“To all people wear a German dress and ride German saddles”: Russian rider during Peter the Great's reforms

This article examines the evolution of the Russian rider's material culture initiated by the reforms of Peter I. The decree of 1701, when it was prohibited to use Russian clothes and Russian saddles, is taken as a starting point. We research the evolution of the European cavalry uniform and horse tack by the military administrative documents. We revealed the frontier stages of this process. It was in 1711-1712 and 1720 when the uniform regulations secured the changes by law. The reforms result reflected in the “Table of Ranks” in 1722. The military uniform and the horse tack became a symbol of the high status in the Russian empire.