Osprey Men-at-Arms 427 : Armies of Ivan the Terrible : Russian Troops 1505-1700

It is generally assumed that the military reforms which propelled Russia into the modern world were due solely to the genius of Peter the Great. In fact, his reforms were built upon changes that had taken place during the previous 200 years by Ivan IV the Terrible. Developing since the creation in 1550 of Russia's first full-time military force; the Streltsi. This account traces Russia's armies from that beginning, through the creation of paid regular regiments from 1630, up to the reign of Peter the Great. It is illustrated with rare early drawings, photos of surviving artefacts, and dazzling colour reconstructions of exotic military costumes. Text by David Nicolle and Viacheslav Shpakovsky with illustrations by Angus McBride.

Contents

• Introduction : Russia in the 16th and 17th Centuries
• Chronology
• 16th Century Eastern Expansion
• Noble Cavalry
• Artillery
• New Threats and Horizons in the Late 16th Century : The 'Time of Troubles'
• 17th Century Armies
• Arms Production
• Fortifications
• The Navy
• Army of the Principality of Great Lithuania