1. Svea Livgarde. Known as Livgardet during most of the period. It claims traditions from a drabant-corps raised in 1527. The regiment has always been the foremost in the Swedish army except 1808-1809 when it was degraded for a short time and known as Fleetwoods regemente (see part IV no 13). In 1686 it recieved colours with the king's cypher supported by two lions. The field was white and strewn with coronets. Along.the top was written DILECTUMQUE DEO NULLA RUINA PREMIT on a silver field (picture 8). In 1725 Livgardet recieved new colours with the king's cypher on a white field strewn with coronets. In the next deliverance in the 1730s the coronets disappeared and were replaced by a crown in each corner. This design was used for the rest of the period: a white field with the kings cypher and a crown in each corner (picture 9).

2. Svenska gardesregementet. Formed in 1790 from several provisional units raised during the war of 1788-90 under the name Andra gardesregementet. It got the title above in 1805 and was disbanded in 1808. The men were transferred to Svca Livgarde and Gota Livgarde. The colours were similar to those of Svea Livgarde.

3. Gota Livgarde. Formed in 1772 as the third battalion in Ankedrottningens livregemente (see part IV no 6) but became independent shortly afterwards. After several different names it became Finska gardesregemcnlet in 1803. Degraded in 1808 as af Palens rcgemente but reinstated next year as Andra Livgardet. It became Gota livgarde in 1894. Disbanded between 1939 and 1942 and finally in 1980. Ther colours were similar to those of Svea Livgarde. However, colours quartered in red and white with cypher and corner-crowns are attributed to this regiment.

4. Livregementets grendiarer. Part of Livregementet till hast was dismounted in 1792 and became this unit (see part I no 3); was under the title above for most of the time. Due for disbandment according to the inscrutable Swedish defence policy. As far as I have been able to establish the unit had colours similar to those of Svea Livgarde.

5. Vastgota regemente. Vastgota kavalleriregemente after it was dismounted in 1811 (see part I no 8). Disbanded in 1927. It received colours diagonally divided in blue and yellow with a shield according to Holstcin-Gottorp IV with the arms of Vastergotland: a diagonally divided field in balck and yellow with a lion counterwise in yellow and black and two stars.

6. Upplands regemente. Provincial regiment disbanded in 1958. The ordinary colours had the arms of Uppland: a yellow orb on a red field (picture 11).

7. Skaraborgs regemente. Still existing but an armoured regiment since 1942. The ordinary colours had the arms of Vastergotland: a diagonally divided field in black and yellow with a lion counterwise yellow and black and two stars. Probably the only regiment which received colours according to Holstein- Gottorp II (picture 12).

8. Abo Lans regemente. A Finnish regiment disbanded after the loss of Finland in 1809. The ordinary colours 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.

9. Sodermanlands regemente. Today an armoured regiment. The ordinary colours had the arms of Sodermanland: a yellow field with a black griffon. Is said to have kept its Holstein Gottorp I colours until 1812.

10. Kronobergs regemente. Still existing but due for disbandment. The ordinary colours had the arms of Smaland: a yellow field with a red lion holding a red crossbow with a white arrow.

11. Jonkopings; regemente. Another regiment from Smaland. Amalgamated in 1927 into Norra Smallnds regemente. In 1686 its ordinary colours were striped with three red and three yellow stripes and the arms of Jonkoping: a crenellated tower on a green mound. In 1756 it received colours that were yellow with six red flames and the tower within a wreath (later shield-frame). During the reign of Gustav IV Adolf the colours might have been changed further, having eight red flames.

12. Bjorneborgs regemente. A Finnish regiment disbanded in 1809. The ordinary colours were horizontally divided in blue and yellow with a crowned bear holding a sabre and two stars (picture 10).

13. Dalregementet. Still existing as an infantry regiment. The ordinary colours had the arms of Dalarna (Dalecarlia): a blue field with two yellow arrows and a coronet.

14. Livgrenadiarregementet. When raised in the 1620s known as Ostgota regemente. In 1791 amalgamated with the cavalry regiment from Ostergotland (part I no 12) still as Ostgota regemente. In 1806 it recieved the title above. The two regiments were again separated between 1816 and 1927 and then this regiment was known as Forsta Livgrenadiarregementet. Until 1806 the ordinary colours, had the arms of Ostergotland: a red field with a yellow griffon and four blue roses. When it became a ranking regiment in that year it received colours similar to the guards: a white field with the king's cypher and a crown in each corner.

15. Tavastehus regemente. A Finnish regiment disbanded in 1809. The ordinary colours were red with a white lynx, above the lynx three stars and below it three roses.

16. Hassinge regemente. Today still an infantry regiment. The colours were diagonally quartered in black and white, on it a yellow goat. From Holstein-Gottorp I the entire field was within the wreath (later shield-frame) block with the goat.

17. Alvsborgs regemente. Still existing. The colours were striped with three yellow and three black stripes. In a circular field the arms of Gothenburg: a blue field with three white streams, on it a yellow lion holding a blue shield with three yellow coronets. Initially no wreath but the colours had the shield frame of Holstcin-Gottorp III surrounding the arms of Gothenburg.

18. Vastgota-Dals regemente. Still existing but is known as Hallands rcgemente since 1901. The colours were white with four black and four yellow flames (the colours of Vastergotland) and a brown bull (the arms .of Dalsland). No wreath but shield-frame according to later designs. In 1803 it seems the regiment recieved colours of a slightly different design. They were white with four red and four blue flames and in an oval field the arms of Vastergotland (see above no 7), below the field two branches of laurels and above it a coronet. There have been some doubts about these colours partly because there are no reason why the bull of Dalsland shouldn't be retained, partly because there are no heraldic reason to the red and blue flames. However, the colours do exist, don't fit in any better with any other regiment, so why not the regiment they have been attributed to?

19. Viborgs regemente. Raised in eastern Finland. Part of its cantonal area was lost to Russia in 1721 and 1743. From 1721 known as Kymmenegards batalion and after 1743 as Elima kompani. Shortly before the war of 1808-09 amalgamated with two recruited companies into Nylands Jagarbataljon. Disbanded in 1809. The unit seems to have been regarded as a light unit from the time of the Seven Years War. There is no evidence of any new colours after 1743. The colours before that were red with two arms, one in armour holding a sword and one in blue holding a sabre, between them a coronet.

20. Savolax regemente. Another Finnish unit disbanded after the loss of Finland. A smaller part of its cantonal area was lost in 1721. The ordinary colours were yellow with eight black flames and a circular black field with a white bow and arrow. No wreath but shield-frame according to Holstein-Gottorp III. The central black field was then formed as the shieldframe.

21. Vastmanlands regemente. Disbanded in 1927. White colours with eight blue flames and three grey mountains with red and yellow flames from their tops, no wreath. The shield-frame of later designs surrounded the mountains.

22. Vasterbottens regemente. Divided in 1841 into Vasterbottens; regemente and Norrbottens regemente. The colours were blue with a white reindeer and stars scattered within the wreath. The number of stars has been varied but mostly 12 or 13.

23. Kalmar regemente. The third regiment from Smaland, amalgameted into Norra Smalands regemente in 1927. The ordinary colours were red with eight yellow flames and a circular yellow field with the lion of Smalland. (See no 10). No wreath but later on the shield-frame around the central field.

24. Nylands regemente. A Finnish regiment disbanded in 1809. The colours were red with the arms of southern Finland: a red field with a blue helmet outlined in yellow and with two lances behind it carrying the Swedish flag as pennons.

25. Narke-Varmlands regemente. Divided in 1812 into Narkes regemente (later amalgamated with Livregementets grenadiarer) and Varmlands regemente. 'Me colours were red with two yellow arrows and four white roses. From Holstein- Gottorp III the colours were diagonally quartered in white and red with the arrows and roses on a red field within the shield-frame (picture 13). When divided Narkes regemcnte kept the old colours while Varmlands regemente received new ones according to Holstein-Gottorp IV. They were blue with a black eagle on a yellow field within the shield- frame (picture 14).

26. Jamtlands faltjagarregemente. Raised in the late 1640s and became Jamtlands dragonregemente in 1680. In spite of its title it has always been an infantry regiment. In 1820 it got the title above. The colours were blue with a white moose, on its back an eagle and leaping towards its throat a wolf.

27. Osterbottens regemente. Raised in northernmost Finland and disbanded as all other Finnish units in 1809. Blue colours with six white ermines.

28. Bohuslans; regemente. Boliuslans dragonregemente became this when dismounted in 1791 and intendened for disbandment. (See part I no 15). In 1806 the king approved of colours in blue with a large white lion (covering most of the colour). No shield-frame or such things. The regiment probably did not receive these colours until 1812.

29. Hallands bataljon. A conscript unit formed in 1812. Reformed into Vaxholms grenadiarregemente in 1901 and disbanded in 1927. The colours were blue with a white lion within a shield-frame according to Holstein-Gottorp IV.

30. Norra Skanska regementet and Sodra Skanska regementet. Two indelta regiments raised in Scania in 1811. Both are armoured regiments today. They took over colours from an old recruited regiment, see part IV no 12.

31. Smalands grenadiarkar. Formed in 1812 when half of Smalands kavallefiregemente (part I no 10) was dismounted. Amalgamated with a conscript unit in 1901 into Karlskrona grenadiarregemente which was disbanded in 1927.Colours not known and probably not received before 1815 anyway.

18th C. Swedish Military Flags: Introduction
18th C. Swedish Military Flags: Regiments
18th C. Swedish Military Flags: Illustrations (very slow: 282K)

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