FW238 Honouring The Icon

When Nicholas Romanov became Tsar of All The Russias in 1894 he inherited a vast but trouble Empire. It stretched from European Russia all the way across the Ural Mountains and into the plains and forests of Siberia and finally on to the Pacific coast port city of Vladivostok.

Its population in the early part of the 20th Century numbered over 175 million and included many different ethnicities... Russians, Tartars, Cossacks, Mongols and Chechens were just a few of the major groups.

Two of the most important symbols that held this huge country together were the Monarchy, in the shape of the Tsar and the Army which brought together all the different races and religions to serve and follow the Tsar through war and peace.

Following the defeat of its forces in the Russo Japanese War of 1905 Russia belatedly began modernising and rearming its soldiers. Some Russian military traditions however still remained... especially in its uniforms.

Although ‘khaki’ had been adopted for many everyday duties throughout the year the more conservative elements in the military hierarchy (and Nicholas himself) enjoyed seeing his troops parade in their summer white tunics and caps… and even on maneuvers.

This second version of our earlier Imperial Russian Infantry are wearing the strikingly white traditional Russian Summer tunics and caps. Weapons and uniforms are typical of the period 1900-1914.

Kneeling before the Tsar, cap in hand, this soldier is actually paying homage to the religious icon the Tsar is holding. Most of the Russian Imperial Army belonged to the Russian Orthodox Church and icons (religious paintings of the Holy Family and saints) were frequently displayed to the troops during parades and before going into battle.

Scale 1:30 / 60mm