Streltsy

The streltsy (Russian: стрельцы, lit. 'shooters/firearm troops', IPA: [strʲɪlʲˈt͡sɨ]; sing. стрелец, strelets, IPA: [strʲɪˈlʲet͡s]) were the units of Russian firearm infantry from the 16th century to the early 18th century and also a social stratum, from which personnel for streltsy troops were traditionally recruited. They are also collectively known as streletskoye voysko (стрелецкое войско, 'firearm troops'). These infantry troops reinforced feudal levy horsemen or pomestnoye voysko (поместное войско). The first units were established by Ivan the Terrible as part of the first Russian standing army. The streltsy were under the administration of the Streletsky prikaz from 1571. Peter the Great curtailed the influence of the streltsy, and following the streltsy uprising of 1698, streltsy units began to be disbanded. However, it was not until the 1720s that this process was completed.