The Life Grenadier Regiment ( sv, Livgrenadjärregementet), designations I 4 and I 4/Fo 41, was a
Swedish Army
The Swedish Army ( sv, svenska armén) is the land force of the Swedish Armed Forces.
History
Svea Life Guards dates back to the year 1521, when the men of Dalarna chose 16 young able men as body guards for the insurgent nobleman Gustav ...
infantry
Infantry is a military specialization which engages in ground combat on foot. Infantry generally consists of light infantry, mountain infantry, motorized infantry & mechanized infantry, airborne infantry, air assault infantry, and mar ...
regiment
A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, service and/or a specialisation.
In Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of front-line soldiers, recruited or conscript ...
that traced its origins back to the 16th century. It was disbanded in 1997. The regiment's soldiers were originally recruited from the provinces of
Östergötland
Östergötland (; English exonym: East Gothland) is one of the traditional provinces of Sweden (''landskap'' in Swedish) in the south of Sweden. It borders Småland, Västergötland, Närke, Södermanland and the Baltic Sea. In older English ...
, and it was later garrisoned there.
History
The regiment has its origins in
fänikor (companies) raised in the 16th century, these units formed
Östergötland Infantry Regiment and
Östergötland Cavalry Regiment which merged in 1791 and formed the Life Grenadier Regiment. It consisted of two semi-independent units, ''Livgrenadjärregementets rotehållsdivision'' and ''Livgrenadjärregementets rusthållsdivision'' originating from the two merged infantry and cavalry regiments.
The regiment was split in two in 1816, forming
1st Life Grenadier Regiment and
2nd Life Grenadier Regiment. These two units were later merged and reformed the Life Grenadier Regiment in 1928, and the regiment was given the designation I 4 (4th Infantry Regiment). In 1973, the regiment gained the new designation I 4/Fo 41 as a consequence of a merge with the local defence district Fo 41. The Life Grenadier Regiment was garrisoned in Linköping and was disbanded in 1997.
Campaigns
Organisation
Heraldry and traditions
Colours, standards and guidons
Its last colour was presented to the regiment in Linköping by His Majesty the King
Gustaf VI Adolf on 25 September 1964. It was used as regimental colour by I 4/Fo 41 until 1 January 1998. The colour is drawn by Brita Grep and embroidered by hand in insertion technique by the company Libraria.
Blazon
In heraldry and heraldic vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem, from which the reader can reconstruct the appropriate image. The verb ''to blazon'' means to create such a description. The ...
: "On white cloth in the centre the
Royal Swedish coat of arms as to the law without mantle. Below the cross of the
Order of the Seraphim
The Royal Order of the Seraphim ( sv, Kungliga Serafimerorden; ''Seraphim'' being a category of angels) is a Swedish order of chivalry created by King Frederick I on 23 February 1748, together with the Order of the Sword and the Order of the P ...
, an erect white sword. In each corner a blazing grenade - white in the first and fourth corner (a legacy from the former
Royal First Life Grenadier Regiment, I 4) and red in the second and third corner (a legacy from the former
Royal Second Life Grenadier Regiment, I 5). Battle honours (
Varberg
Varberg () is a locality and the seat of Varberg Municipality, Halland County, Sweden, with 35,782 inhabitants in 2019.
Varberg and all of Halland are well known for their "typical west coast" sandy beaches. In Varberg the coast changes from ...
1565,
Breitenfeld 1631,
Lützen 1632,
Wittstock 1636,
Leipzig
Leipzig ( , ; Upper Saxon: ) is the most populous city in the German state of Saxony. Leipzig's population of 605,407 inhabitants (1.1 million in the larger urban zone) as of 2021 places the city as Germany's eighth most populous, as ...
1642,
Warszawa
Warsaw ( pl, Warszawa, ), officially the Capital City of Warsaw,, abbreviation: ''m.st. Warszawa'' is the capital and largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the River Vistula in east-central Poland, and its population is officiall ...
1656,
Fredriksodde
Fredericia () is a town located in Fredericia Municipality in the southeastern part of the Jutland peninsula in Denmark. The city is part of the Triangle Region, which includes the neighbouring cities of Kolding and Vejle. It was founded in 1 ...
1657,
Tåget över Bält 1658,
Lund
Lund (, , ) is a city in the southern Swedish province of Scania, across the Öresund strait from Copenhagen. The town had 91,940 inhabitants out of a municipal total of 121,510 . It is the seat of Lund Municipality, Scania County. The Öre ...
1676,
Rügen
Rügen (; la, Rugia, ) is Germany's largest island. It is located off the Pomeranian coast in the Baltic Sea and belongs to the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
The "gateway" to Rügen island is the Hanseatic city of Stralsund, where ...
1678,
Kliszow 1702,
Warszawa
Warsaw ( pl, Warszawa, ), officially the Capital City of Warsaw,, abbreviation: ''m.st. Warszawa'' is the capital and largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the River Vistula in east-central Poland, and its population is officiall ...
1705,
Holovczyn 1708,
Malatitze 1708,
Rajovka (1708,
Helsingborg
Helsingborg (, , , ) is a city and the seat of Helsingborg Municipality, Scania (Skåne), Sweden. It is the second-largest city in Scania (after Malmö) and ninth-largest in Sweden, with a population of 113,816 (2020). Helsingborg is the cent ...
1710,
Gadebusch
Gadebusch () is a town in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in the district of Nordwestmecklenburg. Halfway between Lübeck, Schwerin and Wismar, it is part of the Hamburg Metropolitan Region.
The town is known for two notable monuments: the ''Stadt ...
1712,
Valkeala 1790,
Svensksund 1790) in yellow horizontally placed around the coat of arms."
File:AM.002227.jpg, 1932 regimental colour
Coat of arms
The coat of the arms of the Life Grenadier Regiment (I 4/Fo 41) 1977–1994, the Life Grenadier Brigade (''Livgrenadjärbrigaden'', IB 4) and the Life Grenadier Group (''Livgrenadjärgruppen'') since 1997.
Blazon
In heraldry and heraldic vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem, from which the reader can reconstruct the appropriate image. The verb ''to blazon'' means to create such a description. The ...
: "Azure, the lesser
coat of arms of Sweden
The coat of arms of the Kingdom of Sweden ( sv, Sveriges riksvapen) has a greater and a lesser version.
Regulated usage
The usage of the coats of arms is regulated by Swedish Law, Swedish Code of Statutes, Act]1970:498 which states (in unoffi ...
, three open crowns or placed two and one. The shield surmounted two muskets in saltire argent followed on both sides by blazing grenades, dexter argent and sinister gules". The coat of the arms of the Life Grenadier Regiment (I 4/Fo 41) 1994–1997. Blazon: "Azure, the lesser coat of arms of Sweden, three open crowns or placed two and one. The shield surmounted two muskets in saltire argent followed on both sides by blazing grenades, dexter
argent and sinister gules."
File:Livgrenadjärregementet vapen.svg, Coat of arms of the Life Grenadier Regiment (I 4/Fo 41) 1977–1994, the Life Grenadier Brigade (''Livgrenadjärbrigaden'', IB 4) and the Life Grenadier Group (''Livgrenadjärgruppen'') 1997–present.
File:Livgrenadjärregementet vapen, post 1994.svg, Coat of the arms of the Life Grenadier Regiment (I 4/Fo 41) 1994–1997.
Medals
In 1996, the ''Livgrenadjärregementets (I 4) minnesmedalj'' ("Life Grenadier Regiment (I 4) Commemorative Medal") in silver (LivgregSMM) of the 8th size was established. The
Service ribbon, medal ribbon is divided in white and red
moiré.
File:AM.088352.jpg, Life Grenadier Regiment (I 4) Commemorative Medal
File:AM.085239.jpg, Life Grenadier Regiment Medal of Merit in silver
Heritage
Since 1 January 1998, the Life Grenadier Group (''Livgrenadjärgruppen'') has inherited the colours and traditions of the regiment. From 1 July 2013, the traditions of the regiment are continued by the 30th Life Grenadier Battalion and the 31st Life Grenadier Battalion, included in the Life Grenadier Group.
Commanding officers
Executive officer
An executive officer is a person who is principally responsible for leading all or part of an organization, although the exact nature of the role varies depending on the organization. In many militaries and police forces, an executive officer, o ...
s (''Sekundchefer'') and regimental commanders from 1792 to 1816 and 1928 to 1997. ''Sekundchef'' was a title used until 31 December 1974 in the regiments that were included in the King's Life and Household Troops (''Kungl. Maj:ts Liv- och Hustrupper''). From 1791 to 1809 the Crown Prince was regimental commander. From 1818 to 1974 His Majesty the King was regimental commander. From 1975 to 1997, the monarch was honorary commander of the regiment. From 1975 the regimental commander was also
Defence District Commander, and held the rank of
Senior Colonel.
Executive officers
*1928–1933: Patrik Ludvig Teodor Falkman
*1933–1937: Georg Alfred Edvard Ahlström
*1937–1939: Carl Bennedich
*1939–1943: Rutger R:son Gyllenram
*1943–1952: Karl Einar Harald Appelbom
*1951–1957: Per Axel Holger Stenholm
*1957–1963: Pieter Fürst
*1963–1971: Sven Widegren
*1971–1974: Ingvar Selander
*1974–1975: Lennart Tollerz
Regimental commanders
*1928–1950:
Gustaf V
Gustaf V (Oscar Gustaf Adolf; 16 June 1858 – 29 October 1950) was King of Sweden from 8 December 1907 until his death in 1950. He was the eldest son of King Oscar II of Sweden and Sophia of Nassau, a half-sister of Adolphe, Grand Duke of Luxe ...
*1950–1973:
Gustaf VI Adolf
*1973–1974:
Carl XVI Gustaf
Carl XVI Gustaf (Carl Gustaf Folke Hubertus; born 30 April 1946) is King of Sweden. He ascended the throne on the death of his grandfather, Gustaf VI Adolf, on 15 September 1973.
He is the youngest child and only son of Prince Gustaf Adolf, D ...
*1975–1979: Lennart Bredberg
*1979–1982: Senior colonel Sven Torfgård
*1982–1987: Per-Arne Ringh
*1987–1991: Lars-Eric Widman
*1991–1995: Torbjörn Tillman
*1995–1997: Gunnar Ridderstad
Deputy regimental commanders
*1978–1981: Colonel Holger Bjärnlid
Names, designations and locations
See also
*
List of Swedish infantry regiments
This is a list of Swedish infantry regiments.
Original regiments
The original thirteen (fourteen) Swedish county regiments of Foot:
* '' Dalregementet'' (Dalarna Regiment)
* '' Hälsinge regemente'' (Hälsingland Regiment)
* '' Jönköpings r ...
Footnotes
References
Notes
Print
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Further reading
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Grenadier regiments of Sweden
Military units and formations established in 1928
Military units and formations disestablished in 1997
Disbanded units and formations of Sweden
1928 establishments in Sweden
1997 disestablishments in Sweden
Linköping Garrison