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Regiments in Finland during the Swedish Allotment System - Cavalry

Cavalry Regiments:

7. Regiments in Finland - Cavalry

• Åbo and Björneborg County Cavalry regiment • Nyland and Tavastehus County Cavalry Regiment

• Karelian or Viborg and Nyslott County Cavalry Regiment • Finnish Cavalry Corps of the Nobility

Introduction

Finland was a fully consolidated part of Sweden until 1809 and was under the same political and juridical administration as the rest of Sweden. Finland was one of four Swedish regions or "lands" (landsdelar); Svealand, Götaland, Norrland and Finland. Many regiments were established in the Finland part of Sweden during the Swedish period, both infantry and cavalry. The majority of the soldiers in the regiments in Finland were Finnish, while the majority of the officers came from today’s part of Sweden. The ethnic Finnish population of Finland spoke Finnish but the military command language was Swedish. There was a reason for this. When a soldier or an officer was transferred to another regiment they had to understand the commands independent of where in Sweden the regiment was garrisoned. The Finns were very able and loyal soldiers of the Swedish Army. Finland was lost to Russia in a war which ended in 1809.

Cavalry Regiments in Finland

Three of the original 8 Swedish cavalry regiments were established in Finland: 1. Åbo and Björneborg County Cavalry Regiment (1000 men) 2. Nyland and Tavastehus County Cavalry Regiment (1000 men) 3. Karelian or Viborg and Nyslott County Cavalry Regiment (1000 men) plus a Finnish Company of the Cavalry Corps of the Nobility (150 men) Cavalry units in the Swedish foreign provinces: • Cavalry Corps of the Nobility in Livonia, Estonia and Ingria (600 men) - Baltics • Cavalry Corps of the Nobility in Swedish Pomerania (600 men) - Northern Germany • Estonian Cavalry (800 men) All the regiments established in Finland were disestablished in 1809 when Sweden had to surrender Finland to Russia (The Swedish Russian war of 1808 - 1809). • Map of the counties in Finland (According to the Swedish Constitution of 1634) • Finland in the Allotment System (Indelningsverket)

Swedish name: Åbo och Björneborgs läns kavalleriregemente

The regiment was first established in 1632 as Åbo and Björneborg County Cavalry Regiment. The regiment was linked to the Allotment System in the 1690's. The regiment was disestablished in 1809. The regiment's history goes back to the "fanor" that was raised in in Finland during the 16th century. After the Great Nordic War (1721) the regiment was consolidated with the enlisted Life Dragoon Regiment and the Uppland "Stånd" Dragoon Regiment. The new regiment was given the name Life Dragoon Regiment. The Åbo and Björneborg County Cavalry Regiment was allotted with 1000 "rotar". Hence, the Regiment had 1000 horsemen organized into 8 squadrons. Uniform before the standard uniform: Grey coat with red cuffs. The regiment received the standard uniform (the blue and yellow Carolean uniform) in 1689/90. Squadrons: • Life Squadron • Lieutenant Colonel’s Squadron • Major’s Squadron • Vemo Squadron • Halikko Squadron • Övre Satakunta Squadron • Nedre Satakunta Squadron • Masko Squadron

Swedish name: Nylands- och Tavastehus läns kavalleriregemente

The regiment was first established in 1632 as Nyland and Tavastehus County Cavalry Regiment. The regiment was linked to the Allotment System in the 1690's. The regiment was disestablished in 1809. The regiment was reorganized into dragoons in 1721 and received the new name Nyland and Tavastehus Dragoon Regiment (Nylands och Tavastehus dragonregemente). The regiment's history goes back to the horsemen raised in in Nyland, Finland in 1618. The regiment was allotted with 1000 "rotar". Hence, the Regiment had 1000 horsemen organized into 8 squadrons. Uniform before the standard uniform: Grey coat with cuffs in the county color. The regiment received the standard uniform (the blue and yellow Carolean uniform) in 1689/90. Location of the primary Garrison of the Regiment: Poldinaho, Tavastehus. Training camp: ?? Squadrons: • Life Squadron • Lieutenant Colonel’s Squadron • Major’s (Borgå Squadron) • Helsing Squadron • Övre Hållola Squadron • Nedre Hållola Squadron • Säxmäki Squadron • Raseborg Squadron

Swedish name: Karelska eller Viborgs- och Nyslotts läns kavalleriregemente

The regiment was first established in 1632 as Viborg County Cavalry Regiment (Viborgs läns kavalleriregemente). The regiment was linked to the Allotment System in the 1690's. The regiment was disestablished in 1809. The regiment was disestablished in 1721 and the horsmen organized into a dragoon unit. This new unit received the name the Karelian or Kymmenegård Dragoon Squadron (Kareleska eller Kymmenegårds dragonskvadron) in 1724. In 1753 the Kymmenegård Company was reunited with squadron (separated in 1721). The regiment's history goes back to the Karelian horsemen raised in 1618. The regiment was allotted with 1000 "rotar". Hence, the Regiment had 1000 horsemen organized into 8 squadrons. Uniform before the standard uniform: Grey coat with cuffs in the county color. The regiment received the standard uniform (the blue and yellow Carolean uniform) in 1689/90. Companies before 1721: • Life Company • Lieutenant Colonel’s Company • Major’s Company • Övre Savolax Company • Nedre Savolax Company • Lappväsi Company • Vekelax Company • Eurepä Company Companies after 1721: • (Life Company) • Life Company (formerly Lieutenant Colonel’s Company) • Major’s Company • Vekelax Company • Lappväsi Company • Övre Savolax Company • (Eurepä Company) • Nedre Savolax Company Companies in red were companies established in locations lost in the peace treaty. Squadrons after 1743: • Kymmenegård Squadron • Övre Savolax Squadron • Nedre Savolax Squadron

Swedish name: Finska adelsfanan

The Cavalry Corps of the Nobility had a company organized in Finland with a strength of 155 men All officers in the Cavalry Corps of the Nobility were of noble birth. The regiment was an enlisted (värvad) unit. The regiment was disestablished in 1809. The horsemen were recruited only in times of war and according to the privileges of the Nobility this unit was only to serve within Sweden. However, in 1702, King Karl XII had the Swedish companies shipped to the Baltic provinces. The Cavalry Corps of the Nobility participated in the battles of Lund 1676, Fraustadt 1706 and ended up as Russian prisoners of War after the battle of Poltava 1709 when the Swedish Field Army surrendered in Perevolotjna a week after the battle. The Cavalry Corps of the Nobility had their last General Muster in 1743. The unit was never mobilized after that year. The regiment was finally disestablished in 1809. Company: Lieutenant Colonel's Company (established in Åbo and Björneborg County.