Östergötland Cavalry Regiment

The Östergötland Cavalry Regiment (Swedish: Östgöta kavalleriregemente) was a Swedish Army cavalry regiment. Its origin came in the 16th century. In 1791, they were merged with another unit. The regiment's soldiers were recruited from the province of Östergötland.

Östergötland Cavalry Regiment
Östgöta kavalleriregemente
Active1636–1791
CountrySweden
BranchSwedish Army
TypeCavalry
SizeRegiment
ColoursRed
Battle honoursNone[1]

History edit

The regiment has its origins in fänikor (companies) raised in Östergötland in the 16th century. In 1619, these units—along with fänikor from the nearby Jönköping County—were organised by Gustav II Adolf into Östergötlands storregemente. Sometime between 1623 and 1628, the grand regiment was permanently split into three smaller regiments, of which Östergötland Cavalry Regiment was one.

The regiment was officially raised in 1636 although it had existed since the 1620s. Östergötland Cavalry Regiment was one of the original 8 Swedish cavalry regiments mentioned in the 1634 Swedish constitution. The regiment's first commander was Hans Rotkirch. It was allotted in 1687.

Östgöta Cavalry Regiment merged with Östergötland Infantry Regiment in 1791 to form the Life Grenadier Regiment. The reorganisation and renaming to a "life grenadier" title of honour came in regard to the regiment's achievements during Gustav III's Russian War. Östgöta Cavalry Regiment was renamed to Livgrenadjärregementets rusthållsdivision and retained a degree of semi-independence.

Organisation edit

Name, designation and garrison edit

Name Translation From To
Östgöta kavalleriregemente Östergötland Cavalry Regiment 1636 1791
Designation From To
No designation
Training ground
or garrison town
From To
Malmen 17th century 1791

See also edit

References edit

Print
  • Braunstein, Christian (2003). Sveriges arméförband under 1900-talet. Stockholm: Statens Försvarshistoriska Museer. ISBN 91-971584-4-5.
  • Holmberg, Björn (1993). Arméns regementen, skolor och staber: en sammanställning. Arvidsjaur: Svenskt militärhistoriskt bibliotek. ISBN 91-972209-0-6.
  • Kjellander, Rune (2003). Sveriges regementschefer 1700-2000: chefsbiografier och förbandsöversikter. Stockholm: Probus. ISBN 91-87184-74-5.
  • Nelsson, Bertil (1993). Från Brunkeberg till Nordanvind: 500 år med svenskt infanteri. Stockholm: Probus. ISBN 91-87184-23-0.
  • Svensk rikskalender 1908. Stockholm: P.A. Norstedt & Söner. 1908.
Online

Notes edit

  1. ^ Östgöta Cavalry Regiment was never awarded any battle honours, but the successor unit 2nd Life Grenadier Regiment was awarded five such honours, of which all five battles were fought under the name of Östgöta Cavalry Regiment. These five battle honours were Breitenfeld (1631), Lützen (1632), Kliszow (1702), Warszawa (1705) and Malatitze (1708). The successor unit to 2nd Life Grenadier Regiment, Life Grenadier Regiment, in turn was awarded another six honours for battle that were fought under the name of Östgöta Cavalry Regiment. These six battle honours were Wittstock (1636), Leipzig (1642), Warszawa (1656), Fredriksodde (1657), Tåget över Bält (1658) and Svensksund (1790).