shortly after graduating from the University, Korb was appointed Secretary to the Embassy sent to Moscow. In 1698 – 1699, Korb kept a diary where he described critical events and the life of the Russian court, paying close attention to the organisation of the Russian army, the proceedings of Ministries and other government agencies, the status of education, and the customs and daily life of the Russian people.

Romodanowsky commanded a strong body of troops, so asto be able, should public disorders arise, to repress thedisturbers of the public peace, and force them into the reverence due to their lawfully elected king. But how wonderful are the vicissitudes of fortune and human affairs! The flood burst in rage upon him, who rashly thought to brave and unruly inundation that menaced the quiet of a neighbouring nation. Four regiments of strelitz, which lay upon the frontier of Lithuania, had nefariously plotted to change the sovereignty. The regiments abandoned [...] the places in which they were in garrison. They drove away the loyal officers who happened to be among them, distributed military rank among themselves— the readiest for crime being held the fittest for command. But the rebels did not stop there, they menaced death to all in their neighbourhood, if they would not freely join their party or should resist their design.

[...] Because the orders [from the Tsar] were not sufficiently decisive, all Boyars wished to take counsel of events; should they hold out perseveringly and refuse to confess their fault and crave pardon, it would be then time enough to take severe measures against the flagitious mutiny. Shachin agreed to accept the power they, the Boyars, would entrust to him, but upon the condition that the decree approved unanimously should be also confirmed by their seals and signatures. Although what he required was fair, there was not one among them that did not refuse to put his hand to the resolution. It was hard to say whether this was through fear or envy: but the danger was too near to admit of delay, and the dread was lest the seditions cohorts of the strelitz should penetrate into Moscow. Nor was it without reason that they were in terror of the mixing of the rebels and the masses. It appeared more advisable to march out against them than to await an invasion so fraught with the veriest peril.