The Caucasian Native Cavalry Division (), or "Savage Division" () was a cavalry division of the Imperial Russian Army. Formed on 23 August 1914, it was transformed into the Caucasian Native Cavalry Corps on 4 September 1917 before being dissolved several months later. It was composed mostly of Muslim volunteers from among various Peoples of the Caucasus. It took part in World War I, commanded by Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich of Russia, younger brother of Emperor Nicholas II.
The division earned the nickname "Savage" for its personnel's traditional attire and relaxed discipline. During the course of World War I it distinguished itself in numerous engagements, including the Brusilov and Kerensky Offensives. During the February Revolution, the Savage Division remained loyal to the Russian Provisional Government and refused to participate in the Kornilov affair. Dissolving soon afterwards, many of its veterans enlisted into the armed forces of the White movement and the Mountainous Republic of the Northern Caucasus.
Formation
On 1 August 1914, the German Empire declared war against the Russian Empire, marking its entry into World War I on the side of the Triple Entente. Russia had already launched mobilization a day earlier. Already on 24 July, a group of Kabardin village elders petitioned the Russian emperor, asking permission to form a Kabardin Cavalry Regiment. The Kabardin Regiment’s formation was finalized on 6 August. Starting from 9 August, other Caucasian ethnic groups began forming their own volunteer cavalry regiments. On 9 August, Adjutant general Illarion Vorontsov-Dashkov presented the Russian High Command with a plan of forming a Caucasian Native Cavalry Division, consisting of five cavalry regiments and an infantry druzhina. On 20 August, following a petition of Ingush village elders; the Russian high command approved the formation of an Ingush Regiment. On 23 August, Emperor Nicholas II ordered the formation of the Caucasian Native Cavalry Division, simultaneously appointing his younger brother Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich of Russia as its commander. The division consisted of three brigades, broken into six regiments, each of which numbered four sotnias. The 1st Brigade incorporated the 2nd Dagestan and Kabardin Regiments. The 2nd Brigade included the Chechen and Tatar Cavalry Regiments, while the 3rd Brigade consisted of the Circassian and Ingush Regiments. Ninety percent of the personnel were Muslim volunteers from the Caucasus, the rest belonged to various nationalities from across the empire; totaling over 60 different nationalities. Each regiment numbered 22–24 officers, 480–500 riders and 121–141 support personnel.
Michael Alexandrovich's appointment gave the unit an elite status and many foreigners in Russian service as well as Russian and Caucasian noblemen sought join it. Although Russian Muslims were exempted from conscription, many Caucasian ethnicities had a long martial tradition, pursuing a military career or volunteering for service during wartime. Police authorities declared an amnesty for all abreks and other native criminals, on condition of enlistment; many seized the opportunity. The division became commonly known as the Savage Division, because of the traditional attire of its personnel and its relaxed discipline, which was supplemented by the application of the "law of the mountains" honor code. Privates (riders) were allowed to address officers using the familiar version of the Russian word you (ты) as most languages in the Caucasus lacked a T–V distinction. Many recruits spoke rudimentary Russian, some only understanding basic orders, necessitating the use of translators. Recruits underwent up to 8–9 days of basic training. Unlike other divisions each regiment had its own mullah. The division’s men wore gray cherkeskas, black beshmets and gray or brown papakhas, chuviaks or boots. The color of the shoulder marks varied between each regiment, being red in the Second Dagestan and Circassian Regiments and blue in the Kabardin Regiment. Each recruit brought in his own weaponry, horse, saddles and uniform; while being issued firearms and lances. The division was issued Mosin–Nagant and Berdan rifles, which were supplemented by Belgian cavalry carbines during the course of the war. Each soldier gave a military oath adjusted to his religion. Each rider received 25 rubles per month and an enlistment bonus of 150 rubles. Starting from December 1914 each recruit's family was exempted from taxation and received a monthly allowance of 3 rubles and 40 kopeks.