Nalobnik Grenadier caps of the artillery battalion of the Holstein troops

Nalobnik unique rare in perfect condition. From old domestic collection.

Emperor Peter III, born Karl Peter Ulrich was the son of the daughter of Peter the Great's princes Anna Petrovna and the Duke of Schleswig-Holstein, Karl Friedrich, and therefore from birth and wore the same Ducal title as his father. The last hoped that Russia will help to return him to Denmark occupied Schleswig, and that was the reason for his Pro-Russian orientation. In 1739, Carl Friedrich died, and his son Karl Peter Ulrich became the nominal head of a small state and commander in chief of the small Holstein army. Does not prevent this and that from 1742 Prince lived in St. Petersburg and was raised as the heir to the Russian throne. The title of the Duke of Holstein Peter III was retained to the end of life. It is considered that, having become heir, he brought to Russia a small detachment of troops golshtinsky become a kind of personal guard. It is possible that the reason for this decision were the realities of the era of Palace coups in Russia. Anyway, the Holstein troops were stationed in the vicinity of St. Petersburg (in particular, in Oranienbaum, where the so-called "small court" of the heir). Any accurate data about the composition and population of the Holstein troops to 1756 is not available. As of 1756, they consisted of three musketeer regiments (Zege von Manteuffel, the Duchess, Prince William), Grenadier battalion, an Artillery battalion of Borg, two regiments of cavalry (Leib-Dragoon regiment and the Leib-cuirassier), as well as Wheelchair housing. Thus, in the composition of Holstein troops were part of all combat weapons – the infantry (Musketeers and grenadiers), light and heavy cavalry and artillery; part, as it was taken in the Prussian army, were called by the names of chiefs. Wheelchair housing intended for the social security of military servants who have become unfit for service by age, disease or injury. Unfortunately, the States of these parts have not survived, we only know that they were in fact much weaker than the same of Russians.

Over time, the number of Holstein increased, and the number of parts is increased. In 1758 with the construction of the fortress in Oranienbaum formed the garrison of the Fortress in 1760 – the hussars. In 1761 Holstein's troops consisted of four musketeer regiments, two Grenadier battalions of the garrison regiments, an artillery battalion, two Dragoon, three cuirassier and two hussar regiments. After the reign of Peter III of Holstein's role in the state became exceptional. According to the ideas of the new Emperor, they had to reform "to the Prussian way" Russian army. Exactly the same tactics used after three decades Paul I, by allocating regiments of soldiers and officers "of his" Gatchina troops. In practice, however, the Holstein quickly began to abuse power, which caused dissatisfaction of Russian officers and the common people, many have contributed to the success of a Palace coup in July 1762, In a very short time after the end of the Holstein units were disbanded, and the use of assigned uniforms discontinued.

Unlike the Russian army, Holstein troops wore uniforms of blue, by the cut and decoration of the almost completely repeats the Prussian. Difference artillery battalion was a Grenadier caps, which consisted of a circular framework made of six pieces of leather covered with colored cloth and decorated with metal embossed nalobnik. At the lower ranks nalobnik was tinned copper, and for officers – silver. The image on the nalobnik was a complex composition, meaning the center of which were two-headed eagle, crowned with three Imperial crowns. Below the eagle in a crowned medallion, topped with palm branches, placed the monogram "R" on the sides of the medallion with the monogram depicted "trophies" with cannon barrels. On the edge of the nalobnik decorated border with alternating images of a blazing grenade and four-pointed diamond stars. This nalobnik fully fits the above description. It is made of thick brass sheet by stamping and subsequent work on small parts using a manual embossing and engraving, which is especially noticeable if you compare the image on the obverse with sunk relief. Unfortunately, in the process of existence of the object has been damaged (broken off two corners and natrecor the center), but all the missing details have been preserved. The joints and cracks in the process of restoration ironed fusible solder, which helped to keep the silver coating. The idea of rarity nalobnik you can make based on the fact that the number of officers in an artillery battalion could be no more than 15 to 20 people even with the ranking in the lists. Unique piece in good condition, requiring restoration.

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