History of the badge.
Nicholas Cavalry School was founded in St. Petersburg in 1823 as the School of the Guard sergeants. In 1826, at the school was formed squadron of Junker Guards of guard cavalry, it was called the School of Guard sergeants and Junker Cavalry. From 1859, due to the abolition of the rank of sergeants, the school was named a Nicholas School of Junker Guards. In 1864 it was transformed into Nicholas Cavalry School with a contingent of Junkers of 200 people and, in memory of its founder, Emperor Nicholas I, it received the Emperor’s monogram on the shoulder straps.
Building Nicholas Cavalry School was located in Lermontov Avenue in St. Petersburg.
Secondary school classes of Guard cadets were turned into houses for young people arriving at the same school. Creation of the Nicholas Cavalry School provided addition of cavalry units, whereas before the officers, arriving to the cavalry school, were recruited from graduates of infantry school and those who did not have any formal education.
Training at School was similar to infantry school course, but it also included special items: hippology and horse and combat engineer technique.
Statute of the badge
This Imperial Russian award was issued to the graduates of the Nicholas Cavalry School, primarily to those who had honors for studies.
Description of the badge
This Imperial Russian award was approved on 10.15.1913.
It is a silver oxidized Nicholas eagle under a crown of gold, there is Andrew Silver Star on its chest. This part of the badge resembles the connection of the corps with Nicholas Cavalry School. Under the eagle there is a shield of red enamel with a gold monogram of Emperor Nicholas I. Above the shield there is a Waistband of Cadet Corps (stripes: red-black-red). On the circle in the center of the eagle there is an inscription: «For Faith and Loyalty». The badge was attached on clothing with the help of the bolt on the reverse side. Approximate length of this Imperial Russian award is 4 cm.