STRELETS -(pl. Streltsi), Russian, sharp shooter, the life-guards of the Russian tsars until the reign of Peter the Great. They were instituted by Ivan the Terrible in the latter half of the 16th century as a national guard; for 200 years they rendered valuable service to the empire. They amounted sometimes to 40,000 highly-trained men. Their numerous privileges and their frequent insurrections made them as formidable as the Roman prxtorians or the Turkish janissaries. On the death of Tsaf Feodor in 1682, the double family of Alexis, his father, struggled to seize the crown. The Streltsi joined in the revolt of the people of Moscow caused by false rumors that the young tsarevitch Ivan (half-brother of Peter), had been strangled. Followed by an immense crowd, 20,000 Streltsi marched to the Kremlin, dragging cannon behind them. When the dowager tsaritsa appeared with the two princes the revolt was almost ended. A violent harangue against the rioters by Prince Mikhael Dolgoruki inflamed the Streltsi, who flung him from the top of the red staircase upon their pikes. They sacked the palace, murdering all who fell into their hands. 'the violent re forms of Peter the Great met with strong op position from the Streltsi, who likewise suffered hardships and privations while campaigning in distant and inhospitable regions. Thousands
deserted from the ranks while Peter was abroad in 1697; others revolted, deposed their officers and marched against Moscow. They were stopped on the banks of the Istra by Generals Gordon and Schein with regular troops. The Streltsi presented a • tition setting forth their grievances, when 40 I I were arrested. Peter hastened home from Vienna, determined to crush the turbulent troops. Hundreds of the Streltsi underwent terrible tortures; 230 were taken in carts to the Red Place in Moscow on 1 Oct. 1698, followed by their wives and chil dren. In seven days a thousand Streltsi were executed. Peter obliged his nobles to assist at the wholesale slaughter, and it is said that on the last day the tsar himself chopped off the heads of 84 Streltsi. The removal of the corpses was forbidden; •for five months the Muscovites had before their eyes the spectacle of the dead bodies hanging from the battle ments of the Kremlin and the other ramparts." The Streltsi as a distinct organization ceased to exist. Some 20,000 of the survivors were distributed among the regular army.