Copyright © Hans Högman 2019-05-20
Temporary Units, so-called "-
männing" regiments - Infantry
8. Temporary Units-
Infantry
Introduction
In order to strengthen the Army at time of war a
great number of "extra" regiments were established.
An example of those regiments is the so-called "-
männing" regiments.
During The Great Nordic War (1700 - 1721) a number
of "Three-männing" (tremänningsregementen)
regiments were established as early as in 1700.
Normally the "Rote"-farmers only had to provide one
infantry soldier to the Army and every "rusthåll" had
to provide one cavalryman with a horse to the
Cavalry.
Three-männing regiments meant that three "rotar"
together had to provide an extra soldier (besides the
regular soldiers they had to provide).
These extra soldiers were meant to be a reserve back
home when the regular soldiers were mobilized and
away from the home county. So the purpose of the
three-männing regiments were to protect Sweden
when the regular regiments were abroad. The three-
männing regiments were not supposed to be sent
abroad. However, the extra units were also used to
strengthen the field Army. Sometimes the extra
soldiers also were used to replace killed soldiers in
the regular regiments.
Both four- and five-männing regiments were
established in 1702. In four-männing regiments 4
"rotar" togeter provided an extra soldier and in five-
männing regiments 5 "rotar" together provided an
extra soldier. This was of course beside their duty to
provide the ordinary soldier of the "rote".
The five-männing regiments were established in the
provinces where the ordinary provincial regiment
was serving in war zones. The four-männing
regiments were established in the few provinces
where the ordinary provincial regiment still was
quartered at home.
Three-männing regiments were established once
again in 1710, both infantry and cavalry.
In 1718 both three- and five-männing regiments
were established.
Reserve soldiers - the "Vargering"
The männing-regiments were first of all extra units
being established at wartime. However they were
not really reserve soldiers to be used as replacement
of killed soldiers in the ordinary regiments.
The system of providing reserve soldiers was called
"vargering" or "varjering". This was soldiers recruited
by each "rote" as a reserve for the ordinary soldier of
the "rote" in war time (to be used if the ordinary
soldier got killed).
If the ordinary soldier got killed, the "rote"-farmer
had to provide a replacement soldier. If he didn't
manage this the farmer often had to dress in
uniform him self. It wasn't easy to find a reserve in
times of war. So it was in the interest of the "rote"
farmers to have a reserve soldier ready. It was very
common that it is was a son of the ordinary soldier
of the "rote" who was the reserve soldier.
Temporary Infantry Units
Established During the Great
Nordic War - Sweden
Upplands tremänningsregemente till fot
(1197 men - 8 Companies)
Uppland Three Männing Regiment of Foot
Established in 1700. The soldiers were recruited by
the "rote" farmers in Central Sweden (first of all in
the provinces of Uppland, Västmanland and
Dalarna). One battalion of the regiment was
together with a battalion of Östgöta and
Södermanlands Three Männing Regiment
transferred to the Life Guards of Foot in 1702.
To reinforce the the Uppland Three Männing
Regiment of Foot, the remaining battalion of the
Östgöta and Södermanlands Three Männing
Regiment was transferred to the regiment in 1703.
In 1708 the remains of the regiment was transferred
to the Life Guards of Foot. The Uppland Three
Männing Regiment of Foot was reestablished a
second time in 1712.
The regiment was disestablished in 1719 and the
soldiers were transferred to the Foot Life Gurads
and a few other units.
The first commander of the regiment was General
Major Adam Ludvig Lewenhaupt.
Upplands femmänningsregemente (960 men
- 8 Companies)
Uppland Five Männing Regiment of Foot
Established in 1703. The soldiers were recruited by
the "rote" farmers in the provinces of Uppland (240
men), Södermanland (240 men), Västmanland (240
men) and Dalarna (240 men). In 1714 the regiment
was extended to 1200 men. A Garrison Regiment
was established in the city of Stralsund (Swedish
Pomerania, Northern Germany) in 1720. This
regiment was the result of a merger of 600 men
from the Uppland Five Männing Regiment of Foot
and the Västgöta Five Männing Regiment of Foot.
The regiment received the name "H. Maj:t
Drottningens Livregemente" in 1722.
When the Uppland Five Männing Regiment of Foot
was divided in 1720, the remains of the regiment
was transferred to the Mountain Regiment
(Bergsregementet).
Östgöta och Södermanlands
tremänningsregemente till fot (800 men - 8
Companies)
Östgöta and Södermanland Three Männing
Regiment of Foot
Established in 1700. The soldiers were recruited by
the "rote" farmers in the provinces of Östergötland
(400 men) and Södermanland (400 men).
In 1703 one battalion of the regiment was together
with a battalion from the Uppland Three Männing
Regiment of Foot transferred to the Life Guards of
Foot. The remaining battalion of the Östgöta and
Södermanland Three Männing Regiment of Foot
formed a new regiment together with the remaining
battalion of the Uppland Three Männing Regiment of
Foot. In 1708 this new regiment was also transferred
to the Life Guards of Foot.
The Östgöta and Södermanland Three Männing
Regiment of Foot was reestablished in 1712. In 1714
the regiment was once again divided and one part
was transferred to the Östgöta Infantry Regiment
and the other part to the Södermanland Regiment.
However this division of the regiment was dissolved
by King Karl XII the very same year and the Östgöta
and Södermanland Three Männing Regiment of Foot
was reestablished. In 1716 the regiment was
reinforced with the Östgöta Three Männing
Regiment of Foot. The regiment now numbered 1200
men.
The Östgöta and Södermanland Three Männing
Regiment of Foot had an important role in the battle
of Södra Stäket, South of Stockholm, on August 13th
1719 in a victorious battle against the Russians. The
regiment managed to hold their positions until
reinforcements arrived - the Södermanland
Regiment.
At the end of 1721 the regiment was reduced and
the majority of the soldiers were transferred to the
Life Guards of Foot.
Smålands tremänningsregemente till fot
(1100 men - 8 Companies)
Småland Three Männing Regiment of Foot
Established in 1700. The soldiers were recruited by
the "rote" farmers in the province of Småland. After
the battle at Liesna in 1708 the remains of the
regiment was transferred to the Life Guards of Foot.
The Regiment was reestablished in 1712. In 1719 the
regiment was merged with the Småland Five
Männing Regiment of Foot and received the new
name Småland Three and Five Männing Regiment of
Foot.
In 1724 the regiment moved to Halmstad in the
province of Halland. The regiment then received the
name Halland Garrison Regiment and later His
Majesty's Own Enlisted Regiment.
Smålands femmänningsregemente till fot
(900 men - 8 Companies)
Småland Five Männing Regiment of Foot
Established in 1703. The soldiers were recruited by
the "rote" farmers in the provinces of Östergötland
(240 men) and Småland (220 men).
In 1719 the regiment was merged with the Småland
Three Männing Regiment of Foot and received the
new name Småland Three and Five Männing
Regiment of Foot.
Västgöta tremänningsregemente till fot
(1200 men - 9 Companies, later 8)
Västgöta Three Männing Regiment of Foot
Established in 1700. The soldiers were recruited by
the "rote" farmers in the counties of Skaraborg (400
men) and Älvsborg - including Dal (800 men). In 1710
the regiment was reduced to 900 men. In 1718 the
unit once again numbered 1200 soldiers.
In 1719 the regiment was merged with the new
Gothenburg Garrison Regiment. The regiment was
reorganized into artillery in 1801 and formed the
Göta Artillery Regiment as well as the Army Fleet Sea
Artillery Corps.
Västgöta femmänningsregemente till fot
(1209 men - 8 Companies, 1709 - 1714: 12
Companies)
Västgöta Five Männing Regiment of Foot
Established in 1703. The soldiers were recruited by
the "rote" farmers in the provinces of Närke and
Värmland (369 men) plus the counties of Skaraborg
(315 men) and Älvsborg - including Dal (525 men).
In the beginning the regiment carried the name
Västgöta Four and Five Männing Regiment but received
the name Västgöta Five Männing Regiment of Foot in
1716. A Garrison Regiment was established in the
city of Stralsund (Swedish Pomerania, northern
Germany) in 1720. This regiment was the result of a
merger of 600 men from Uppland Five Männing
Regiment of Foot and Västgöta Five Männing
Regiment of Foot. The regiment received the name
"H. Maj:t Drottningens Livregemente" in 1722. The
remains of the Västgöta Five Männing Regiment of
Foot formed together with Västgöta Three Männing
Regiment of Foot the Gothenburg Garrison regiment.
Närke-Värmlands tremänningsregemente
till fot (1023 men - 5 (8) Companies)
Närke and Värmland Three Männing Regiment of
Foot
Established in 1700. The regiment was established
with additional soldiers enrolled in the provinces of
Närke and Värmland (472 men) and with soldiers
recruited by the Värmland Mining Districts (551
men).
In 1716 the regiment received the name Närke Three
Männing Regiment of Foot.
The regiment was reestablished in 1712. In 1719 the
remains of the regiment was transferred to the Life
Guards of Foot, the artillery and to the Östgöta and
Södermanland Three Männing Regiment of Foot.
Hälsinge tremänningsbataljon (400 men - 1
Battalion)
Hälsinge Three Männing battalion of Foot
Established in 1701. The soldiers were recruited by
the "rote" farmers in the provinces of Medelpad,
Hälsingland and Jämtland. In the beginning the
battalion numbered 400 men but was reinforced to
640 men with Five Männing soldiers from
Hälsingland and Gästrikland in 1702. The battalion
was transferred to Hälsingland Regiment and to
Jämtland Regiment in 1719.
Bergsregementet (femmänningar - 500 men)
Mountain Regiment
A mountain battalion was established by Bergslag
Mining District in 1701. In 1705 they were
consolidated with another regiment and formed a
regiment in 1709.
Östra Skånska utskrivningsregementet (600
men in 1715)
East Scanian Conscript Regiment
Established 1711 in the province of Skåne.
Västra skånska utskrivningsregementet
(665 men in 1718)
West Scanian Conscript Regiment
Established 1711 in the province of Skåne. The
regiment was transferred to the Stralsund Garrison
Regiment in 1721.
Hallands utskrivningsregementet (700 men
in 1718)
Halland Conscript Regiment
Established 1711 in the province of Halland.
Disbanded in 1721.
Västerbottens tremänningar till fot
Västerbotten Three Männing Regiment of Foot
Established in 1701. The soldiers were recruited by
the "rote" farmers in the province of Västerbotten.
Grenadjärbataljonen (512 men)
The Grenadier Battalion
Established in 1706. The soldiers were hand picked
from the Småland and Västgöta Three Männing
Regiment, Uppland Västgöta Five Männing Regiment,
the East Scanian Conscript Regiment, the West
Scanian Conscript Regiment, the Halland Conscript
Regiment and the Mountain Regiment. The regiment
formed 8 companies of 64 men each and the
regiment was used as a special task force.
The regiment was disbanded in 1710 and the
soldiers was transferred to the Life Guards of Foot.
Äntergast-, Sjögast- och Volontär-
regementen
Marine Board, Sea Hand and Volunteer
Regiments
Established in the provinces of Uppland,
Södermanland, Västmanland, Småland and
Hälsingland.
Infantry "Männing" Regiments in
Finland
Österbottens tremänningar till fot
Österbotten Three Männing Regiment of Foot
Established in 1701.
Österbottens femmänningar till fot
Österbotten Five Männing Regiment of Foot
Established in 1701.
Åbo, Björneborgs och Nylands
tremänningsregemente till fot (1025 men - 8
Companies)
Åbo, Björneborg and Nyland Three Männing
Regiment of Foot
Established in 1700. The soldiers were recruited by
the "rote" farmers in the provinces of Åbo,
Björneborg and Nyland. In 1708 the remains of
regiment were transferred to the Värmland
regiment. The unit was reestablished in 1709/1710.
Nylands femmänningar till fot
Nyland Five Männing Regiment of Foot
Established in 1712/13. The soldiers were recruited
by the "rote" farmers in the province Nyland and in
the district of Raseborg (in total 100 men).
Tavastehus, Viborgs och Nyslotts läns
tremänningsregemente till fot
Tavastehus, Viborg and Nyslott Three Männing
Regiment of Foot
Established in 1700. The soldiers were recruited by
the "rote" farmers in the counties of Tavastehus,
Viborg and Nyslott. Surrendered to the Russians in
august 1704 at Narva. The regiment was not
reestablished.
Savolax femmänningsregemente (bataljon)
till fot
Savolaks Five Männing Regiment of Foot
Established in 1711. The soldiers were recruited by
the "rote" farmers in the county of Savolaks. The unit
had a strength of about 200 men.
In 1714 the regiment was transferred to Savolaks
and Nyslott Infantry Regiment.
About the so-called “Männing”
Regiments
Normally these temporally regiments didn't have the
same number of soldiers as the regular regiments.
They were also often consolidated with other
regiments when the number of soldiers decreased.
The soldiers in a temporally regiment were recruited
in different provinces. However, the temporally
regiments were given a name corresponding to the
name of the province where the majority of the
soldiers were recruited.
Stånd - ståndsperson
A few of the temporally regiments has the word
"stånd" in their regimental names, for example the
"Stånd" Dragoons. Those regiments were raised by
wealthy persons of rank (ståndsperson). By persons
of rank you normally mean the nobility, estate
owners or well-off townspeople.
The Clergy Dragoons (prästdragoner) were provided
by the clergy.
The Mountain Regiment (Bergsregementet) was
organized into 8 companies and established in
mining areas. The regiment was a temporally unit
and was established only when needed. It was first
established in the 1500's and in the beginning of the
1600's and during the Great Nordic War (1700-1721).
The soldiers were recruited in the provinces of
Närke, Västmanland, Värmland, Dalarna,
Södermanland, Östergötland, Västergötland and
Småland. All of those provinces were mining
districts.
A few of the temporally regiments were later
reorganized into regular or permanent regiments.
These regiments then received names after the
names of their Colonels.
Example of those regiments:
•
Västgöta Three "Männing Regiment (Västgöta
tremänningsregemente) became the Steding
Regiment (Stedingkska regementet). The
regiment were merged with the Göta Artillary
Regiment (Göta artilleriregemente) in 1801.
•
Mountain Regiment (Bergsregementet) became
the Stackelberg Regiment (Stackelbergska
regementet) and later the Jägerhorn Regiment
(Jägerhornska regementet). The regiment were
lost at the fortress of Sevaborg, Helsinki in 1809
(Swedish-Russian War of 1808 - 1809).
•
West Scanian Regiment (Västra Skånska
regementet) became the Engelbrecht Regiment
(Engelbrechtska regementet) and remained in
The Swedish Pomerania, Northern Germany
(Pommern) after the province were lost in 1815
•
Småland Three and Five "Männing" Regiments
(Smålands tre- och femmännings-regementen)
became the base for His Majesty's Enlisted
Regiment (Konungens eget värvade regemente).
Related Links
•
The Allotment System
•
Swedish Wars
•
The Navy & the Army Fleet
•
Swedish Military Unit Designations
•
Swedish Military Branch and Unit Insignias
•
Uniforms of the Swedish Army
•
Source References
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