Standards and guidons seem to have followed the same rules so I deal with them as one subject. When saying standard below I also mean guidon. Standards were through out the period about 60 cm square while guidons were about 70 cm high and 100 cm on the fly.

Each company had its own standard. The first or colonel's company had a "Livstandar" (Life of Kings standard) while the other had a "Kompanistandar" (ordinary or regimental standard) Most regiments had eight companies, at least until the end of the 18th century. Light units didn't receive any standards but heavy regiments converted to light seems to have retained I heir old standards as long as possible

The life standard was white and according to the 1686 regulations it should have the Swedish coat-of-arms on both sides (see picture 11). A closer description of the arms will be given in tile next part. Initially at least Livregementet till bast and probably most others had a 3" wide embroidered border. This border seems to have disappeared during or after the Great Northern War. In the upper inner corner (ie the canion) had all provincial regiments, except Livregementet, the device from the ordinary standards. During the reign of Fredrik I a postament was added below the arms and in 1748 this was the shield surrounded with the chain of the order of the Seraphim. Towards the end of his reign, probably around 1740, there was a change of the reverse of the life standards. From then the reverse was in the same colour as the ordinary standards and with the kings cypher. Below the cypher were two palm-leaves until the reign of Gustav III.

Ordinary standards for provincial regiments had in most cases the provincial arms on the obverse and the kings cypher above two palm leaves on the reverse. It seems as other regiments often had the kings cypher above palm leaves; on both sides. Sometimes during the reign of Gustav III the order between obverse and reverse were changed so from then the provincial arms were on the reverse and the cypher on the obverse. At the same time the palm leaves below the cypher disappeared.

In the following list I will describe the ordinary standards. If nothing else is said one side had the kings cypher.

1. Drabantkairen-

From the beginning the premier company in the Life Guard. From 1700 it was independent. Annihilated in 1709 and not re-raised until after the war when it became a palace guard unit. Disbanded during the reign of Karl XIV Johan (1818 - 1844). I have no evidence of any standards during its lifetime. A very thorough regimental history about the unit during Karl XII's reign doesn't even mention any standard. However, when the Livgardet till bast received a standard in 1863 it was said to be attached to the same pole as had been used by the Drabantkaren.

B>2. Livgardet till hast.

A recruited unit raised in 1770 as light dragoons. Became guards in 1772 but remained light cavalry until 1806 when it got the title above. Amalgameted in 1927 into a new regiment which in turn was reduced to a squadron in 1949 and incorporated into Svea Livgarde in 1980. Before 1806 it was a light unit and shouldn't have had any standards. After that date there is no evidence of any standards before 1863. I find this slightly odd since it was a guard unit, but there it is. If the regiment received any standards before 1863 they ought to have been while with the kings cypher on both sides, this being the motif on all colours and standards of ranking units.

3. Liviregementet till hast.

An indelt regiment at least from the 1620s. It got this title in 1667. In 1791 it was divided into three corps: Livregementets kyrassiarkar which retained the old standards (including the life standard), Livregementets Husarkar which shouldn't have any standards but seems to have retained their old ones, and Livregementets gtenadiarkar which became infantry (see part II no 4). The ordinary standards had the king's Lypher on boll) sides on a white field; in a canton the arms of the province in which the company was raised. From about 1765 it was a small shield with the correct colour on the field as well. The devices were a golden orb (3 companies), a black griffon (1 company); three flaming mountains (3 companies). two crossed arrows with four blue roses (3 companies) and a lion in yellow and black (1 company). (Picture 12)

4. Drottningens Livregemente till hast.

A recruited unit raised in 1676 in Estonia. In the 1680s supported as a provincial regiment. Also known as Estniska regementet. Seems to have been disbanded in 1708 and the men transferred to Brakels Dragoons. In 1686 the life standard had the combined arms of Sweden and Denmark (the queen was Danish). In 1700 it could have received life standards of the ordinary design. The ordinary standards were in 1686 blue with the queen's cypher on an embroidered border. In 1700 the regiment recieved new standards which were blue with three lions on blue within a yellow shield-frame below a coronet and between a leaf-design. Surrounding the shield was a wreath of laurels and surrounding that the text ANNO/1700/PRO DEO/ET PATRIA divided by four roses. (Pictures 10 and 13)

5. Riksankedrottningens livregemente till hast.

A provincial regiment raised in 1661 and disbanded in 1720 when half was incorporated into Bohuslans dragonregemente (below 15) and the other half was transferred to the navy as sailors. The ordinary standards had the arms of Halland: a white lion on a blue field. (Picture 16)

6. Kronprinsens husarregemente.

A recruited unit raised in 1757 and divided into two units in 1761. Reunited in 1766. It had many different names, often the colonels'. The name above was used between 1822 and 1959 and again from 1882 until 1927 when the regiment was amalgamated into a new one (which was disbanded in 1949). Being a light unit it had no standards until 1815 when the regiment received a honorific standard due to its performance in the German campaign 1813-14 (described by Mr. Wise in "Flags of the Napoleonic Wars no 3" - Men-at-Arms no 115)

7. Adelsfanan

A regiment raised by the nobility, ie the feudal service. Used during the Great Northern War and irregularly assembled for training until 1741. The officers post were suspended in 1809 but to my knowledge never officially disbanded. The ordinary standards were white with a large crown and the letters CRS above. The letters were either changed (to FRS) or taken away during the reign of Fredrik I. There was also a Adelsfana raised in the Baltic provinces with similar standards but in blue. (See picture 14)

8. Vastgota kavalleriregemente

A provincial regiment from the 1620s. Renamed Vastgota (Linje-) Dragon-regemente in 1802 and dismounted in 1811 as Vasigota regemente (see part II no 5). Disbanded in 1927. The ordinary standards had the arms of Vaster- Gotland: diagonally divided in black and yellow with a lion counterwise yellow and black and two white stars. The regiment received in 1767 standards of the above type but with a circular light blue field with the king's cypher on the reverse. The field was surrounded by a wreath of laurels and surmounted by a crown. These standards were in use until 1792. It seems as the regiment received guidons then. (See picture 9)

9. Abo-Bjorneborgs kavallerieregemente.

A provincial regiment from south-western Finland. Renamed in 1721 to Livdragonregementet. Dismounted in 1792 and divided between two infantry regiments as light battalions. It carried standards until mid-1720s and guidons until 1792. The ordinary standards had the arms of Stor-Finland: a red field with a yellow lion, crowned, holding a sword pointing downwards and a sabre pointing upwards, surrounded by nine white roses.

10. Smalands kavalleriregemente

A provincial regiments from the 1620s. It became light cavalry in 1791 and light dragoons in 1801. In 1812 half was dismounted as Smalands grenadiarkar (see part II no 31) while the other half were retained as light dragoons. When the unit became light cavalry it shouldn't have standards but seems to have kept their old until 1819. The ordinary standards had the arms of Smaland: a yellow field with a red lion holding a red crossbow with a white arrow.

11. Nylands-Tavastehus kavalleriregemente.

A provincial regiment from southern Finland. Renamed Nylands dragonregemenic in 1721. Half was dismounted in 1792 and amalgamated with Tavastehus; regemente as a light battalion. The other half was disbanded after the loss of Finland in 1809/10. It seems as (he regiment received guidons in the 1720s but a source from 1769, depicting future flags, says standards. I would opt for guidons until the disbandment of the regiment. The standards and guidons had the arms of southern Finland: a red field with a blue helmet outlined in white, surmounted by a crown. Behind the helmet two lances with Swedish flags as pennons. (See picture 15)

12. Ostgota kavalleriregemente.

A provincial regiment which was dismounted in 1791 and amalgamated with Ostgota regemente (see part II no 14). From 1806 Livgrenadierregemente and when split in 1816 Andra Livgrenadierregementet. While being a cavalry regiment it had the arms of Ostergotland on the standards: a red field with a yellow griffon and four roses. As infantry the regiment had the same colours as Ostgota regemente.

13. Viborg-Nyslotts kavalleriregemente

A provincial regiment from eastern Finland. It became Karelska dragonregementet in 1721 and Karelska dragonkaren in 1743 (when part of its cantonal area was lost to Russia). Disbanded after the loss of Finland in 1809/10. It seems as the regiment used standards until 1730 and guidons from then on. The ordinary standards had the arms of Karelen: a red field with two arms, one in armour holding a sword and one in blue holding a sabre, above the arms a coronet.

14. Norra Skanska kavalleriregemente

A provincial regiment which became light dragoons as Skanska latta dragonregementet in 1801 and hussars as Skariska husarregementet in 1807. Amalgamated into Skanska kavalledregemente in 1927. It probably kept its old standards when it became a light unit in 1801. The ordinary standards had the arms of Skane (Scania): a yellow field with a red crowned eagles head.

15. Bohuslans dragonregemente

A provincial regiment raised in 1661. In 1720 it incorporated half of Riksankedrottningens livregementet (see no 5). Pam were dismounted in 1772 and 1793 and the last part in 1791 when the regiment became Boliuslans regemente. (see part II no 28) From 1686 it had ordinary guidons with the arms of Bobuslan: a white field with a crenalated tower flanked by a sword and a lion. In 1717 it received new guidons that were green with the king's cypher on both sides. The regimental history and Cederstroms claims that these guidons were used until the beginning of the 19th century but I doubt this. There is in the Swedish Archive of War a picture-book made in 1769 as guideline for future production of flags. According to that book Bohuslans dragoons should have a standard (not Guidon) in blue with the white lion of Halland. When the regiment recieved colours in the beginning of the 19th century it was also with the Hallandic lion. This is slightly odd since the regiment had no connections with the province of Halland and as dragoons the regiment should have had guidons. It could be explained by the amalgamation of half of Riksankedrotiningens livregemente. My belief is that the regiment took over or received new ones according to that regiments regulations since Riksankedrottningens, livregemente was the senior unit.

16. Sodra Skanska kavalleriregemente

A provincial regiment that became Skanska karabiniarregemente in 1805, and still exists as an armoured regiment. The ordinary standards had a variant of the arms of Skane: a horizontally divided field in yellow and blue with a red crowned eagle's head.

17. Jamilands kavallerikompani

A single company on provincial basis. It became hastjagare (chasseur-a-cheval) in 1802 and in 1892 Norriands dragonregemente and is still existing. A single standard, probably kept after 1802 when the company became a light unit, it had the arms of Jamtland: a blue field with a moose, on its back an eagle with outstretched wings and leaping towards its throat a wolf.

18. Finska dragonregementet

Raised in 1686 and disbanded in 1721. Sometimes known as Karelska lantdragonerna (to be kept apart from no 13, Karelska dragonregementet) The ordinary guidons had the arms of Karelen (see no 13) with another provincial device in the canion. The two surviving have the helmet and lances of southern Finland and the lynx with roses and stars of Tavastland. I assume that the third had the lion of Stor Finland. Memander says that the regiment had blue guidons at Poltava but also that the guidons ought to have been red

19. Bremiska kavalleriregementet

A recruited regiment raised in 1688 and disbanded in 1715. The men were transferred to Tyska dragon regementet. Part of the regiment was captured at Tonningen in 1713 and according to Danish sources the regiment had blue standards with gold. The device is unknown but I guess it could have been the king's cypher. The regiment was also known by its colonels.

20. Pommerska kavalleriregementet

A recruited regiment raised in 1688 and disbanded in 1715 as above (no 19). Also this regiment lost a part to the Danes in 1713 and it had red standards with silver. Also here I guess on the king's cypher.

21. Bremiska dragonregementet

A recruited regiment raised in 1699 and disbanded in 1715 as above. The part captured by the Danes in 1713 had blue guidons with silver.

REFERENCES

Cederstrom, R: Svenska kungliga hufvudbaner samt falttecken
Jacobsson, T: Svenska fanor och slandar. In: Foreningen Armemusei Vanner, Meddelande No 3: 1940.
Memander, K.K, Svenska fanor crovrade vid Ljesna och Poltava In: Historisk Tidskrift for Finland, No 6: 1921
Tessin, G: Die Regimenter der Krone Schwedens, Ted 2.
Underdanigt betankande av kommiterade for utarbetande av forslag till bestammelse rorande armns fanor och standar. Riksheraidikerambetet, Meddelande X, Stockholm
Fran Vasa till Bernadotte. Skattkammaren Slathallarametet, Strangnas Tryckeri AB, 1981

Many publications of regimental histories.
Krigsarkivet
Fanritningar,
Serie I Modellritningar, Volym 1-5
Serie II
Serie III Avbildningar, Volym 4-6
(A large number of sketches of colours and standards, Seric I is model sketches, Serie II is other sorts of models, and Serie III is pictures of existing colours.)

When I was studying at the Krigsarkivet (Archives of War), I met Leif Thornqvist from the Armemuseum. He has been researching in this area for several years and he told me that he planned to publish a booklet in the following autumn (ie 1990). It might be available from the Armeemuseum. Stockholm, by the time you are reading this.

More 18th C. Swedish Military Flags

Part I
Introduction
Standards and Guidons
Illustrations (slow: 154K)

Part II

Introduction
Regiments
Illustrations (very slow: 282K)

Part III

Introduction
Regiments