''Ryttmästare'' (from the German word ''

Rittmeister __NOTOC__ (German and Scandinavian for "riding master" or "cavalry master") is or was a military rank of a commissioned cavalry officer in the armies of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Scandinavia, and some other countries. A ''Rittmeister'' is typic ...

'') was a

military rank Military ranks are a system of hierarchical relationships, within armed forces, police, intelligence agencies or other institutions organized along military lines. The military rank system defines dominance, authority, and responsibility in a ...

in the Swedish cavalry in the

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 Vas ...

. The rank corresponded to the rank of

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

in other service branches. The rank was abolished in 1972.

History

The

of ''ryttmästare'' as a designation for the rank of

had been used since the 16th century. The name was then used for the commander of a company of riders (several of them were usually part of a

squadron Squadron may refer to: * Squadron (army), a military unit of cavalry, tanks, or equivalent subdivided into troops or tank companies * Squadron (aviation), a military unit that consists of three or four flights with a total of 12 to 24 aircraft, ...

). later became squadron commander. Since the 17th century it was the title for a company officer of the highest rank in the Swedish cavalry with position between

lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations. The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often sub ...

and

major Major (commandant in certain jurisdictions) is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world. When used unhyphenated and in conjunction with no other indicators ...

(corresponding to the rank of captain in other branches). A 1967 inquiry () considered that the position of as a designation for the rank of captain in the cavalry should be retained as long as the cavalry remained as a service branch in the organization. The rank was abolished after a reform in 1972 ().

Uniform

Field uniform model 1958/1959 – rank structure of 1949

File:OF-2_Kapten.jpg, Collar patch m/58

Uniform model 1939 – rank structure of 1949

File:4_Kapten_Ryttmästare_1939.jpg, Shoulder mark m/39 File:7_Kapten_Ryttmästare_armén_mössmärke_1946.jpg, Badge m/46 to field cap

Uniform model 1939

File:4_Kapten_Ryttmästare_1939.jpg, Shoulder mark m/39 File:7_Kapten_Ryttmästare_armén_mössmärke_1940.jpg, Badge m/40 to field cap

Uniform model 1923

File:9_Kapten_axelklaff_m1923.jpg, Shoulder mark on greatcoat File:9_Kapten_Ryttmästare_krage_1923.jpg, Collar patch File:9_Kapten_Ryttmästare_mössa_m1923.jpg, Cap m/23

Uniform model 1910

File:9_Kapten_Ryttmästare_axelträns_m1910.jpg, Shoulder mark m/10 File:5_Kapten_Ryttmästare_armén_mössmärke_1914.jpg, Badge m/14 for fur cap File:5_Kapten_Ryttmästare_armén_hatt_m1910-14.jpg, Badge m/10-14 for hat

Uniform model 1906

File:7_Kapten_Ryttmästare_armén_ärm_1906.jpg, Sleeve insignia m/1906

Other

File:Kappa m1872 ryttmästare officer K1.jpg, Coat m/1872 for a in the

Life Guards of Horse Life Guards of Horse ( sv, Livgardet till häst, K 1) was a Swedish Army 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). File:Kollett m1871 för ryttmästare.jpg, ''Kollett'' m/1871 for a in the Life Guards of Horse (K 1). File:Dolma m1895 ryttmästare.jpg,

Dolman The somewhat vaguely defined term dolman (from Turkish ''dolaman'' "robe" ) can refer to various types of clothing, all of which have sleeves and cover the top part of the body, and sometimes more. Originally, the term ''dolaman'' referred to ...

m/1895 for a in the

Life Regiment Hussars The Life Regiment Hussars ( sv, Livregementets husarer; designated K 3) is one of the world's oldest regiments still active. The regiment descends directly from units set up by King Gustav I of Sweden (Gustav Vasa) in 1536, when Sweden set ...

(K 3).

References

{{Reflist Military ranks of the Swedish Army sv:Ryttmästare