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Life Guards of Horse (, K 1) was a
Swedish Army The Swedish Army () is the army, land force of the Swedish Armed Forces of the Kingdom of Sweden. Beginning with its service in 1521, the Swedish Army has been active for more than 500 years. History Svea Life Guards dates back to the year 1 ...
cavalry regiment, first raised in 1770. It saw service for two centuries, before being amalgamated with the Life Regiment Dragoons (K 2) to form the Life Regiment of Horse (K 1) in 1928.


History

The regiment was raised on 20 February 1770 by
Jacob Magnus Sprengtporten Baron Jacob Magnus Sprengtporten (10 November 1727 – 2 April 1786) was a Swedish-Finnish army officer and politician, and half-brother of Georg Magnus Sprengtporten. He is most famous as one of the leaders of the Revolution of 1772, the ''co ...
as the Finnish Light Dragoon Corps (''Finska lätta dragonkåren''). The unit was set up as a regular dragoon corps in Nyland County,
Finland Finland, officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It borders Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of Bothnia to the west and the Gulf of Finland to the south, ...
as a reinforcement of the border guard along the Kymmene River. The corps then consisted of 150 men and was based in Borgå. In 1773 the corps was increased to 250 men (5 squadrons), and was given the name Life Guards of Horse (''Livgardet till häst'') and was based partly in
Stockholm Stockholm (; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, most populous city of Sweden, as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in the Nordic countries. Approximately ...
, partly in Borgå, Finland. In 1777, it was based in Stockholm,
Södertälje Södertälje ( , ) is a Urban areas in Sweden, city in Stockholm County, Sweden and seat of Södertälje Municipality. It is also a part of Stockholm urban area, Greater Stockholm Metropolitan Area. As of 2020, it has 73,872 inhabitants. Södertà ...
,
Enköping Enköping is a locality and the seat of Enköping Municipality, Uppsala County, Sweden with 30,000 inhabitants in 2018. Geography Enköping is situated near Lake Mälaren, about 78 km west of Stockholm. A comparably large number of S ...
and
Sigtuna Sigtuna is a Urban areas in Sweden, locality situated in the eponymous Sigtuna Municipality, in Stockholm County, Sweden with 9,689 inhabitants in 2020. It is the namesake even though the seat of the municipality is in another locality, Märsta. S ...
. From 1811, the unit was only based in Stockholm. After changing its name several times, in 1806 it got its present name. Its strength increased in 1815 to 375 men and in 1831 to 400 and in 1844 it was organized in 4 squadrons. In 1885, its staff comprised 23 officers, 13 civilian soldiers, 29 non-commissioned officers and trumpeters with the rank of non-commissioned officer, as well as 400 men with 384 number horses. From 1847 to 1888, the Life Guards of Horse together with
Svea Life Guards The Svea Life Guards (), also I 1, was a Swedish Army infantry regiment that was active in various forms 1521–2000. The unit was based in the Stockholm Garrison in Stockholm and belonged to the King's Life and Household Troops (''Kungl. Maj: ...
and the 2nd Life Guard, constituted the Life Guards Brigade (''Livgardesbrigaden''). A fifth squadron, taken from the Crown Prince's Hussar Regiment (K 7) was added to the regiment in September 1897. In 1928, the Life Guards of Horse was amalgamated with the Life Regiment Dragoons (K 2) and formed the Life Regiment of Horse (K 1).


Barracks and training areas

On 7 April 1811, the regiment was transferred to a newly erected barracks area at Storgatan 35-49 (Kvarteret Krubban) in
Östermalm Östermalm (; "Eastern city-borough") is a 2.56 km2 large district in central Stockholm, Sweden. With 71,802 inhabitants, it is one of Sweden's most populous and exclusive districts. It is an extremely expensive area, having the highest ho ...
. The regiment thus became the first in Sweden to be placed in barracks. On 25 September 1897, the regiment moved to a newly erected barracks area (Life Guards Cavalry Barracks) on Lidingövägen, which was then called Sturevägen, designed by architect Erik Josephson.


Uniforms


Dragoon uniforms


Miscellaneous

From the 17th century, dragoons had mainly been
mounted infantry Mounted infantry were infantry who rode horses instead of marching. Unlike cavalry, mounted infantry dismounted to fight on foot. The original dragoons were essentially mounted infantry. According to the ''Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Editio ...
. From the middle of the 18th century this changed and around 1800 the cavalry was divided into heavy cavalry (
cuirassier A cuirassier ( ; ; ) was a cavalryman equipped with a cuirass, sword, and pistols. Cuirassiers first appeared in mid-to-late 16th century Europe as a result of armoured cavalry, such as man-at-arms, men-at-arms and demi-lancers discarding their ...
s and
dragoon Dragoons were originally a class of mounted infantry, who used horses for mobility, but dismounted to fight on foot. From the early 17th century onward, dragoons were increasingly also employed as conventional cavalry and trained for combat wi ...
s) and light cavalry (
hussar A hussar, ; ; ; ; . was a member of a class of light cavalry, originally from the Kingdom of Hungary during the 15th and 16th centuries. The title and distinctive dress of these horsemen were subsequently widely adopted by light cavalry ...
s and
lancer A lancer was a type of cavalryman who fought with a lance. Lances were used for mounted warfare in Assyria as early as and subsequently by India, Egypt, China, Persia, Greece, and Rome. The weapon was widely used throughout Eurasia during the M ...
s). In Sweden only one dragoon unit remained after the Carolean era - the Bohuslän Dragoons. Not until 1772 was the next unit raised, the Light Dragoons of the Life Guards. The number was increased by another three regiments over a 30-year period. The uniform of these units were not homogeneous during the period and some of the units were soon reorganized into hussar regiments. The Bohuslän Dragoon Regiment became in 1776 a light dragoon regiment and reorganized in 1791 to infantry. During that time they kept, as the only unit in the
Swedish Army The Swedish Army () is the army, land force of the Swedish Armed Forces of the Kingdom of Sweden. Beginning with its service in 1521, the Swedish Army has been active for more than 500 years. History Svea Life Guards dates back to the year 1 ...
, green on their uniforms. The Västgöta Cavalry Regiment became dragoons in 1792 but even this regiment was transferred to the infantry in 1811. All dragoon units had from 1772 yellow
breeches Breeches ( ) are an article of clothing covering the body from the waist down, with separate coverings for each leg, usually stopping just below the knee, though in some cases reaching to the ankles. Formerly a standard item of Western men's ...
of yellow wash leather, dark blue or grey
greatcoat A greatcoat (also watchcoat) is a large, woollen overcoat designed for warmth and protection against wind and weather, and features a collar that can be turned up and cuffs that can be turned down to protect the face and the hands, while the Cap ...
, black stock of woollen crepon and gauntlet gloves of yellow elk hide. Until 1809, officers wore a white
brassard A brassard or armlet is an armband or piece of cloth or other material worn around the upper arm; the term typically refers to an item of uniform worn as part of military uniform or by police or other uniformed persons. Unit, role, rank b ...
on the left upper arm. In 1781 came blue or grey
gaiters Gaiters are garments worn over the shoe and bottom of the pant or trouser leg and used primarily as personal protective equipment, in particular against snakebite. They are also commonly used to keep the bottom of the pant-leg dry when hiking ...
with buttons in the outer seams and a drill jacket for everyday use. In 1792
epaulette Epaulette (; also spelled epaulet) is a type of ornamental shoulder piece or decoration used as insignia of rank by armed forces and other organizations. Flexible metal epaulettes (usually made from brass) are referred to as ''shoulder scale ...
s appeared when the
gorget A gorget ( ; ) was a band of linen wrapped around a woman's neck and head in the English medieval clothing, medieval period or the lower part of a simple chaperon (headgear), chaperon hood. The term later described a steel or leather Collar (c ...
disappeared. In 1795 several units got a
bicorne The bicorne or bicorn (two-cornered) is a historical form of hat widely adopted in the 1790s as an item of uniform by European and American army and naval officers. Most generals and staff officers of the Napoleonic period wore bicornes, whic ...
of black felt with agraffe,
pom-pom A pom-pom – also spelled pom-pon, pompom or pompon – is a decorative ball or tuft of fibrous material. The term may refer to large tufts used by Cheerleading, cheerleaders, or a small, tighter ball attached to the top of a hat, a ...
and plume and for some regiments gold braid on the upper edge and a yellow
barrel sash A barrel sash, also called a rope-and-barrel sash, is a form of belt traditionally worn by military units known as hussars as well as by bag pipers. It comprises a series of cords which are threaded through tubular metal "barrels" and worn around ...
(of silk for officers).


Arms and strapping

In 1780 a new type of
cartouche upalt=A stone face carved with coloured hieroglyphics. Two cartouches - ovoid shapes with hieroglyphics inside - are visible at the bottom., Birth and throne cartouches of Pharaoh KV17.html" ;"title="Seti I, from KV17">Seti I, from KV17 at the ...
of black leather in a strap of
chamois The chamois (; ) (''Rupicapra rupicapra'') or Alpine chamois is a species of Caprinae, goat-antelope native to the mountains in Southern Europe, from the Pyrenees, the Alps, the Apennines, the Dinarides, the Tatra Mountains, Tatra to the Carpa ...
. The same applied in 1795 to the
sabretache A sabretache (derived from ) is a flat bag or pouch, which was worn suspended from the belt of a cavalry soldier together with the sabre. Origins The sabretache is derived from a traditional Hungarian horseman's flat leather bag called a ''tars ...
. The Light Dragoons of the Life Guards had already in 1786 got a pale blue sabretache with the small national coat of arms. The arms consisted of sabre for troopers, m/1808 och m/1814. The last model was in 1816 exchanged for a cavalry sword for all personnel in the Scanian Line Dragoon Regiment. New firearms during the period were the carbine m/1781 and dragoon rifle m/1794.


Special equipment

;Light Dragoons of the Life Guards (1772) The unit was in 1772 equipped with a jacket of white
broadcloth Broadcloth is a dense, Plain weave, plain woven textile, cloth, historically made of wool. The defining characteristic of broadcloth is not its finished width but the fact that it was woven much wider (typically 50 to 75% wider than its finish ...
with a pale blue plastron with double white
buttonhole A buttonhole is a reinforced hole in fabric that a Button (clothing), button can pass through, allowing one piece of fabric to be secured to another. The raw edges of a buttonhole are usually finished with stitching. This may be done either by ha ...
s, and pale blue
cuff A cuff is a layer of fabric at the lower edge of the sleeve of a garment (shirt, coat, jacket, etc.) at the wrist, or at the ankle end of a trouser leg. The function of turned-back cuffs is to protect the cloth of the garment from fraying, and, ...
s and a white
collar Collar may refer to: Human neckwear *Clerical collar (informally ''dog collar''), a distinctive collar used by the clergy of some Christian religious denominations *Collar (clothing), the part of a garment that fastens around or frames the neck ...
with a pale blue braid on each side, a pale blue
waistcoat A waistcoat ( UK and Commonwealth, or ; colloquially called a weskit) or vest ( US and Canada) is a sleeveless upper-body garment. It is usually worn over a dress shirt and necktie and below a coat as a part of most men's formal wea ...
edged with white, pale blue charivades edged with white, a sash barrelled in yellow, a hat of black felt with a
cap badge A cap badge, also known as head badge or hat badge, is a badge worn on uniform headgear and distinguishes the wearer's nationality and/or organisation. The wearing of cap badges is a convention commonly found among military and police forces, as ...
and a yellow plume on the left side and black hessian boots with
spur A spur is a metal tool designed to be worn in pairs on the heels of riding boots for the purpose of directing a horse or other animal to move forward or laterally while riding. It is usually used to refine the riding aids (commands) and to ba ...
s. In 1779 came a coatee of white broadcloth with pale blue facing with stripes in white (officers silver), pale blue cuffs and shoulder tongues and a white collar. The hat was now of black felt with cap badge and a blue and yellow plume on left side. Black knee boots with spurs. After more than 20 years as dragoons the regiment in 1793 was transferred to a hussar regiment only to become dragoons again after just four years. ;Light Life Dragoon Regiment (1797) The jacket was white with pale blue facing with double white buttonholes and a white collar. The hat of black felt had a black brim, a standing white plume in the front, cap plate and
cockade A cockade is a knot of ribbons, or other circular- or oval-shaped symbol of distinctive colours which is usually worn on a hat or cap. The word cockade derives from the French ''cocarde'', from Old French ''coquarde'', feminine of ''coquard'' (va ...
. This was already in 1798 changed to a hat of black felt with a yellow wing and black peak, white plume on the front, cap plate, cordon and banderole. In 1802 gaiters of pale blue broadcloth with a white stripe on the outer seam and a pale blue fourage cap with white lining. ;Life Guards of Horse (1806) In 1807 the regiment was issued a new white coatee of broadcloth with pale blue facing with white lacing. White collar and cuffs (full dress) and a pale blue jacket with white-edged pale blue facing. Pale blue trousers with lacing in the front and a stripe down the outer seam (officers silver, white for other ranks) and pale blue gaiters mounted with black leather. The hat was high and round of felt with a black horse hair crest, cap plate, white plume on the left side and cords (officers gold, trooper red) on the right. Already in 1810 this was exchanged for a
shako A shako (, , or ) is a tall, cylindrical military cap, usually with a visor, and sometimes tapered at the top. It is usually adorned with an ornamental plate or Cap badge, badge on the front, metallic or otherwise; and often has a feather, hackle ...
of black leather with a cap plate and a white cordon front and back. File:Porträtt. Per Brahe, 1746- 1772. Pastell - Skoklosters slott - 81937.tif, Uniform in 1772 File:Granitz Schloss Wilhelm Malte I.@20161230.jpg, Uniform in 1797 File:CARL FREDRIK REINHOLD VON ESSEN.jpg, Uniform in 1806


Hussar uniforms


Miscellaneous

The highly mobile hussar units soon became popular and Sweden, like many other European countries, increased the number of regiments in the first decade of the 19th century. During the war in Germany 1813 and in Norway 1814 three Swedish hussar regiments participated with some success especially at the battle of Bornhöved in 1813. Only details of the uniforms were changed and in 1796 the officers' dolman was dark blue with a Prussian collar with a yellow edge. There were five rows of buttons, each with 14 gilded bullet buttons. These button rows were joined with double, thick and squared golden strings. On the outer rows, a single string formed a loop. There was gold lacing on arms, tails, back and below the collar. On the left shoulder was a strap of silver. The dolman for troopers was the same as for officers with the following exceptions: The 10 rows of buttons were joined with double, thick and squared yellow strings of wool. On the outer rows loops as above. For fatigues a single-breasted jacket of dark blue broadcloth was used. The
pelisse A pelisse was originally a short fur-trimmed jacket which hussar light-cavalry soldiers from the 17th century onwards usually wore hanging loose over the left shoulder, ostensibly to prevent sword cuts. The name also came to refer to a fashiona ...
was dark blue with yellow strings, black fur-trimmed lining and edging, both of
sheepskin Sheepskin is the Hide (skin), hide of a Domestic sheep, sheep, sometimes also called lambskin. Unlike common leather, sheepskin is Tanning (leather), tanned with the Wool, fleece intact, as in a Fur, pelt.Delbridge, Arthur, "The Macquarie Diction ...
, and the same buttons as for the dolman. The Spanish cloak was dark blue with a yellow cord, tassels and button and the yellow breeches of chamois. As headgear a mirliton cap of black felt with a wing and a yellow streamer (officers had a cord and a tuft in gold, and cockade with a button), yellow cord with tufts (officers in gold/silver) and a white standing plume or a bicorne of black felt with a clasp, pom-pom, plume with tassels for officers. The stock was of black crepon and the black, short hessian boots had a tassel. In 1800 came gaiters of dark blue broadcloth mounted with black calf hide and a strap under the foot (buttoned outside boots, breeches and dolman) and trousers of dark blue broadcloth with a stripe of gold braid (a yellow stripe for troopers) in the outer seam from the upper part of the pocket down to the lowest part of the leg. In 1806 the dolman and the pelisse were changed, giving the collar the regimental colour, making the strings on the dolman and pelisse slimmer and increasing from 10 to 14 the numbers in the five button rows. In 1809 the white brassard for officers (worn since 1772) disappeared. In 1814 a pale blue dolman, gaiters and trousers and white pelisse with strings, buttons and silver lacing (white for troopers) were introduced to the Life Guard of Horse. In 1815 the Life Regiment Hussar Corps got a dark blue dolman and pelisse with strings and silver lacing.


Arms and strappings

During the period a cartouche of black leather with a strap with braid for officers and of black leather for troopers over the left shoulder and a sabretache m/1835 of black leather (different types) were worn. Sabre m/1793 for troopers of the hussar regiments and sabre m/1800 for officers of the hussar regiments, sabre m/1807 for troopers (cavalry), sword m/1810 for officers (cavalry) sabre m/1814 for all personnel (light cavalry), sword m/1820 for officers (cavalry) and sabre m/1842 for troopers (cavalry). As well as in 1822 a sabre for officers of the hussar regiments except the Life Guards of Horse and the Life Regiment Hussar Corps. In 1822 officers of the Småland Hussar Regiment (''Smålands husarregemente'') were issued with gold fittings on the cartouche strap and the same year officers of the Crown Prince's Hussar Regiment got a new sabre. The firearms were pistol m/1759, pistol m/1738-1802 for all personnel and pistol m/1807 (smoothbore and rifled with a loose butt) for all personnel. The carbine was to be suspended for hussar units but the carbine m/1759 was still used.


Special equipment

;Life Guards of Horse The Horse Guard became hussars in 1814 and were equipped with
dolman A dolman is either a military shirt, or a jacket decorated with braiding, first worn by Hungarian hussars. The word is of Turkish origin, and after being adopted into Hungarian, has propagated to other languages. The garment was worn by peasants ...
s for officers of pale blue broadcloth with white collar and cuffs. On the breast five rows of buttons each with 14 bullet buttons in silver. These button rows were joined with double four-edged strings in silver. At the outer row, a loop was made with a single string. Lace in silver on sleeves, tails and back and under the collar. On left shoulder a shoulder strap. Dolman for troopers was the same as for officers with the following exceptions: Pale blue, button rows are joined with double four-edged strings of white wool. At the outer row loops as above. The pelisse was of white broadcloth with strings in silver (troopers white), grey lining and fur trimming, both of sheepskin. Buttons were the same as on the dolman. Trousers and gaiters of pale blue broadcloth (medium blue) with a 40-mm stripe in silver (white) at the outer seam. The gaiters were lined with hide. The barrel sash was blue and yellow (officer of silk). In 1820 the dolman was changed by making the collar pale blue and a new mirliton cap of black felt with a yellow wing and a white standing plume was introduced. File:Hjälm m1879 stor parad.jpg, Helmet m/1879 with plume m/1887 of a troopers File:Vapenrock m1852 officer.jpg, Broadcloth m/1852 of an officer File:Vapenrock m1852 manskap.jpg, Broadcloth m/1852 of a trooper File:Norway and Sweden, 1862-63 (NYPL b14896507-435928).tiff, Uniform of the regiment File:Uniform för Livgardet till häst under Karl XIV Johans och Oscar Is regering.png, Uniforms of the regiment File:Ijgvyiguf.png, Uniforms of the regiment File:Tvåfingershonnör K1.jpg,
Two-finger salute The two-finger salute is a salute given using only the middle and index fingers, while bending the other fingers at the second knuckle, and with the palm facing the signer. This salute is used by the Polish Armed Forces, other uniformed services ...


Commanding officers

Regimental commanders and
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 ...
s (''Sekundchef'') from 1770 to 1927. ''Sekundchef'' was a title introduced in 1797, when the king took over as regimental commander. The title was used in the regiments that belonged to the King's Life and Household Troops (''Kungl. Maj:ts Liv- och Hustrupper'').


Regimental commanders

*1772–1774:
Jacob Magnus Sprengtporten Baron Jacob Magnus Sprengtporten (10 November 1727 – 2 April 1786) was a Swedish-Finnish army officer and politician, and half-brother of Georg Magnus Sprengtporten. He is most famous as one of the leaders of the Revolution of 1772, the ''co ...
*1774–1775: Georg Magnus Sprengtporten *1775–1792: Evert Vilhelm Taube *1792–1796:
Hans Henric von Essen Count Hans Henric von Essen (26 September 1755 – 28 June 1824) was a Sweden, Swedish officer, courtier and statesman. Biography Hans Henric von Essen was born at Kavlås Castle in Tidaholm Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden. He ...
*1797–1806:
Gustav IV Adolf Gustav IV Adolf or Gustav IV Adolph (1 November 1778 – 7 February 1837) was King of Sweden from 1792 until he was deposed in a coup in 1809. He was also the last Swedish monarch to be the ruler of Finland. The occupation of Finland in 180 ...
*1806–1818:
Charles XIII Charles XIII or Carl XIII (; 7 October 1748 – 5 February 1818) was King of Sweden from 1809 and King of Norway from 1814 to his death. He was the second son (and younger brother to King Gustav III) of King Adolf Frederick of Sweden and Louisa ...
*1818–1844:
Charles XIV John Charles XIV John (; 26 January 1763 – 8 March 1844) was King of Sweden and Norway from 1818 until his death in 1844 and the first monarch of the Bernadotte dynasty. In Norway, he is known as Charles III John () and before he became royalty in ...
*1844–1859: Oscar I *1859–1872:
Charles XV Charles XV or Carl (''Carl Ludvig Eugen''; Swedish language, Swedish and Norwegian language, Norwegian officially: ''Karl''; 3 May 1826 – 18 September 1872) was King of Sweden and List of Norwegian monarchs, Norway, there often referred to as C ...
*1872–1907:
Oscar II Oscar II (Oscar Fredrik; 21 January 1829 – 8 December 1907) was King of Sweden from 1872 until his death in 1907 and King of Norway from 1872 to 1905. Oscar was the son of King Oscar I and Queen Josephine. He inherited the Swedish and Norweg ...
*1907–1927:
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 ...


Executive officers

*1797–1809: Carl Reinhold Uggla *1809–1815: Gustaf Löwenhielm *1815–1822: Duke of Södermanland *1822–1822: Axel Ehrenreich Gustaf Broberger *1822–1844: Magnus Brahe *1844–1847: Johan Carl Puke *1847–1856: Ludvig Ernst von Stedingk *1856–1864: Ulrik Fabian Sandels *1864–1872: Carl Magnus Ludvig Björnstjerna *1872–1885: Anders Erland Petter von Plomgren *1885–1894: Axel August Gustaf von Rosen *1894–1898: Duke of Västergötland *1898–1905: Christer Hampus Mörner *1905–1910: Erik Oxenstierna af Korsholm och Wasa *1910–1913: ? *1913–1915: Bror Munck *1915–1922: Reinhold Gustaf Edvard Moore von Rosen *1922–1927: Carl Magnus von Essen


Names, designations and locations


See also

*
List of Swedish cavalry regiments This is a list of Swedish cavalry regiments, battalions, corps and companies that have existed in the Swedish Army. They are listed in three ways, first by the actual units that have existed, then by the various names these units have had, and l ...


References


Notes


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Further reading

* * * * * * * *{{cite book , title=Kungl. Lifgardet till häst: Regementets historia i kort sammanfattning , year=1914 , publisher=Aftonbladets , location=Stockholm , language=Swedish , id={{LIBRIS, 1636166 Cavalry regiments of the Swedish Army Military units and formations established in 1770 Military units and formations disestablished in 1927 Disbanded units and formations of Sweden 1770 establishments in Sweden 1927 disestablishments in Sweden Stockholm Garrison