The word "guard" literally translated from Italian or English means "guard", "guard". In a broader sense, these are select, privileged military units designed to perform a particularly difficult or honorable task.
The prototype of the guard in ancient times could serve, for example, the famous "Sacred Detachment" of Sparta - the personal bodyguards of the Spartan kings. One of these detachments, led by King Leonidas, immortalized himself in the heroic battle at Thermopylae (480 BC). By the way, in this battle the Spartans had a chance to come together with another guards detachment. In ancient Rome, the Praetorian corps could be considered a kind of guard, which in peacetime guarded the emperor and his family members, and in wartime - performed the most difficult tasks.
During the Middle Ages, the main duty of the guard in many states was to protect the ruling dynasty. Although, of course, the guards took part in the hostilities. A characteristic feature of the Guards in comparison with other military units were: a privileged position, better uniforms and weapons, higher pay, etc.
The first guards units in Russia emerged during the time of Peter I, when the former “amusing” regiments of the tsar - Preobrazhensky and Semyonovsky - were awarded the status of “Life Guards” for their courage and perseverance in battles with the Swedish army of Charles XII. That is, literally translated from the German language "court guard" or "palace guard". Subsequently, the number of guards units increased markedly. The Guards played an important role in Russian history, since it was their forces that carried out all the palace coups in the 18th century after the death of Peter I. Emperor Paul I in March 1801 was also killed by the rebellious guards. And most of the Decembrists who came out to Senate Square were from the guards units.
But, of course, in addition to court battles, the Russian guard became famous on the battlefields. For example, a Guards Division took part in the famous Borodino battle as part of the 5th Infantry Corps. The Life Guards Jaeger Regiment heroically fought for the village of Borodino, having lost most of its strength, the Izmailovsky and Lithuanian regiments withstood three attacks by heavy French cavalry at Bagration's flashes, Semenovsky and Preobrazhensky fought at the Raevsky battery, and Finlandsky - on the Old Smolensk road.
After the October Revolution, the guard was abolished, and in the Great Patriotic War, after bloody battles near the city of Yelnya, it was born again. The four rifle divisions, the most distinguished, were reorganized into guards. In the course of the war, this honorary title was earned by many units and formations.
