The Cavalry uniforms weren’t submitted to the same amount of changes as the infantry uniforms in the beginning of the 1800s.Further, uniforms of the cavalry units were much more distinguishing compared to the infantry uniforms.After the Napoleonic Wars many Swedish cavalry regiments enacted new uniforms. However, the characteristic hussar uniform remained pretty much unchanged. The cavalry, hussars excluded, were equipped with a new headgear, the shako (Swe: Tschakå). Unlike the infantry shako, the cavalry shako had a flat top side.The hussar units wore the traditional hussar uniform. It was initially introduced mid-1700s and hadn’t been modified much since then. However, during the first half of the 1800s the hussar uniform was submitted to some changes. One of the more obvious change was done to the cords in front of the jacket the dolman. Between 1820 and 1840 the accumulation of cords became wider at the top and narrowing downwards. The number of cords and rows of buttons were also changed. Mid-1700s, the dolman had fewer cords and 5 rows of buttons. At the end of the 1700s the amount of rows increased; officers wore up to 30 rows while men wore circa 18.In 1846 the number of rows of cords were 8 on the jacket and 10 on the fur coat.The hussar cap was a high cap and equipped with a brass badge and a plume. The hussar cap was abolished in 1846. The hussars wore leather trousers until 1846 and from 1815 also dark blue long riding trousers, leather-covered below the knees instead of high boots.The image to the right shows the traditional high hussar cap. It is adorned with red braids and plume. Army Museum. Photo Hans Högman 2003.Pick a period:
Period 1810 - 1840
Uniforms of the Swedish Army - 1800s (C)
Contents; Uniforms of the 1800s:
Mounted Life Guards (Horse Guards)
The Light Life Dragoon Regiment was reorganized in 1801. Two of its squadrons then became mounted rangers (Swe: hästjägare). The mounted rangers were equipped with special custodian-style helmets with front-plate and plumes. The helmets were relatively high and supplied with a crest of horsehair (Swe: tagelliggare) and two plumes; one hanging down and one erected.The mounted rangers’ jacket was green with white cords and the trousers white. They wore also green long trousers.However, most part of the regiment wore a dragoon uniform; white jacket with blue chest stripes. Officers wore a three-cornered hat, other ranks a high felt hat with plume, front-plate and banderole.In 1806 the regiment was reorganized again and received a new name; Mounted Life Guards (Swe: Livgardet till häst). The regiment was equipped with a new headgear in 1807; a tall hat with a crest of horsehair, front-plate and plume. This was the same hat as the Svea Life Guards and the Life Regiment Grenadier Corps adopted the same year. The unwieldy hat with a crest of horsehair was abandoned in 1810.In 1813-1814 the regiment enacted the shako and a new headgear and in 1814 they adopted a new uniform, m/1814, which was a hussar uniform with a dolman jacket equipped with white collar and cuffs, medium blue trousers and a white fur coat. The dolman jacket and the fur coat were richly adorned with cords. A yellow and blue sash was worn around the waist.In the beginning of the 1820s the Mounted Life Guards adopted a new uniform, m/1820 and wore now the traditional tall hussar cap. The assigned shako was too heavy to wear. The collar of the dolman jacket was now blue.The image to the right shows a horse guard wearing hussar uniform m/1820 with the tall cap and the dolman adorned with silver buttons shaped like bullets. Army Museum.Images of uniform m/1823 of the Dragon Corps of the Life Regiment:
Hussar Corps of the Life Regiment
The Hussar Corps of the Life Regiment adopted a new uniform in 1809. The dolman was dark blue with white cords and 7 ½ dozen buttons. The fur coat was equipped the similar cords and a trimming of gray sheepskin and white lining. There were two types of trousers; blue jodhpurs of broadcloth leather-covered with calfskin and equipped with a foot strap and trousers made of chamois (shammy) buckskin. The jodhpurs were wide and could be worn over the high boots and trousers and dolman.
Dragoon Corps of the Life Regiment
The Cuirassier Corps of the Life Regiment wore in the first decade of the 1800s uniform m/1795 and as headgear the m/1795 bicorne. There were two types of jodhpurs; one pair made of leather and one pair leather-covered wide jodhpurs.The men received a new uniform in 1806 with a bicorne.In 1815 the Cuirassier Corps was reorganized into dragoons and renamed The Dragoon Corps of the Life Regiment. Thereby the unit adopted a dragoon uniform with a single-breasted jacket with white collar, cuffs and lining. There was also a short simpler dark blue jacket, a kollett, with white piping. They wore a yellow sash around the waist and a shako with a white plume and yellow banderole as headgear. The unit was wearing a custodian style helmet, m/1795, in parades and ceremonies.The Dragoon Corps adopted a new uniform in 1823, m/1823. The jacket was white with a blue plastron with yellow stripes and yellow piping and had tails. Epaulettes were worn on the shoulders. The trousers were blue with yellow stripes. Around the waist they wore a yellow and blue sash with tassels. The former shako was replaced for a helmet with a black crest of haircloth. The haircloth was changed to bearskin for officers in 1834.The image to the right shows a soldier wearing dragoon uniform m/1823 with helmet. Army Museum.See images above too.
Västgöta Cavalry Regiment
Västgöta Calvary Regiment was reorganized into a dragoon regiment in 1802 which also affected their uniform. The reorganization was accomplished in 1806 and the unit was renamed to Västgöta Dragoon Regiment. The new dragoon jacket was a blue with red collar and cuffs and equipped with red chest stripes and brass buttons. Headgear was a custodian style helmet with a white plume.The trousers were leather trousers and the footwear jackboots. In 1809 the helmet was replaced with a black peaked cap.The unit was dismounted in 1811 and reorganized into an infantry regiment. The regiment then adopted the dark blue infantry uniform, m/1810.
Småland Light Dragoon Regiment
Småland Light Dragoon Regiment received this name in 1801. In 1799 they adopted a uniform which in large was similar to the Västgöta Dragoon Regiment adopted a few years later with a jacket equipped with chest stripes. In 1801 they wore blue jodhpurs of broadcloth or wadmal. In 1806 the unit enacted a new headgear, a tall peaked cap but in 1810 it was replaced with a tolpak. A tolpak was a tall peaked cap made of haircloth. In 1819 the unit adopted the shako as new headgear.The regiment was reorganized into hussars and as hussars they wore the hussar uniform with the hall hussar cap.The image to the right shows tolpak m/1810, Småland Light Dragoon Regiment. Army Museum.
North Skåne Cavalry Regiment
North Skåne Cavalry Regiment, from 1801 Skåne Line Dragoon Regiment and from 1807 Skåne Hussar Regiment. As hussars they wore a hussar uniform in 1807.
Skåne Carbineer Regiment
Skåne Carbineer Regiment was among the Swedish regiments being deployed to Northern Germany (Napoleonic Wars) in 1813. They then wore uniform M/1801 but adopted a new uniform in 1814. The jacket was blue with yellow stripes and the trousers blue with yellow piping. Headgear was a shako with a hanging haircloth plume and a white banderole.In 1822 the regiment was transformed into dragoons by the name Skåne Dragoon Regiment. The shako was replaced in 1825 by a helmet of dragoon style, same type worn by the Life Regiment Dragoon Regiment. The same year the sash was replaced by a belt of the same kind used by the infantry.
Mörner Hussar Regiment
The Mörner Hussar Regiment wore in the beginning of the 1800s the traditional hussar uniform, i.e. dolman jacket. The dolman was blue with yellow cuffs and equipped with 10 dual rows of yellow cords, after 1813 14 rows. The dolman fur was blue with black trimming. Headgear was a tall cap of yellow broadcloth and dark blue felt, equipped with cockade, yellow braids with tassels and a feather plume. Officers wore a similar cap but with gold braids, tassels and badge of silk. The trousers were made of yellow skin. The leggings (Charivader) was made of blue broadcloth.The enlisted men wore from 1800 blue long trousers of broadcloth, leather-covered on the inner side. The cloak was blue with yellow piping and footwear black high boots.These leather-covered trousers became standard equipment in the 19th century for enlisted men in the cavalry.
Jämtland Mounted Rifle Squadron
Jämtland Mounted Rifle Squadron wore in 1803 a round cap with a peak in front and behind, brass badge, braids and white erected haircloth plume, yellow cockade and green banderole and a black hanging plume of haircloth.The squadron were equipped with two types of trousers; one pair of green trousers with brass buttons along the outer seams and leather-covered on the inner side. The other pair was gray long trousers of wadmal.The unit wore in 1812 a cap with a yellow front-plate, banderole and plume of green feathers. In 1816 the cap was replaced by a shako with a white hanging white plume of haircloth. In 1832 the unit received the new cavalry shako, m/1832. This shako was taller than the infantry shako.Until 1843 they wore a double-breasted jacket with black collar and cuffs and gray trousers with black piping and a sash. In 1843 they were equipped with blue trousers.
The Cavalry uniforms weren’t submitted to the same amount of changes as the infantry uniforms in the beginning of the 1800s.Further, uniforms of the cavalry units were much more distinguishing compared to the infantry uniforms.After the Napoleonic Wars many Swedish cavalry regiments enacted new uniforms. However, the characteristic hussar uniform remained pretty much unchanged. The cavalry, hussars excluded, were equipped with a new headgear, the shako (Swe: Tschakå). Unlike the infantry shako, the cavalry shako had a flat top side.The hussar units wore the traditional hussar uniform. It was initially introduced mid-1700s and hadn’t been modified much since then. However, during the first half of the 1800s the hussar uniform was submitted to some changes. One of the more obvious change was done to the cords in front of the jacket the dolman. Between 1820 and 1840 the accumulation of cords became wider at the top and narrowing downwards. The number of cords and rows of buttons were also changed. Mid-1700s, the dolman had fewer cords and 5 rows of buttons. At the end of the 1700s the amount of rows increased; officers wore up to 30 rows while men wore circa 18.In 1846 the number of rows of cords were 8 on the jacket and 10 on the fur coat.The hussar cap was a high cap and equipped with a brass badge and a plume. The hussar cap was abolished in 1846. The hussars wore leather trousers until 1846 and from 1815 also dark blue long riding trousers, leather-covered below the knees instead of high boots.The image to the right shows the traditional high hussar cap. It is adorned with red braids and plume. Army Museum. Photo Hans Högman 2003.Pick a period:
The Light Life Dragoon Regiment was reorganized in 1801. Two of its squadrons then became mounted rangers (Swe: hästjägare). The mounted rangers were equipped with special custodian-style helmets with front-plate and plumes. The helmets were relatively high and supplied with a crest of horsehair (Swe: tagelliggare) and two plumes; one hanging down and one erected.The mounted rangers’ jacket was green with white cords and the trousers white. They wore also green long trousers.However, most part of the regiment wore a dragoon uniform; white jacket with blue chest stripes. Officers wore a three-cornered hat, other ranks a high felt hat with plume, front-plate and banderole.In 1806 the regiment was reorganized again and received a new name; Mounted Life Guards (Swe: Livgardet till häst). The regiment was equipped with a new headgear in 1807; a tall hat with a crest of horsehair, front-plate and plume. This was the same hat as the Svea Life Guards and the Life Regiment Grenadier Corps adopted the same year. The unwieldy hat with a crest of horsehair was abandoned in 1810.In 1813-1814 the regiment enacted the shako and a new headgear and in 1814 they adopted a new uniform, m/1814, which was a hussar uniform with a dolman jacket equipped with white collar and cuffs, medium blue trousers and a white fur coat. The dolman jacket and the fur coat were richly adorned with cords. A yellow and blue sash was worn around the waist.In the beginning of the 1820s the Mounted Life Guards adopted a new uniform, m/1820 and wore now the traditional tall hussar cap. The assigned shako was too heavy to wear. The collar of the dolman jacket was now blue.The image to the right shows a horse guard wearing hussar uniform m/1820 with the tall cap and the dolman adorned with silver buttons shaped like bullets. Army Museum.Images of uniform m/1823 of the Dragon Corps of the Life Regiment:
Hussar Corps of the Life Regiment
The Hussar Corps of the Life Regiment adopted a new uniform in 1809. The dolman was dark blue with white cords and 7 ½ dozen buttons. The fur coat was equipped the similar cords and a trimming of gray sheepskin and white lining. There were two types of trousers; blue jodhpurs of broadcloth leather-covered with calfskin and equipped with a foot strap and trousers made of chamois (shammy) buckskin. The jodhpurs were wide and could be worn over the high boots and trousers and dolman.
Dragoon Corps of the Life Regiment
The Cuirassier Corps of the Life Regiment wore in the first decade of the 1800s uniform m/1795 and as headgear the m/1795 bicorne. There were two types of jodhpurs; one pair made of leather and one pair leather-covered wide jodhpurs.The men received a new uniform in 1806 with a bicorne.In 1815 the Cuirassier Corps was reorganized into dragoons and renamed The Dragoon Corps of the Life Regiment. Thereby the unit adopted a dragoon uniform with a single-breasted jacket with white collar, cuffs and lining. There was also a short simpler dark blue jacket, a kollett, with white piping. They wore a yellow sash around the waist and a shako with a white plume and yellow banderole as headgear. The unit was wearing a custodian style helmet, m/1795, in parades and ceremonies.The Dragoon Corps adopted a new uniform in 1823, m/1823. The jacket was white with a blue plastron with yellow stripes and yellow piping and had tails. Epaulettes were worn on the shoulders. The trousers were blue with yellow stripes. Around the waist they wore a yellow and blue sash with tassels. The former shako was replaced for a helmet with a black crest of haircloth. The haircloth was changed to bearskin for officers in 1834.The image to the right shows a soldier wearing dragoon uniform m/1823 with helmet. Army Museum.See images above too.
Västgöta Cavalry Regiment
Västgöta Calvary Regiment was reorganized into a dragoon regiment in 1802 which also affected their uniform. The reorganization was accomplished in 1806 and the unit was renamed to Västgöta Dragoon Regiment. The new dragoon jacket was a blue with red collar and cuffs and equipped with red chest stripes and brass buttons. Headgear was a custodian style helmet with a white plume.The trousers were leather trousers and the footwear jackboots. In 1809 the helmet was replaced with a black peaked cap.The unit was dismounted in 1811 and reorganized into an infantry regiment. The regiment then adopted the dark blue infantry uniform, m/1810.
Småland Light Dragoon Regiment
Småland Light Dragoon Regiment received this name in 1801. In 1799 they adopted a uniform which in large was similar to the Västgöta Dragoon Regiment adopted a few years later with a jacket equipped with chest stripes. In 1801 they wore blue jodhpurs of broadcloth or wadmal. In 1806 the unit enacted a new headgear, a tall peaked cap but in 1810 it was replaced with a tolpak. A tolpak was a tall peaked cap made of haircloth. In 1819 the unit adopted the shako as new headgear.The regiment was reorganized into hussars and as hussars they wore the hussar uniform with the hall hussar cap.The image to the right shows tolpak m/1810, Småland Light Dragoon Regiment. Army Museum.
North Skåne Cavalry Regiment
North Skåne Cavalry Regiment, from 1801 Skåne Line Dragoon Regiment and from 1807 Skåne Hussar Regiment. As hussars they wore a hussar uniform in 1807.
Skåne Carbineer Regiment
Skåne Carbineer Regiment was among the Swedish regiments being deployed to Northern Germany (Napoleonic Wars) in 1813. They then wore uniform M/1801 but adopted a new uniform in 1814. The jacket was blue with yellow stripes and the trousers blue with yellow piping. Headgear was a shako with a hanging haircloth plume and a white banderole.In 1822 the regiment was transformed into dragoons by the name Skåne Dragoon Regiment. The shako was replaced in 1825 by a helmet of dragoon style, same type worn by the Life Regiment Dragoon Regiment. The same year the sash was replaced by a belt of the same kind used by the infantry.
Mörner Hussar Regiment
The Mörner Hussar Regiment wore in the beginning of the 1800s the traditional hussar uniform, i.e. dolman jacket. The dolman was blue with yellow cuffs and equipped with 10 dual rows of yellow cords, after 1813 14 rows. The dolman fur was blue with black trimming. Headgear was a tall cap of yellow broadcloth and dark blue felt, equipped with cockade, yellow braids with tassels and a feather plume. Officers wore a similar cap but with gold braids, tassels and badge of silk. The trousers were made of yellow skin. The leggings (Charivader) was made of blue broadcloth.The enlisted men wore from 1800 blue long trousers of broadcloth, leather-covered on the inner side. The cloak was blue with yellow piping and footwear black high boots.These leather-covered trousers became standard equipment in the 19th century for enlisted men in the cavalry.
Jämtland Mounted Rifle Squadron
Jämtland Mounted Rifle Squadron wore in 1803 a round cap with a peak in front and behind, brass badge, braids and white erected haircloth plume, yellow cockade and green banderole and a black hanging plume of haircloth.The squadron were equipped with two types of trousers; one pair of green trousers with brass buttons along the outer seams and leather-covered on the inner side. The other pair was gray long trousers of wadmal.The unit wore in 1812 a cap with a yellow front-plate, banderole and plume of green feathers. In 1816 the cap was replaced by a shako with a white hanging white plume of haircloth. In 1832 the unit received the new cavalry shako, m/1832. This shako was taller than the infantry shako.Until 1843 they wore a double-breasted jacket with black collar and cuffs and gray trousers with black piping and a sash. In 1843 they were equipped with blue trousers.
