1885: Acquisition of the collection of the former Tsarskoye Selo Arsenal

During the first half of the 19th century the royal collection of arms and armour took shape at the royal residence in Tsarskoye Selo. Much was added to it by Nicholas I, who had a passion for the history of chivalry and organised tournaments and pageants for the court. During the first half of the 19th century the initial collection, consisting largely of Western European arms and armour of the 15th to 17th centuries, was enriched with unique items by the armourers of Italy, Germany, Spain and France. There were also excellent Russian and Oriental pieces, the nucleus of the Oriental collection being made up of arms and armour captured during campaigns against Persia and Turkey, campaigns in Central Asia and the Caucasus during the first half of the 19th century.