The Russian
Imperial Guard, officially known as the
Leib Guard (
leyb-gvardiya, from
German Leib "Body"; cf. Life Guards / Bodyguard) were military units serving as personal
guards of the
Emperor of Russia.
Peter the Great founded the first such units following the
Prussian practice in the 1690s, to replace the politically motivated
Streltsy. The Imperial Guard subsequently increased in size and diversity to become an
elite corps of all branches within the Imperial Army rather than Household troops in direct attendance on the Tsar. Numerous links were however maintained with the Imperial family and the bulk of the regiments of the Imperial Guard were stationed in and around Saint Petersburg in peacetime.