Kronobergs Infantry

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Origin and History

The regiment was initially raised in 1616 as the Småland Storeregement, one of the nine grand regiments organised by Gustavus Adolphus. It incorporated the Smaland fotfänikor (smaller units of about 500 men) originally raised in 1560.

In 1623, this grand regiment was organised into sub-units: three field regiments (Småland, Kalmar and Kronoberg) and one cavalry regiment (Småland).

On December 5 1682, the grand regiment was finally broken down into three distinct and independent "Indelta" regiments, giving birth to the Kronobergs Infantry regiment.

Transferred in Pomerania in 1699, just before the Great Northern War, the Regiment took part in the Holstein campaign of 1700. With Gyllenstierna to Poland in 1702 and thereafter with the King army. Captured at Poltava (1709) but reraised. In the Skane campaign (1710). Transferred to Wismar, 1711 and captured there in 1716. Raised again and in the Norwegian campaign of 1718.

At the beginning of the Seven Years' War, the regiment consisted of 1,184 men in 2 battalions of 4 companies. Each company had 137 privates and 11 officers, NCOs and musicians.

During the Seven Years' War, the regiment was commanded by:

• not yet available

Service during the War

Initially in 1757, the regiment remained in Sweden.

In 1758, 6 companies of the regiment (about 900 men) were sent as reinforcement to the Swedish army operating in Pomerania.

Uniform

Privates

Uniform in 1756 - Source: Kronoskaf

Uniform Details as per
sketches of infantry uniforms from the
Swedish War Archives

Headgear	Musketeer black tricorne laced white with a tin button on the left side Grenadier Prussian style mitre with a blue bag (because of the great similarity of the Prussian and Swedish grenadiers, in the field the mitre was covered with a black wax cloth)
Neckstock	black
Coat	dark blue with 10 tin buttons down the front with yellow trimmed buttonholes and 2 tin buttons at small of the back Collar saffron yellow Shoulder Straps on the left shoulder with one tin button Lapels none Pockets on each side with 3 tin buttons each Cuffs saffron yellow Turnbacks saffron yellow
Waistcoat	yellow
Breeches	yellow
Gaiters	white stockings with brown leather strap at knee
Leather Equipment	Crossbelt broad white leather shoulder-strap Waistbelt white with brass buckle Cartridge Box black Bayonet Scabbard none Scabbard black with brass fittings Footgear black shoes with brass buckles

Troopers were armed with a sword and a musket. The bayonet was permanently fixed to the musket.

Other interpretations

Schirmer as well as Pengel and Hurt mention white trimmed buttonholes.

NCOs

NCOs wore uniforms similar to those of the privates with the following differences:

• silver lace on the tricorne
• no shoulder straps
• brass buttons (smaller than those of officers)

NCOs carried halberds but no cane.

Officers

Officers wore a blue uniform (coat) with blue distinctives (collar, cuffs, turnbacks). They were further distinguished from privates by:

• a gold lace on the tricorne
• no turnbacks on the coat
• a silver gorget
• brass buttons
• blue or black breeches (breeches of the same colour as those of the privates were also worn)

N.B.: contrarily to the custom in other armies, Swedish officers did not wear any sash

Horses were equipped with blue housing with a yellow border.

Musicians

The uniform of the drummers were identical to those of the privates but white laces decorated the collar, seems, edges and pockets of the coat.

The drums were brass with provincial coats of arms embossed on the front. The rims were blue with yellow edging.

Colours

The pikes used as staffs to carry the colours were always yellow. The Liffana had gold finials while the Kompanifana had steel finials. The colours measured 2.12 x 1.70 m. (1.81 x 1.33 m. as per Clifford).

Liffana (colonel flag): white field; centre device carried the crowned royal arms of Sweden flanked by 2 crowned golden lions; the corner of the first canton carried a red lion carrying a crossbow.

N.B.: for the liffana, Clifford adds a pedestal supporting the arms, the letters “AFRS” above the arms and 1 royal crown in the corner of each of the 3 remaining cantons.

Kompanifana (ordonnance flag): yellow field; centre device consisting of a red lion carrying a crossbow; the whole surrounded by a green laurel wreath tied with a gold ribbon.

Liffana - Source: Hannoverdidi

Kompanifana - Source: Hannoverdidi

The colonel's battalion carried the Liffana and a Kompanifana. The lieutenant-colonel's battalion carried 2 Kompanifanor.

References

Alexanderssons: Lars, Heraldik - Landskapsvapen (website)

Economic Expert: Smalandia Grand Regiment (website)

Großer Generalstab: Die Kriege Friedrichs des Großen - Dritter Teil: Der Siebenjährige Krieg 1756–1763. Vol. 6 Leuthen, Kriegsgeschichtliche Abteilung II (Publisher), Berlin 1904, pp.92-107, Annex pp. 11-16

Höglund, Lars-Eric and Ake Sallnäs: The Great Northern War 1700-1721, Colours and Uniforms, Acedia Press, Karlstadt, 2000

Pengel, R. D. and G. R. Hurt: Swedish Army in Pomerania – 1757-1763, Birmingham, 1983

Purky, Jim: Swedish Army Organization, Seven Years War Association Journal Vol. X No. 1

Säwe, Teofron: Sveriges deltagande i Sjuåriga Kriget Åren 1757-1762, Beijers Bokförlagsaktiebolag, Stockholm, 1915

Schirmer, Friedrich: Die Heere der kriegführenden Staaten 1756-1763, published by KLIO-Landesgruppe Baden-Württemberg, Neuauflage 1989

Schorr, Dan: Swedish Flags 1757-1762 - Part II Infantry Flags, The Courrier, March-April 1980

Schorr, Dan: Uniforms of the Swedish Army, 1757-1762, The Courrier, June-July 1979

Swedish War Archives, Sketches of infantry uniforms

English Wikipedia – Kronobergs regemente

Wilson, Peter: The Swedish Army in 1756, Seven Years War Association Journal Vol. X No. 1

N.B.: the section Service during the War is mostly derived from our articles depicting the various campaigns, battles and sieges.