When I received issue three of my subscription to First Empire, I was delighted to find it contained an advertisement for 15mm Swedish Napoleonic troops by MINIFIGS. I have wanted to add such an army to my collection, but had been hampered by the poor availability of figures.

I decided to start with the Life Grenadier Regiment as it took part in all three major campaigns, and because it was one of the few regiments whose 1807 uniform remained unchanged throughout the period. It could thus be used on the wargames table against the Russians, the Danes, the Norwegians or the French, nor would it be stretching history too far to use them against the Spanish.

The Swedish Army of the Napoleonic wars is a subject not very well covered by any book in the English language. I hope this article will help to provide wargamers interested in the Swedish army and the new Minifigs figures with information previously only available in Swedish.

I have based this article on two uniform prints from 1808 and a number of Swedish works. These Swedish authors have used the original archives and diaries as their sources, something which time does not permit me to do.

One of the prints used as a source was from "Uniformen der ganzen kenigl. Schwedischen Armee" published in Berlin in 1808 by J.B.Schiavonetti. Contained six engravings of which number 4, covering the grenadier regiments, is on the front cover of this issue.

THE REGIMENT'S NAME

Upon formation the regiment was known as `Lifgrenadjarregementet' although this would nowadays be spelt `Livgrenadjarregementet' - the Life Grenadier Regiment.

After 1802 the regiment was sometimes referred to as the Life Grenadier Brigade (Lifgrenadjarbrigaden) although this does not seem to be official. The royal decree which split up the regiment still referred to it as the Life Grenadier Regiment and not Brigade.

Because the regiments recruiting area was in Ostgotaland, the regiment was unofficially known as the Ostgota Grenadiers.

Sweden's only other grenadier regiment was the Life Regiment's Grenadier Corps (Lifregementets grenadjarkar). A name easily confused with the Life Grenadier Regiment.

ORGANISATION

By royal decree of March 24th, 1791 the Ostgota Provincial (Indelta) Cavalry regiment was converted to infantry and combined with the Ostgota Provincial (Indelta) Infantry regiment to become the Life Grenadier Regiment.

It was originally decided that the 8 infantry companies would be combined with the 8 cavalry squadrons to give 8 companies, each of 275 grenadiers. The regiment was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Nils Fredrik Jernfeltz, previously of the Ostgota Infantry.

It very soon became obvious that the merger was carried out without due consideration for unit, officers, men or traditions and the new regiment was not functioning well. Furthermore companies of 275 men were considered too large.

By April 18th, 1792 it was decided to split the regiment into two divisions. The `rotehalls' division was formed from the ex-Ostgota Infantry regiment, while the `rusthalls' division was formed from the ex-Ostgota Cavalry regiment. Each division consisted of two battalions of four companies each. The `rotehalls' division had a establishment of 1200 officers and men and the `rusthalls' division an establishment of 1000.

The regiment was commanded by a Colonel. Each division was commanded by a Lieutenant-Colonel and had a staff of 2 majors (commanding the battalions), 2 adjutants, a surgeon, and an armourer. Each company was commanded by a captain, with a lieutenant, a second-lieutenant, a sergeant-major, a sergeant, a corporal and five lance-corporals as well as two drummers and one pioneer.

As from May 3rd, 1802 the Life Grenadier Regiment was considered to be a brigade and the divisions as individual regiments. The was now commanded by a Major-General. Each division was commanded by a Lieutenant-Colonel with a slightly increased staff. The organisation of the companies remained unchanged.

During the campaigns of 1808-09 and 1813-14 the regiment was increased in strength to about 3,000 men. By royal decree of 24th July 1816, the Life Grenadier Regiment was again split into two regiments. The `rotehalls' division became the First Life Grenadier Regiment (F"rsta Lifgrenadjarregementet) and the `rusthalls' division became the Second Life Grenadier Regiment (Andra Lifgrenadjarregementet). The regiment was part of the King's household troops (Konungens Lif-och Hus-trupper).

CAMPAIGNS

THE CAMPAIGN IN GERMANY 1805-06 For this campaign the regiment mobilized a 1000 men strong field regiment. It consisted of two field battalions, one from each division. It was later reinforced by an additional 200 men.

The regiment arrived in Germany on September 3rd, 1805 and marched to Stralsund. Here the Swedish army remained throughout October while the French were defeating their Austrian allies at Ulm.

In November the Swedes advanced to Luneberg, where the whole army was gathered by the beginning of December. After the battle of Austerlitz the coalition split up and the Russian and English troops in Northern Germany were recalled leaving the Swedes in splendid isolation.

Gustav Adolf realized he was in a sticky situation and recalled his army first across the Elbe and then towards Pomerania. A small detachment of 1800 men including the Life Grenadier Regiment was left in Hanover with the task of defending Lauenburg for the English. Unfortunately this caused problems with the Prussian court, which had just been given Hanover by Napoleon.

By August the main Swedish army had withdrawn to Stralsund leaving the Life Grenadiers in Hanover, supported only by a few squadrons of light cavalry.

After the twin battles of Jena and Auerstadt, the French overran Germany and the position of the Life Grenadier Regiment was precarious. Cut of from the main army, and pursued by a corps of 18,000 Frenchmen, they retreated to the port of Lubeck where their communications with Sweden could be re-opened.

On the November 3rd 1806, they arrived at Lubeck, whose citizens would not permit the Swedes to enter. The gates were stormed by a platoon of Life Grenadiers supported by their pioneers and two cannons. The good citizens of Lubeck then changed their minds, and "allowed" the Swedes to enter with flags flying and band playing.

The Swedes embarked on nine transport ships in the hope of reaching Stralsund. The ships were first detained by adverse weather conditions, then by the Prussians under Blucher and finally by the French under Marshal Bernadotte. The French turned field artillery on the transports and caused the Swedes to raise the white flag and surrender on November 7th. In a fine gesture, later to be remembered by the Swedes, Bernadotte ordered the prisoners to be well treated. The remainder of the army returned safely to Sweden.

THE CAMPAIGNS OF 1808-09

In March of 1808, Sweden found herself at war with both Russia and Denmark. The Swedish regular army consisted of 47,886 men of which 14,778 were Finnish. The Swedish possession of Finland was left to her own defense while the 33,108 Swedish troops at home were formed into three armies facing north, south and west. The southern army faced Denmark from which Napoleon planned to attack Skane with a `French' army of 22,000 French, Spanish and Dutch troops and a 14,000 strong Danish army. The western faced a combined Danish-Norwegian army in Norway, while the northern army faced the might of Russia.

A reserve was formed in the centre of Sweden containing the Life Grenadier Regiment, the Vastg"ta Dragoon Regiment and a 6 pounder artillery battery.

Because a considerable amount of the regiments men were still in French prisons, it was only possible for the divisions to muster one battalion each. The total regimental strength was only 27 officers, 41 NCOs, 33 musicians and 1340 grenadiers divided into two battalions each of four companies.

On March 29th 1808 the regiment was ordered to join the western army ready for the invasion of Norway. The Swedish army now totaled 13,406 men against an enemy of 23,000 line and 9,300 militia troops.

Gustaf Adolf hesitated about attacking and on June 10th the Norwegians advanced over the Swedish border, and attacked the outnumbered Swedes. The Life Grenadier Regiment was involved in a skirmish at Prestbakke where they lost 76 casualties.

It was not however in the west where the main threat lay. The regiment was quickly increased in strength, the new recruits were used to bring the four regular battalions up to strength and formed a third battalion in each division.

On 18th June all six battalions were ordered to join the southern army for an attack on Denmark. They formed a Grenadier Brigade together with the Skanska and M"rner hussar regiments together with a battery of horse artillery.

On 17th August 1808 the regiment was ordered to concentrate at Karlskrona for shipment to Finland. This was followed by a steady stream of counter-orders, while the King constantly changed his mind. The regiment spend the next 25 days marching up and down Sweden without coming anywhere in the vicinity of the front line.

By September the fate of Finland had been decided, lost to the Russians. Russia had an army in Finland of 50,000 troops. These faced a Swedish-Finnish army with 12,000 men in Finland and 9,000 in Aland. The 30,000 Swedes defending their homeland could not come to the aid of the Finns.

However, it was decided to send small force of 1,000 Life Grenadiers to aid the Finns, in what was a classic example of too little too late. The Life Grenadiers fought their way through autumn storms and shipwreck and on November 2nd, 700 grenadiers were in action at Wirta along side the Savolax Jagers.

The regiment spent the winter in their home quarters in Ostgotaland. Each division was now organized into two battalions, each of four companies. The recruit battalion being distributed among the regulars.

At the end of May 1809 the regiment arrived at the port of Karlskrona, and on 1st June it embarked bound for Stockholm. The 2nd rusthalls battalion was further moved to Jamtland, as part of the defense against Norway under the command of General Dobeln.

On 1st July 1809 the military situation was as follows. Russia had taken all of Finland and Aland. A Russian army 13,000 men strong (4,000 of which were guarding the lines of communications) under the command of Lieutenant-General Count Kamenskij had marched south from the Swedish-Finnish border and reached Umea with an advance guard on the Ore river.

The Swedes split there forces into two armies, the Coastal army and the northern army. The three remaining battalions of the Life Grenadier Regiment (1248 men) together with the Uplands Provincial (Indelta) Infantry Regiment formed the third brigade of the Coastal Army. The army had a total strength of less than 8,000 men. While the northern army marched to meet the Russians, the Coastal army was shipped up the coast. On 17th August the Coastal army landed at Ratan, behind the Russian front line.

The three battalions of the Life Grenadier Regiment that were present were reorganized into four. Until peace was declared the `rusthalls' division was to have two second battalions! Fifty dismounted light cavalry were attached to the regiment and together with 100 grenadiers formed a light company.

The Coastal army marched inland to Savar, where the Russians turned to meet them. On the 18th August battle was joined between 5,000 Swedes and 6,000 Russians; both sides fighting bravely. The combat was fierce, the Life Grenadiers had fired 90 shots per man. While the battle was still undecided, the Swedish General ordered his army to retreat on Ratan. Here a small skirmish was fought to cover the embarkation. Artillery fire from the fleet contributed greatly to the safe embarkation of the Swedish army.

The Swedes lost a total of 1,000 men while the Russians lost double that including three generals. The Life Grenadier's casualties were 6 officers and 92 men killed or wounded.

The Coastal army joined up with the northern army at Umea and pursued the Russians who, fearing for their communications, retreated northwards. Peace was declared in September 1809.

CAMPAIGN IN GERMANY 1813-14

Napoleon's army had been beaten by the Russian winter and the Emperor's power shaken. With Russia (summer 1812) and England (March 1813) Sweden agreed to provide 30,000 men to the coalition, and on 24th April 1813 an alliance was signed with Prussia. These countries guaranteed Sweden the right to conquer Norway, after Napoleon was defeated.

Jean Baptiste Bernadotte, one time Marshal of France, Prince of Ponte Corvo and now Karl Johan Prince Royal of Sweden was in command, and the Swedish Army had the competent leadership that it had so far lacked in these wars.

The regiment contributed two battalions of four companies each to the 1813 campaign. These battalions were based upon the 2nd battalions of each division, but were brought up to a strength of 600 grenadiers by taking men from the 1st battalions. Additionally 200 recruits were added to each battalion, giving the regiment a field strength of 1600 men.

They were commanded by Lieutenant- Colonel Clairfelts.

The regiment arrived in Germany on May 11th, 1813 and formed part of the 1st Brigade (Maj-Gen Schultzenheim) of the 1st Division (Lt-Gen Sandels).

The 1st Brigade consisted of:

1st (Svea) Life Guard 1 btn
2nd (Gota) Life Guard 1 btn
Life Regiment's Grenadier Corps 1 btn
Life Grenadier Regiment 2 btns
The Queens Life Regiment 2 btns
Mounted Life Guard
Smalands Dragoon Regiment
Artillery from Svea Artillery Regiment
Horse Artillery from Wendes Artillery Regiment

A light infantry company (Jagaredivision) was organized from each of the Life Grenadier Regiment's battalions with a staff of 6 and 13 men from each company; totaling 110 officers and men. All the light infantry companies in the brigade were formed into a light infantry battalion.

Throughout this campaign, Bernadotte was forced to conserve his army; Sweden had neither the money nor the manpower to replace the 30,000 men. Bernadotte knew that without this army he would never be able to take Norway, and was worried what his subjects would say if their future King killed-off Sweden's only army. This was a campaign in which the Swedish army was present, but usually arrived a little too late to take part in the fighting.

On 23rd August 1813 the regiment was present at the battle of Ruhlsdorff along with Prussian and Russian troops. The only Swedish troops engaged were the Horse Artillery.

On the 7th of September the Life Grenadier Regiment marched to Dennewitz in support of Bulow's Prussians who were engaged against Ney, but they arrived to late in the day to see action having covered the fifteen miles in six and a half hours. Next morning Bernadotte's order of the day emphasized how his own arrival with 40 battalions had made victory certain, this was not appreciated by the Prussian army, who had lost 7000 men in hard fighting. In Stockholm, Dennewitz was celebrated as a victory, but it was never followed up and the fresh Swedish army didn't pursue the beaten French who had lost 10,000 casualties that day.

On September 26th, the Life Grenadier Regiment engaged the French for the first time when they beat off a French attack at Mulda.

The whole Swedish army advanced on Leipzig on the 18th October, and camped around Breitenfeld, where the Swedish army had been twice victorious in the Thirty Years War. Only the horse artillery was to be engaged that night.

The following morning at 9 am the first brigade's combined light infantry battalion along with the Varmlands Jagare regiment stormed the strongly held Grimma Gate (Grimmisches Thor) supported by Swedish artillery.

The light infantry company was the only part of the Life Grenadier Regiment to be engaged at `The Battle of the Nations'. In the evening the Regiment was reviewed by the Emperors of Russia and Austria and the King of Prussia.

After Leipzig the Swedish marched north, helping the English to recapture Hanover. They proceeded further north to Lubeck and Kiel threatening Denmark. By the treaty of Kiel, signed on January 14th, Denmark ceded Norway to Sweden.

Swedish Life Grenadier Regt Uniforms and Equipment