Russian Caucasus Forces (before 1865)

Before the creation of the Caucasus Military District in 1865, Russian forces in the Caucasus were organized, at different times, in a number of formations under various names.

In 1777, the Russian troops located at Kizlyar and along the entire borderline of the Terek River were formed into a body subordinate to the governor of Astrakhan. Into this corps were subsumed the Karbadian and Gorski jaeger battalions from the garrison of Kizlyar, and one battalion of the garrison of the town of Mozdok.

In 1779, this body was strengthened with the arrival at Astrakhan of the Selege, Tomsk, and Ladoga infantry regiments.

In the autumn of 1782, this body, having been further strengthened in the meantime, was named the Novolineyny Corps, and then soon renamed the Caucasus Corps. By then, the Corps consisted of 22 infantry battalions, 20 squadrons of dragoons, and four batteries of artillery (30 guns).

In early 1796, the Tsarina Catherine II, having decided to declare war on Persia, ordered that the Corps be strengthened with the addition of four infantry regiments, 3 legkokonnymi regiments, and one Cossack regiment.

The troops chosen to participate in the Persian Expedition of 1796 were organized into the Caspian Corps under Count Zubov. This Corps consisted of six battalions of grenadiers, twelve battalions of musketeers, seven jaeger battalions, and 45 squadrons of cavalry. After the death of Catherine, her successor Paul I halted military operations against Persia and withdrew all the troops stationed on the Caspian and in Georgia back into Russia.

In November 1796, an Imperial Order established a reorganization of all regiments. The troops were formed into 12 divisions, and soon renamed the Inspectorate. Troops stationed in the Caucasus became the Tenth Caucasian Division. The Caspian Corps was disbanded and its troops reassigned to organizations which had been withdrawn into the internal provinces of Russia.

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Wikipedia