«To accept the recruits suitable, healthy and prepossessing, in stated age of summer and the measure.» (recruiting system in Russia of the 18th century in anthropological aspect)

The regular army created by Peter I, the cornerstone of which completing was the recruiting system left behind not only laurels of victories, but also served their time veterans and crippled young soldiers. The government tried to take care of them, placing them in almshouses and on livelihood to monasteries. On the basis of 400 official testimonies of retired soldiers of 1762 revealed in funds of Office of Synod economic board of RGADA the author seeks to present a social and individual portrait of retired recruits. Sources contain data on origin, age and the place of levy, duration of military service, participation in military operations, wounds and awards, marital status and presence of male children. In combination with the regulations defining requirements of the power to set the recruit it allows to see functioning of recruiting system in the XVIII century through a prism of human measurement. In practice it has turned out that the age only of a half investigated recruits (225 persons, or 56,7%) met the standard from 15 to 30 years established by the law. There were such who has come to army after 30 years - 171 persons or 43,1%. And more than half of them (89 pers., 52%) had the age exceeded the top limits for 11 and more years. And quite peculiar veterans aged from 51 up to 64 years and also the juvenile at 10-year age have been found among recruits. The author sees an explanation for this phenomenon in yearning of peasant and trading quarter communities as much as possible to reduce negative consequences of the recruitment which was systematically withdrawing the most able-bodied persons from local society. As a result quite often among the recruits found themselves persons who not only by age and height did not conform to the established requirements, but also were not capable to service at all. As the same security measure served also sending to army of unmarried persons that is confirmed by their high share among recruits. The power by its decrees determined also minimum height ("measure") of the recruit as indicator of his ability to service. Throughout century there was a decrease in the height qualification, as a result height of recruits remained above the minimum decree measure. On the basis of official testimonies of the retired the sketches of diseases, the nature of the wounds and mutilations sustained by them both during various military fights and as a result of conditions of service are given. As a result becomes obvious that the recruitment, being in the 18th century a termless compulsory military service of the taxed population, took away all forces and health of the recruit. Release from service at the most favorable deal happened only "because of old age and decrepitude". For many retired the loss of working capacity in combination with absence of any livelihood, justified orientation of the state system of social charity at that time mainly on retired soldiers.

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