Plate from the officers ' Life Guards Pavlovsky regiment

23 Nov 1796, when Emperor Paul I, the Russian army had a regiment with a truly unique destiny – Pavlovskiy Grenadier. The name he was named Pavlovskoye village, now known as the city of Pavlovsk. As headgear, the regiment was assigned to the so-called Grenadier cap, a sample of which was borrowed from Prussia – to the frame of praties and whalebone, with the sides and back of colored cloth and most importantly, with stamped brass nalobnik. The grenadiers called these hats "sugar heads". In 1802, changed the sample plaques (it appeared a large image of the eagle and ribbon with the inscription "God With us"), but the overall design of the headdress remains the same. Very soon, during the wars with France in the 1800s, the regiment showed itself from the best side, showing the miracles of bravery. Especially notable was the Pavlovians in the battle of Friedland June 2, 1807, where, after losing a battle covered the General retreat of the Russian army. The grenadiers they were under heavy fire of the French batteries. Twice wounded chief of the regiment major-General of MAZ, not having the strength to stay in the saddle, ordered the two grenadiers to carry him ahead of the regiment. According to legend, he skazal soldiers, "Friends! The enemy is enhanced, die or win!" and led the regiment into battle, where he was wounded a third time – fatally.

To commemorate this event, the decree of 20 January 1808 the Emperor Alexander I ordered "the regiment now consisting of the cap to leave forever in the form in which he descended from the battle, atleast some of them were damaged. Be Onet a perpetual monument of his excellent courage". November 13, 1809, was ordered to viceconti riddled caps (those in the regiment were kept 532) the names "of those of the lower ranks, who carried them with him from the field of battle... to preserve forever the memory is still honoured warriors." Since then the Grenadier caps the hallmarks of the Pavlovsky regiment. They were immortalized by A. S. Pushkin in the introduction to "the bronze horseman", where he mentioned "the Glow of these copper caps, shot through in battle." For the exploits during the war of 1812 and foreign campaigns of the Russian army Pavlovsky regiment received the right Guard. Upon returning to Russia, the regiment was given a total for the whole Guard headgear is the shako. Return to shelf unique hats, reminiscent of the glorious past, helped the case. According to legend, Emperor Alexander I, was passing the Winter Palace, asked standing on the clock Pavlovsky regiment of the Grenadier Leonty tropina "Which do not work with the new shako hats?". "Yes, Your Majesty, not work" — he answered, — "Yes, only in old caps the enemy we knew and feared, and to a new form will have to teach him." The answer of well done so pleased the Emperor that he immediately ordered the regiment to return to his old hats. L. Tropin received the intelligence non-commissioned officer rank, 100 rubles of reward and the right to be the first to greet the Emperor upon his appearance before the troops. Since then the Grenadier cap remains ceremonial headdress of the Life guards Pavlovsky regiment until the end of the old army. Interestingly, even in the early twentieth century in the regiment used several hundred caps, I found the campaign of 1807, on which was embossed the names of the heroes who wore them.

Sample grenaderka over a hundred years has not changed, only under Alexander II over nalobnik began to strengthen St. Andrew's star – the symbol of the Russian guard – Yes, after the Russo-Turkish war of 1877-1878, it added the badge part. Pavlovians were very proud of their unique headdress, in the chest of each soldier was definitely the postcard depicting the king in full regimental uniform and not necessarily in grenaderka. It is not surprising that the image of the Grenadier caps decorated utensils used in the regimental officers ' meeting, and any explanatory labels were not required. Despite the fact that the regiment, like all regiments of the Guard, had a large number of dishes for all possible cases, items of regimental service has been preserved. In contrast to virtually all copies, extant, the plate is in perfect condition, which makes it unique.