The 85th (Wilhelm II's) Vyborg Infantry Regiment (85-й Выборгский пехотный полк or 85-y Vyborgskiy Pekhotnyy Polk) was an infantry regiment of the Russian Imperial Army. The regiment was one of the older regiments of the army, being originally formed before the Great Northern War.
History[]
1700[]
In 1700, Ivan Kulom's Regiment was formed in Novgorod and participated in the Battle of Narva and the next year was reorganised as a mercenary regiment. By 1710, the regiment's greandier company was split from the regiment and helped to form the new 2nd Grenadier Regiment. and in 1712 the company was expanded back to a regiment and named the Vyborg Infantry Regiment. In 1714, it served garrison service in Kexholm where they gained their bond with the 2nd Grenadier Regiment. By 1727 the regiment was renamed as the 2nd Kaluga Infantry Regiment but just a few months later was renamed as the Vyborg Infantry Regiment yet again.
In 1756 the grenadier company was again separated from the regiment to help form the 3rd Grenadier Regiment. By 1762 the regiment was renamed to General-Leutnant Palmenbaha's Infantry Regiment but just three months later was renamed as the Vyborg Infantry Regiment (yet again). In 1762 the regiment lost the title of "infantry" and was given the "musketeer" title. From 1798-1801 the regiment took the name of the general which it was attached.
1800[]
By 1801 the practice of name of generals in the regimental name ended and, you guessed it, it was renamed as the Vyborg Infantry Regiment. In 1802 while stationed in the Greek city of Corfu, the grenadier company was separated to form the new Kura Musketeers Regiment. By 1811 the regiment dropped the musketeer title and became an infantry regiment again.
In 1835 the regiment was spit into the 9th and 12th Finnish Infantry Battalions and by 1856 were expanded to the 15th, 16th, 21st, and 22nd Battalions. Finally in 1856 the battalions were merged into the 7th and 10th Companies, and by 1863 the regiment was reformed. In 1865 the regiment was given the bumber of 85, becoming the 85th Vyborg Infantry Regiment. By 1888 the regiment was renamed as the 85th (His Imperial Royal Majesty, the Emperor of the German Prussian King Wilhelm II's) Vyborg Infantry Regiment.
1900[]
Just before mobilisation, the regiment was assigned to the 1st Brigade of the 22nd Infantry Division and controlled 4 battalions. The battalion was in Novgorod upon the deceleration of war. Upon mobilisation, a cadre was formed and helped to form the 265th Vyshnevolotsky Infantry Regiment of the Replacement force. It is unknown when the regiment was disbanded, but it definitely didn't last through the Russian Revolution.