New issue

Issues of 2008

275th anniversary of the first cadet corps

A subject exhibition titled ╚The First Cadet Corps╩ was launched at the Menshikov Palace in St. Petersburg on September 4. The important display is dedicated to the 275th anniversary of the foundation of the famous Russian military institutions. The Menshikov Palace, which is one of the first stone building in the Northern capital in Russia housed the Imperial Cadet Corps from 1732√1918.

Cadet's uniform of the First Cadet Corps. 1852. Woolen cloth, silk, copper, gilding [zoom (64k)]

The Russian Imperial Cadet Corps was inaugurated by the edict of Empress Anna Ioannovna on July 29, 1731. The word cadet has come from French language meaning ╚younger╩. A cadet is a future officer in the military. The term is often used by uniformed services. The term may also refer to a person who is junior in some way. The word is recorded in English since 1610, originally for a young son, identical to the French, which is itself derived from Gascon (French Basque dialect of Gascony in southwest France) capdet ╚captain, chief╩, in turn from the Late Latin capitellum, the diminitutive of Latin caput ╚head╩ (hence also chief). Younger sons from Gascon families apparently were commonly sent to the French court to serve as officers; as a rule non-heirs from the European nobility sought careers in the military or the clergy. Cadet Corps was an admissions based military middle school for young boys from noble families. Soon cadet Corps became widespread throughout the vast Russian Empire. The term of education was seven years. All instructors had a military rank, and taught a wide range of subjects, including a full program of military preparation. A graduate from the corps became a junker and had prime candidacy for a military career.The first director of the Russian Cadet Corps was field-marshal and president of the council of war Count Burkhard Christoph von Munnich (1683√1767). Due to Munnich▓s activities at the Corps, in the XVIIIth century the institution was called ╚The Knight Academy╩. The Cadet corps became one of the major cultural centers and places of interest the Russian capital. In March 1732, 308 young men entered the Corps; later, on application of Count Munnich the number of students reached 360. Through 1730s√1740s among the students of the Cadet Corps were future writers and poets A.M. Sumarokov (1717√1777) and M.M. Kheraskov (1733√1807). A Cadet Theater was also founded at the Corps. The educational system at the Corps was reorganized according to the ideas of the Enlighteners during the reign of Catherine II. The regulations of the Corps were created by renowned political figure of the age I.I. Betskoi. F.A. Anghalt contributed a lot to educating of cadets.

During the reign of Emperor Pavel I the director of the Corps was M.I. Golenishchev-Kutuzov, who paid much attention to warfare schooling. On June 25, 1831, on the eve of 100th anniversary of the institution, Emperor Nicolas I became the patron of the Cadet Corps.

Cadet flintlock gun. Early XIXth century. Russia. Steel, wood, brass [zoom (17k)]

In 1863 the Corps was reorganized into the First St. Petersburg Military School, and through 1854√1887 it was located in another building, but on the initiative of Emperor Alexander III the institution returned to the Menshikov Palace. Restoration works were held in the building through 1888√1896. After the February Revolution the Corps was reorganized into the 1st Petrograd Military School. During the October Revolution cadets and junkers overwhelmingly supported the White movement. Consequently, the Bolshevik government dissolved all cadet corps. In March 1918 the Petrograd Corps was closed.

Exhibition ╚The First Cadet Corps╩ was launched by the State Hermitage Musuem under the auspices of the Museum of Military History, the State Museum of History of St. Petersburg, the State Museum-Reserve ╚Tsarskoe Selo╩ and others. The display features about 200 showpieces: arts and crafts, badges and medal, uniforms and arms, manuscripts, rare documents and photographs illustrating the long history of the Corps.