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The 46th regiment of the infantry of the line

Ten Russians, of which one a woman, re-enacting a French Napoleonic regiment. I had to find out more. So I called them up...

	Peter Hicks : Could you tell me about yourself? Nikolay Semibratov : Well, I am 31, born and bred in Moscow and I work for a computer software distribution company. But I did history at the Humanitarian University in Moscow. In fact, history's my real passion in life.

	P.H. : What took you to Napoleon? N.S. : It all started when I was six years old. Someone gave me a book on Napoleon, and that was it. I was hooked. Ever since then I have been fascinated by uniforms, battles and military history, but especially Napoleon.

	P.H. : And how did you get into re-enactments? N.S. : Well, I was friends with Alexandr. He took me to the Borodino re-enactment. Just seeing the excellent drilling and the fabulous costumes. I was bitten by the bug.

	P.H. : You're part of group which plays the 46th Regiment of the infantry of the line. Tell me about it. N.S. : Well, there are ten of us. We come from all walks of life (some work in banks - one's even a policeman) and we don't all live in Moscow. Alexandr for example lives in St Petersburg. We basically meet twice a month in the Summer for drilling practice and learning the regulations, and once in the Winter on 2 December.

	P.H. : But isn't it strange for a group of Russians to be playing a French regiment? N.S. : No, there are lots of other 'French' groups in Russia, but we are the only one which does not belong to an association. We meet them every year at the Borodino re-enactment - I've been seven times now. But it wasn't always like this, you know. Before 1991 and the fall of Communism it wasn't permitted to be anything other than a Russian regiment. Non-Russian uniforms were restricted. No-one was allowed to play any enemy, going right back to the Mediaeval period. In fact, there is a lot of negativity about France in terms of the nineteenth century. Everyone thinks of the invasion and the battle of 1812, and the works of Pushkin. But now that's changing.

	P.H. : You mentioned the costumes. Who makes the regiment's costumes? N.S. : My sister Dasha.

	Peter Hicks : Which brings us to you Dasha. Tell me how did you get involved? Dasha Semibratov : Through my brother, of course. He took me to Borodino, and I really liked it.

	P.H. : And you make the costumes? D.S. : Yes, I'm twenty-two and I'm studying costume design at the Moscow academy for light industry. I want in the end to be a professional costume designer. I make all these costumes by hand (I don't use machines). It all has to be as authentic as possible.

	P.H. : And how did you find the models? D.S. : I went to museums, I looked at books - I even got some details when we visited the Musée de l'Armée in Paris this Spring. They have to be as accurate as possible.

	P.H. : Not wishing to be sexist, but isn't rather unusual for a woman to be doing this? D.S. : No not at all. I first came because of my brother. He explained the history to me and all that. But afterwards I came for myself. I really enjoy it. Many women in Russia take part in the re-enactments. There's even a Russian Lancer regiment made up entirely of women. I would recommend re-enacting to any woman. I think they'd like it.

	Peter Hicks : And now let's turn to you Alexandr. You're responsible for all this, I believe? Alexandr I.Rjazanzev : Yes, that's right I'm the president and founder of the association.

	P.H. : Tell me about yourself. A.I.R. : I'm a thirty-three year old computer programmer from St Petersburg. Napoleonic re-enactments are my hobby. It all began when I was twelve, and now it's a large part of my life.

	P.H. : Why Napoleon, then? A.I.R. : He was one of the greatest men who ever lived. He was a tremendous general.

	P.H. : And the association? A.I.R. : Well, it's free to join. You have to provide your own uniform, and as Nikolay said, we meet mostly in the summer.

	P.H. : But is it not unusual for Russians to be so pro-French? A.I.R. : No, not at all. Napoleon was a great man. The French soldiers were the best of all time. It seems to me the obvious choice.

	P.H. : And you're coming to France next spring? A.I.R. : Yes that's right. It'll be a sort of pilgrimage. We're very much looking forward to it.

	P.H. : Well, I wish all three of you and the regiment all the very best. A.I.R. : Thank you very much.

The web site of the 46th regiment of the line is here.

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