Like its neighbor Russia, with whom it continually fought, Sweden in many ways remains an historical enigma wrapped within a riddle. In no place is this situation more pronounced than Sweden's involvement in the Napoleonic Wars, particularly as regards the flags and standards her troops bravely followed into combat. Even for Swedish researchers, the task of finding data on these unique pieces of military cloth is a daunting one, for Sweden prefers to record the glorious campaigns of Gustavus Adolphus and Charles XII, where the echoes of Breitenfeld or Narva remain strong. Little can be found concerning the troops who participated (and given Crown Prince, and former French Marshal, Jean-Baptiste Jule Bernadotte's (1763-1844) reluctance to expose his troops to danger, "participated" is perhaps a bit strong) in the battle§ of Dennewitz and Leipzig. Simply put, the Swedes look at the Napoleonic period as a rather minor and insignificant part of its military history. '
Now however, with the crack research help of Gustav Bergman of Sweden and Dan Schorr in the United States, enough information has come down to produce an accurate guide to those flags, standards and guidons carried by Bernadotte's Swede's against Napoleon during the 1813 - 1814 campaigns. The data thus provided is meant to supplement or correct three standard works on either the Napoleonic Swedish Army or Napoleonic flags in general. They are Keith Over's Flags and Standards of the Napoleonic Wars (1976), Terry Wise and Guido Rosignoli's Osprey Book Flags of the Napoleonic Wars - 3 (1981) and W.J. Rawkins' The Army of Sweden, 18021814 (1984). For completeness, the OB, or Order of, Battle, for Bernadotte's Swedish Army in Germany is also given.
Flags of the Varvade Regiments
The Swedish Army was divided into two distinct series of military organizations, the first being the Varvade or permanent enlisted regiments of the army. These were all artillery, Guard, Grenadier and other Royal Regiments that were retained on a permanent paid basis and were normally stationed as fortress garrisons throughout the country. In addition, there were evidently a few Indeita regiments (see below) under Royal patronage that also carried Varvade type flags.
The regiments included both cavalry and infantry establishments, though a portion of the cavalry, consisting of the Livgardettill Hast (Royal Horse Guard) and the Mornerska hussaregemente (also called the Kronprinsen hussaregemente), did not carry standards. This was expected as both sunits were classed as light regiments and given their traditional responsibilities for outposts and reconnaissance, it was thought too dangerous to carry any sort of flag or standard less it be easily captured. Likewise, there are no flags recorded for the artillery until some honorary standards were granted in 1815.
Varvade infantry flags generally followed the 1766 pattern, though personalized for the monarch then on the throne. The flags were identical with one possible exception. They measured 170 cm on the staff and 190 cm to the fly. They were carried on staffs painted white and topped with a gilt spear point pierced to show the monarch's initials. Cravats (the ribbon and tassel normally hanging down below the spear point) were probably white.
The Liffana (King's or Colonel's color, which served as the national flag) carried in 1813 was also white with the coat of arms of Holstein-Gottorp superimposed on those of Sweden in natural colors on both sides. The coat of arms mounted a closed, gold royal crown with red lining, silver pearls on the arches and red and blue stones on the base. The coat of arms also contained the Seraphim Order cross and chain in natural colors, and was flanked on each side by a rampant, crowned gold lion on a blue base. In each corner of the flag was a gold, closed royal crown, the top of which pointed to the corner where the crown was placed. The Liffana was carried by the first company in each regiment. See illustrations on page 13.
Varvade infantry also carried a Kompanifana (company flag which served as a regimental color) which was white and similar in appearance to the Liffana. The only change was the substitution of the Royal cipher on both sides in place of the coat of arms. The cipher consisted of two gold interlocked capital "C's" with the one on the left facing properly to the right, the other "C" on the right, reversed and facing to the left. The two "C's" were linked together midway at the top and bottom arms of the two letters. In the space thus formed between were the Roman numerals "XIII" standing for King Charles XIII (1748-1818). Good King Charles, formerly Duke Charles of Sudermania and regent to King Gustavus IV (also called Gustav IV Adolf), assumed the throne on 5 June 1809 after Gustavus was declared incompetent and placed under arrest on 13 March. The Royal cipher was topped by the same closed crown that adorned the coat of arms on the Liffana. The entire symbol was centered and consumed about 3/4 of the staff or height of the flag, and about 1/3 of the fly, or its length.
The only possible exception to this system might have been the Drottningens livregemente. Because the regiment existed under the patronage of the Queen, it is possible that the Liffana carried a combination of the arms of Sweden and those of the Queen's native land. During this time frame such a design likely took the form of the two oval shields side by side, the one on the left (closest the staff) blue trimmed gold with the three gold crowns of Sweden. The one on the right was the same but likely displayed the very complex arms of Baden (see Over, Flags of the Napoleonic Wars (1), page 13) in honor of Gustavus IV's wife Queen Fredika Dorotea Wilhelminas. The left shield tilted slightly to the right, the shield of Baden slightly to the left. The Swedish shield was also bordered by the Seraphim Order with chain. Centered above the two shields was a gold closed crown, presumably lined red similar to the crowns described above. The Swedish shield was flanked on the left by a rampant lion, the shield of Baden probably flanked on the right by a black griffin with silver claws and beak.
Likewise, the Kompanifana would have identical to that described above, but with a large "FDW" monogram, again standing for King Guastavus IV's wife Queen Fredika Dorotea Wilhelminas. There is no information indicating any change after the King's arrest in 1809, (Charles XIII's queen was Hedvig Elisabet Charlotta of Holstein-Gottorp) and evidence overall remains inconclusive. Such a pattern is confirmed, however, for the Queen during the Teign of Gustavus III where the arms of Sweden and Denmark were used.
Similarly, it is also possible that some units in 1813 continued to carry flags previously issued under the reign of King Gustavus IV (or Gustav IV Adolf), those these were "officially" withdrawn in 1809. If this occurred than the flags would only have differed by having the arms of Baden (rather than Holstein-Gottorp) superimposed over those of Sweden, while the Royal monogram would presumably have carried the letters "G A IV" in some fashion. Otherwise, the pattern of these flags for both Varvade and Indelta would have remained constant.
Varvade cavalry standards carried in 1813 were approximately 65 cm square and nearly identical in design to their infantry counterparts for both Liffana and Kompanifana. The only differences were the absence of the gold crown in each corner and the fact that the standards carried a gold fringe. Staffs were white with spear points the same as in the infantry. Cravats were also probably white.
Units with Bernadotte that carried Varvade type flags included the Livregementsbrigadens kyrassiarkar cavalry regiment (Life Brigade's Cuirassier Corps, possibly an Indelta formation), as well as the Svea Livgardet (Swedish Life Guard), Andra Livgardet (Andra Life Guard), Livregements grenadjarkar (Life Regiments' Grenadier Corps), Livgrenadjarregementet (L Grenadier Regiment), Konugens eget regemente (King's Enlisted Regiment) and Drottningens livregemente (Queen's Life Regiment) infantry units.
Flags of the Indelta Regiments:
Indelta regiments were also part of the permanent military establishment of Sweden. However, they were raised and serviced on a provincial basis, and not normally maintained on active duty year round. Instead, a small staff was kept on permanent duty while the remainder of the regiment's soldiers, drawn from each household in the province, were liable for 28 days of training each spring unless mobilized. The structure was thus loosely similar to a militia system or what the United States maintains today with its Reserves and National Guard. The system, however, was discarded in 1813 when Bernadotte introduced universal conscription with a five-year tour of duty for all eligible males between the ages of 20 to 25. In reality the quality of the Indelta vs the Varvade in 1813 was negligible, as many of the provincial troops had seen recent service against Russia in 1806 and kept mobilized since then. Though seldom committed to combat in 1813, when the Swedes fought, both Varvade and Indelta troops proved tough, reliable soldiers.
Because of their status, Kompanifana of the Indelta units had a distinctly provincial flavor (which allowed the flags to be carried through the reigns of several monarchs), with some designs dating back decades. The Liffana of the Indelta units, as well as the dimensions of all the flags themselves, were identical to those carried by the Varvade. The overall pattern and staffs for the Kompanifana, however, were in provincial colors, as were all cravats. The pattern carried was generally of the 1766 authorization, but there were exceptions.
In the infantry, provincial colors formed the background of the Indelta Kompanifana, with a small provincial badge in the center, topped with a crown. On some flags, this badge took ilie form of a stylized heraldic shield within laurel, but on flags issued after 1792 the device seems to have taken a more standard shield appearance, bordered with laurel in natural colors. Specific regimental details of the Indelta Kompanifana are as follows: Nerika infanteriregemente flag quartered diagonally (like an "V) with top and bottom quarters yellow, the left and right quarters red, though at least one source says another second flag was carried in 1813 with the pattern of colors reversed. The center stylized shield with laurel edge and open crown, all gold, had a red background and two crossed arrows in yellow with four white roses.
Upplands infanteriregemente - red background or field with open gold center crown, laurel and stylized shield that included a yellow orb and cross on a red field. The crown included white pearls with red and blue stones on the base.
Sodermanlands infanteriregemente yellow field with center shield that included a black griffin facing staff on a yellow field. Shield design and crown as for Upplands.
Vastmanlands infanteriregemente white field with eight narrow wavy, blue flames - one projecting from each corner and the center of each side towards and coming to a point near the center. Center shield and crown as for Upplands, but with three burning grey mountains with yellow flames on a white field.
Elfsborg infant eriregemen t e - field consisting of six, alternating yellow and black horizontal stripes, all of equal width with the first (top) stripe yellow. Center shield and crown as for Upplands, but with blue field containing three white diagonal stripes, over which stands a gold lion rampant facing staff, holding a sword and a blue shield edged gold containing three yellow crowns.
Skaraborgs infanteriregemente - field halved diagonally, bottom staff to top fly (like an "P), with half nearest staff in black, lower outside half in yellow. Center shield and crown as for Upplands, with black over yellow field with lion rampant (top half yellow, lower half black) facing the staff, two white stars on the black section of the field.
Kalmar infanteriregemente - red field. Center shield and crown as for Upplands, but mounting red lion rampant with crossbow facing staff on a yellow field.
Kronobergs infanteriregemente - yellow field. Center shield and crown as for Upplands, but mounting red lion rampant with crossbow facing staff on a yellow field.
Jonkopings infanteriregemente - field similar to Vastmanlands, but with yellow background and red flames. Center shield as for Upplands, but with a white tower on a green base all on a red field.
Vastgota infanteriregemente - field halved diagonally top staff to lower fly (like a "V) with half nearest staff in blue, outer upper half in white (some sources show yellow, but this may be due to the fact that the white linen used at this time had a marked tendency to fade very quickly with age). Center shield of a more typical heraldic heart design, black on lower left, yellow on upper right. On this shield background a rampant lion facing fly, its color light yellow on the black background, black on the yellow background. Two, white stars on the black background of the shield. Above the shield a yellow-gold crown with silver stones. Shield bordered with brown laurel branches mounting dark and light green leaves with red berries.
Norra Skanska infanteriregemente field quartered diagonally (like an "V) with upper and lower quarters in yellow (one source says chamois) and left and right quarters in 'red (one source says crimson). Round center shield bordered by green wreath but with no crown. Shield background is white with sitting gold lion holding a shield edged gold. The shield is halved yellow over blue with red eagle's head and gold crown. The Skanska regiments were new formations and thus adopted a Kompanifana previously carried by the now disbanded Varvade Adlercreutzka regementet. The unique Varvade patter, different from those described above, is noteworthy.
Sodra Skanska infanteriregemente identical to Norra Skanska.
Smalands infanteriregemente unknown, but if cavalry standard is any indication, likely a yellow field with center shield and crown as for Upplands with yellow field and red lion rampant facing staff, holding cross bow with silver-gold arrow.
Varmlands feltjaegerregemente - no flag, light infantry. Engelbrechtens infanteriregemente - unknown but unlikely any standard carried since the unit was raised in 1813 from French prisoners and deserters, German volunteers and expatriate Swedes.
Royal Swedois Regiment - another foreign regiment, this unit carried a flag of unique design, and so far as known, both sides of the flag were of identical pattern. The flag had a white cross, which thus formed four corner squares. The upper staff and lower fly squares were blue with three open gold crowns, the crowns arranged two on the top, one on the bottom.
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