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The Russian Emperor Military History society established in St. Petersburg
The idea to unite the Russian war historians appeared a long time ago, in the second half of XIX century. However it had not been approved on the high level. The first decisive move to the society foundation was made in March of 1907 by the general A.Z. Myshlaevsky. He invited war historians and persons interested by this issue to organizing session of the future REMHS.
On August 27 (September 9), 1907 the Regulations of the Russian military history society were established in St.-Petersburg. In the end of September the emperor Nicholas II filled the post of the honorary chairman of the society and authorized it to be named the Emperor one (REMHS). The object of the society was to study military history past of Russian people in all directions. It should research ancient Russian fortresses, ancient battle fields, publish archive material, protect and restore the monuments of war history. The sessions were held in Artillery museum (today Military History museum).
The Society was guided by Council of 12 persons who were elected by secret vote during the general meeting. The Council chairman was the general Dmitry Antonovitch Skalon. The first vice-chairman was Alexander Zakharovitch Myshlaevsky, and from 1912 the general Nikolai Petrovitch Mikhnevitch. Both of them combined this post with the position of the chief of General staff that provided formal and informal social relations.
The financing of the society’s activities was made up of annual membership fees (5 rubles for full members, 3 rubles for members-employees), private donations, publishing income and benefits from state treasury.
The Society’s periodical was the monthly ‘Magazine of Russian Emperor Military History society’. Also the society edited ‘The works of Russian Emperor Military History society’ (1909-1912) and ‘The memoires of military archeology and study of early texts’ (1911-1914).
The issues of popularization and perpetuation of Russian military glory were in the center of society’s activity. With participation of REMHS there were raised the monuments to Suvorov in Ismail and Rymnik, to Skobelev in Moscow, to Peter I in Keksholm, to Kutuzov near Shumy village (Crimea), to Barclay de Tolly in Riga.
The Society existed up to 1914. At the beginning of the First World War of 1914-1918 REMHS ceased its activity.
Lit.: Российское военно-историческое общество [Электронный ресурс]. URL: https://rvio.histrf.ru/; Кочетков А. Русское военно-историческое общество (1907-1914) // Военно-исторический журнал. 1965. № 9. С. 94-99; Русское военно-историческое общество [Электронный ресурс] // Научные общества России. 2005-2007; Успенская С. В. Императорское русское военно-историческое общество. М., 2000.
Based on the Presidential Library’s materials: