List of Swedish regiments
Encyclopedia
This is a list of Swedish
regiment
s and other military units (divisions
, brigade
s, battalion
s, companies
) that have existed since the 16th century. Most formations have changed names several times during their existence. Listed here are commonly used names.
Regiments were the highest organized organic units in the Swedish Army
from the time of Gustavus Adolphus
on to the Second World War. In 1949, the Swedish Army was reorganised, with the regiments being used as training units for conscripts during peacetime. The new main fighting unit was the brigade, only organised in wartime (with a few exceptions). The division (fördelning) is not a static organization, but can have brigades assigned and removed when needed, similar to other countries' corps
formations.
For a short background of the Swedish conscription system historically used, see the article on the Swedish allotment system
.
of 1634. As time went on, new regiments were raised by conscription, created by splitting old regiments or enlisting soldiers from various dominions of Sweden
. There were also times when temporary regiments were raised; these regiments were called männingsregementen.
The original three Finnish provincial cavalry regiments:
Later raised Swedish cavalry regiments:
Later raised Finnish cavalry regiments:
Later raised German cavalry regiments:
Later raised Baltic cavalry regiments:
Other later raised cavalry regiments:
Later raised Swedish temporary cavalry regiments:
Later raised Finnish temporary cavalry regiments:
Later raised Baltic temporary cavalry regiments:
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
s and other military units (divisions
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
, brigade
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
s, battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
s, companies
Company (military unit)
A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 80–225 soldiers and usually commanded by a Captain, Major or Commandant. Most companies are formed of three to five platoons although the exact number may vary by country, unit type, and structure...
) that have existed since the 16th century. Most formations have changed names several times during their existence. Listed here are commonly used names.
Regiments were the highest organized organic units in the Swedish Army
Swedish Army
The Swedish Army is one of the oldest standing armies in the world and a branch of the Swedish Armed Forces; it is in charge of land operations. General Sverker Göranson is the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Army.- Organization :...
from the time of Gustavus Adolphus
Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden
Gustav II Adolf has been widely known in English by his Latinized name Gustavus Adolphus Magnus and variously in historical writings also as Gustavus, or Gustavus the Great, or Gustav Adolph the Great,...
on to the Second World War. In 1949, the Swedish Army was reorganised, with the regiments being used as training units for conscripts during peacetime. The new main fighting unit was the brigade, only organised in wartime (with a few exceptions). The division (fördelning) is not a static organization, but can have brigades assigned and removed when needed, similar to other countries' corps
Corps
A corps is either a large formation, or an administrative grouping of troops within an armed force with a common function such as Artillery or Signals representing an arm of service...
formations.
For a short background of the Swedish conscription system historically used, see the article on the Swedish allotment system
Swedish allotment system
The allotment system was a system used in Sweden for keeping a trained army at all times. This system came into use in around 1640, and was replaced in the early 1900s by the Swedish Armed Forces conscription system...
.
Grand regiments
Storregementen or landsregementen (regiments of the land), these regiments were organized by Gustavus Adolphus in the end of the 1610s from the smaller units fänika and fana raised in the various parts of Sweden during the time of Gustav Vasa:- Norrlands storregementeNorrlands storregementeNorrlands storregemente or Landsregementet i Norrland was one of the nine grand regiments organized by Gustavus Adolphus in the late 1610s and split into smaller regiments in the 1620s....
(Norrland Grand Regiment) - Upplands storregementeUpplands storregementeUpplands storregemente or Landsregementet i Uppland was one of the nine grand regiments organized by Gustavus Adolphus in the late 1610s and split into smaller regiments in the 1620s....
(Uppland Grand Regiment) - Södermanlands storregementeSödermanlands storregementeSödermanlands storregemente or Landsregementet i Södermanland was one of the nine grand regiments organized by Gustavus Adolphus in the late 1610s and split into smaller regiments in the 1620s.- History :Raised in Svealand from smaller units of 500 men called fänikor, more specifically from the...
(Södermanland Grand Regiment) - Östergötlands storregementeÖstergötlands storregementeÖstergötlands storregemente or Landsregementet i Östergötland was one of the nine grand regiments organized by Gustavus Adolphus in the late 1610s and split into smaller regiments in the 1620s.- History :Raised in Götaland from smaller units of 500 men called fänikor, more specifically from the...
(Östergötland Grand Regiment) - Västergötlands storregementeVästergötlands storregementeVästergötlands storregemente or Landsregementet i Västergötland was one of the nine grand regiments organized by Gustavus Adolphus in the late 1610s and split into smaller regiments in the 1620s.- History :Raised in Götaland from smaller units of 500 men called fänikor, more specifically from the...
(Västergötland Grand Regiment) - Smålands storregementeSmålands storregementeSmålands storregemente or Landsregementet i Småland was one of the nine grand regiments organized by Gustavus Adolphus in the late 1610s and split into smaller regiments in the 1620s....
(Småland Grand Regiment) - Finlands storregemente (Österbotten Grand Regiment)
- Karelska storregementet (Karelian Grand Regiment)
- Västra Finlands storregemente (Western Finland Grand Regiment)
- Mellersta Finlands storregemente (Middle Finland Grand Regiment)
- Östra Finlands storregementet (Eastern Finland Grand Regiment)
Infantry and cavalry regiments
The original provincial regiments (landskapsregementen) were raised by splitting the old grand regiments, forming 20 infantry (actually 21 as Smålands regemente was split into Kronobergs and Jönköpings regemente) and eight cavalry regiments as written in the Swedish constitutionConstitution
A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is...
of 1634. As time went on, new regiments were raised by conscription, created by splitting old regiments or enlisting soldiers from various dominions of Sweden
Dominions of Sweden
The Dominions of Sweden or Svenska besittningar were territories that historically came under control of the Swedish Crown, but never became fully integrated with Sweden. This generally meant that they were ruled by Governors-General under the Swedish monarch, but within certain limits retained...
. There were also times when temporary regiments were raised; these regiments were called männingsregementen.
Cavalry
The original five Swedish provincial cavalry regiments:- Svenska adelsfanan (Swedish Banner of Nobles)
- Livregementet till häst (Horse Life Regiment)
- Smålands kavalleriregemente (Småland Cavalry Regiment)
- Östgöta kavalleriregementeÖstgöta kavalleriregementeÖstgöta kavalleriregemente was a Swedish Army cavalry regiment that traced its origins back to the 16th century. It was merged with another unit to form a new regiment in 1791. The regiment's soldiers were recruited from the province of Östergötland.- History :The regiment has its origins in...
(Östergötland Cavalry Regiment) - Västgöta kavalleriregementeVästgöta kavalleriregementeVästgöta kavalleriregemente was a Swedish Army cavalry regiment that traced its origins back to the 16th century. It was reorganized into an infantry regiment in 1811. The regiment's soldiers were recruited from the province of Västergötland.- History :The regiment has its origins in fänikor ...
(Västergötland Cavalry Regiment)
The original three Finnish provincial cavalry regiments:
- Åbo och Björneborgs läns kavalleriregemente (Åbo and Björneborg Country Cavalry Regiment)
- Nylands och Tavastehus läns kavalleriregementeNylands och Tavastehus läns kavalleriregementeNyland and Tavastehus County cavalry regiment was a Swedish Army cavalry regiment located in the county of Nyland and Tavastehus that traced its origins back to the 17th Century. It was split in 1791.- History :...
(Nyland and Tavastehus County Cavalry Regiment) - Viborgs och Nyslotts läns kavalleriregemente (Viborg and Nyslott County Cavalry Regiment)
Later raised Swedish cavalry regiments:
- Bohusläns regementeBohusläns regementeBohusläns regemente , designation I 17, was a Swedish Army infantry regiment that traces its origins back 1661. It was disbanded in 1992. The regiment's soldiers were originally recruited from the provinces of Bohuslän, and it was later garrisoned there in the town Uddevalla....
(Bohuslän Regiment) - Enspännarkompaniet (Carriage Company)
- Görtz dragonregemente (Görtz' Dragoon Regiment)
- Kronprinsens husarregementeKronprinsens husarregementeKronprinsens husarregemente , also K 7, was a Swedish Army cavalry regiment located in the province of Skåne that traced its origins back to the 18th century. It was disbanded in 1927.- History :...
(Crown Prince's Hussar Regiment) - Livgardet till häst (Horse Life Guards)
- Livdragonregementet (Life Dragoon Regiment)
- Livregementets husarer (Life Regiment's Hussars)
- Meijerfelts dragonregemente (Meijerfelt's Dragoon Regiment)
- Norrlands dragonregementeNorrlands dragonregementeNorrlands dragonregemente , also K 4 or K 8, was a Swedish Army cavalry regiment located in the province of Lappland that traces its origins back to the 17th century. It is still in active service.- History :...
(Norrland Dragoon Regiment) - Skånska dragonregementet (Scanian Dragoon Regiment)
- Skånska husarregementetSkånska husarregementetSkånska husarregementet, K 5 or Scanian Hussar Regiment, Was a Swedish cavalry unit in the swedish armed forces which served in various forms between 1658 and 1927.- See also :* Swedish Armed Forces* Swedish Army* List of Swedish regiments...
(Scanian Hussar Regiment) - Skånska kavalleriregementet (Scanian Cavalry Regiment)
- Stenbocks dragonregemente (Stenbock's Dragoon Regiment)
Later raised Finnish cavalry regiments:
- Finska adelsfanan (Finnish Banner of Nobles)
- Karelska lantdragonskvadronen (Karelian County Dragoon Squadron)
Later raised German cavalry regiments:
- Bremen-verdiska adelsfanan (Bremen-Verdian Banner of Nobles)
- Bremiska kavalleriregementet (Bremian Cavalry Regiment)
- Bremiska dragonregementet (Bremian Dragoon Regiment)
- Dragonregementet i Wismar (Dragoon Regiment in Wismar)
- Pommerska adelsfanan (Pomeranian Banner of Nobles)
- Pommerska dragonregementet (Pomeranian Dragoon Regiment)
- Pommerska kavalleriregementet (Pomeranian Cavalry Regiment)
- Preussiska dragonregementet (Prussian Dragoon Regiment)
- Schlesiska dragonregementet (Silesian Dragoon Regiment)
- Schwerins dragonregemente (Schwerin's Dragoon Regiment)
- Tyska dragonregementet (German Dragoon Regiment)
- Verdiska dragonregementet (Verdian Dragoon Regiment)
- Vietinghoffs dragonregemente (Vietinghoff's Dragoon Regiment)
Later raised Baltic cavalry regiments:
- Estländska lantdragonskvadronen (Estonian County Dragoon Squadron)
- Estniska adelsfanan (Estonian Banner of Nobles)
- Estniska kavalleriregementet (Estonian Cavalry Regiment)
- Ingermanländska dragonregementet (Ingrian Dragoon Regiment)
- Laurentzens fridragoner (Laurentzen's Free Dragoons)
- Lewenhaupts frikompani (Lewenhaupt's Free Company)
- Livländska adelsfanan (Livonian Banner of Nobles)
- Livländsk dragonskvadron I (Livonian Dragoon Squadron I)
- Livländsk dragonskvadron II (Livonian Dragoon Squadron II)
- Livländskt dragonregemente I (Livonian Dragoon Regiment I)
- Livländskt dragonregemente II (Livonian Dragoon Regiment II)
- Öselska lantdragonskvadronen (Öselian County Dragoon Squadron)
Other later raised cavalry regiments:
- Benderska dragonregementet (Benderian Dragoon Regiment)
- Franska dragonregementet (French Dragoon Regiment)
- Polska regementet till häst (Polish Horse Regiment)
- Smiegelskis polska dragonkår (Smiegelski's Polish Dragoon Corps)
Later raised Swedish temporary cavalry regiments:
- Gotlands ståndsdragonkompani (Gotland Rank Dragoon Company)
- Skånska ståndsdragoner (Scanian Rank Dragoons)
- Skånska tremänningsregementet till häst (Scanian Third Man Horse Regiment)
- Upplands femmänningsregemente till häst (Uppland Fifth Man Horse Regiment)
- Upplands ståndsdragoner (Uppland Rank Dragoons)
- Upplands tremänningsregemente till häst (Uppland Third Man Horse Regiment)
- Västgöta ståndsdragoner (Västergötland Rank Dragoons)
- Västgöta tremänningsregemente till häst (Västergötland Third Man Horse Regiment)
Later raised Finnish temporary cavalry regiments:
- Finska ståndsdragonbataljonen (Finnish Rank Dragoon Battalion)
- Åbo, Nylands och Viborgs läns tremänningsregemente till häst (Åbo, Nyland and Viborg County Third Man Horse Regiment)
- Österbottens ståndsdragonkompani (Österbotten Rank Dragoon Company)
Later raised Baltic temporary cavalry regiments:
- Estniska ståndsdragonbataljonen (Estonian Rank Dragoon Battalion)
- Ingermanländska ståndsdragoner (Ingrian Rank Dragoons)
- Livländska ståndsdragonbataljonen (Livonian Rank Dragoon Battalion)
- Öselska ståndsdragonbataljonen (Ösel Rank Dragoon Battalion)
See also
- Swedish Armed ForcesSwedish Armed ForcesThe Swedish Armed Forces is a Swedish Government Agency responsible for the operation of the armed forces of the Realm. The primary task of the agency is to train, organize and to deploy military forces, domestically and abroad, while maintaining the long-term ability to defend the Realm in the...
- List of Swedish military areas
- List of Swedish defence areas
- List of Swedish wars
- History of SwedenHistory of SwedenModern Sweden started out of the Kalmar Union formed in 1397 and by the unification of the country by King Gustav Vasa in the 16th century. In the 17th century Sweden expanded its territories to form the Swedish empire. Most of these conquered territories had to be given up during the 18th century...
- Provinces of SwedenProvinces of SwedenThe provinces of Sweden, landskap, are historical, geographical and cultural regions. Sweden has 25 provinces and they have no administrative function, but remain historical legacies and the means of cultural identification....