THE STRELTSY: Russia's First Standing Forces 1500 to 1705

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The Russian streltsy, created by Ivan the Terrible, were Russia's first permanent standing infantry with firearms. Examines their history, outfits, flags, and weaponry as well as showcases both flat and 3D miniatures of the streltsy in wargaming. Includes 50 pages of color plates and illustrations.

Soldiers served for life and were nicknamed as 'stirrup' troops because they were usually always near the tsar's own stirrups. Often wielding both a musket and a poleaxe, they often fought behind a 'walking city' of wooden frames against forces such as the Tartars. However, their staunch believe in rejecting western ideology caused them to alienate themselves from Peter the Great. They slaughtered his mother's family and dubbed him the Anti-Christ, ultimately leading to a failed rebellion and their complete dissolution from the Russian Army by 1720.