Östergötlands storregemente or Landsregementet i Östergötland (Östergötland Grand Regiment, Regiment of the Land in 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

Götaland

Götaland , Gothia, Gothland, Gothenland, Gautland or Geatland is one of three lands of Sweden and comprises provinces...

 from smaller units of 500 men called fänikor, more specifically from the province of Östergötland

Östergötland

Östergötland, English exonym: East Gothland, is one of the traditional provinces of Sweden in the south of Sweden. It borders Småland, Västergötland, Närke, Södermanland, and the Baltic Sea. In older English literature, one might also encounter the Latinized version, Ostrogothia...

 and in the county of Jönköping

Jönköping County

Jönköping County is a county or län in southern Sweden. It borders the counties of Halland, Västra Götaland, Östergötland, Kalmar and Kronoberg. The capital is Jönköping.- Provinces :...

, in 1618 and counting 3,000 men (at the time, it counted 2,176 men). The grand regiment was in turn organized into three field regiments (fältregementen) and a cavalry regiment, thus actually being more like a 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...

 in spite of the name.

The regiment did not take part in any campaign during its short lifetime. The grand regiments of Sweden where reorganized during the early 1620s to consist of three field regiments, each of eight 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...

 of 150 men, thus making the total number 3,600 soldiers per grand regiment. It is unsure whether or not the cavalry regiment was included in the total number.

In 1623, the regiment was split into three smaller regiments, Östgöta infanteriregemente

Östgöta infanteriregemente

Östgöta infanteriregemente was a Swedish Army infantry regiment that traced its origins back to the 16th century. It was merged with another unit to form a new regiment in 1791...

, Jönköpings regemente

Jönköpings regemente

Jönköpings regemente , designation I 12, was a Swedish Army infantry regiment that traced its origins back to the 16th century. It was merged with another unit to form a new regiment in 1927...

and Östgöta kavalleriregemente

Östgöta kavalleriregemente

Östgöta 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...

.

Organization

Before being split, the regiment was organized as follows:

• 1:a fältregementet (1st Field Regiment)
  • 6 companies from Östergötland
  • 2 companies from Jönköping County
• 2:a fältregementet (2nd Field Regiment)
  • 8 companies from Jönköping County
• 3:e fältregementet (3rd Field Regiment)
  • 3 companies from Östergötland
  • 1 company from Jönköping County
  • 1 company from Västergötland
  • 3 companies "Vacant"
• Kavalleriregementet (Cavalry Regiment)
  • 8 companies from Östergötland

See also

• List of Swedish regiments
• List of Swedish wars
• History of Sweden
  History of Sweden
  Modern 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 Sweden
  Provinces of Sweden
  The 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....