Archibald Douglas-Stjernorp
Encyclopedia
Count Vilhelm Archibald Douglas (19 July 1883, Stjärnorp Castle
– 5 July 1960), was a Swedish
nobleman and soldier, who served as Inspector and Supreme Commander of the Swedish Army
from 1944 to 1948.
He was the second son of Count Ludvig Douglas
, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden, and Countess Anna Ehrensvärd.
His eldest son, Count Carl Douglas-Stjernorp, was a diplomat and Royal Swedish Ambassador.
Archibald's elder brother Robert, a nobleman in Germany, married dowager Queen Augusta Victoria of Portugal, widow of King Manoel II.
Following his family's traditions, he was educated in the military, and he took part also voluntarily in many combat developments. Sweden did not wage any wars during his lifetime, so an actual combat and war situation had to be experienced elsewhere. As a relatively young man, Archibald Douglas participated as a volunteer in the Civil War of 1918
in Finland
, and received in that country the rank of Lieutenant-General. After the Finnish adventure, he continued a steady career in Swedish land forces, despite Sweden being neutral all his career. His tasks were more like guard duties and maintaining defense capabilities.
In 1930s and 1940s, Archibald held commands over large military districts, and ultimately over all Swedish land forces (1944-48).
Douglas wrote biographical literature and biographies of Marshal of Finland
Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim
(his Finnish contemporary), and Swedish Field Marshal
Robert Douglas, Count of Skenninge
, his ancestor.
The ancestral Stjärnorp Castle
, which his father had purchased back to the family some years before Archibald's birth, was designated as Archibald's family seat.
Douglas died as a result of a car accident near Linköping
in July 1960.
Stjärnorp Castle
Stjärnorp Castle is situated north of Linköping, in the southern province of Östergötland, Sweden. It was built by the Douglas Family, with a view over Lake Roxen.- History :...
– 5 July 1960), was a Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
nobleman and soldier, who served as Inspector and Supreme Commander of the Swedish Army
Swedish Army
The Swedish Army is one of the oldest standing armies in the world and a branch of the Swedish Armed Forces; it is in charge of land operations. General Sverker Göranson is the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Army.- Organization :...
from 1944 to 1948.
He was the second son of Count Ludvig Douglas
Ludvig Douglas
Ludvig Vilhelm August Douglas, Count of Mühlhausen, Gondelsheim, Skenninge and Stjernorp, Lord of Langenstein and Stjernorp castles , was a conservative Swedish politician and official...
, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden, and Countess Anna Ehrensvärd.
His eldest son, Count Carl Douglas-Stjernorp, was a diplomat and Royal Swedish Ambassador.
Archibald's elder brother Robert, a nobleman in Germany, married dowager Queen Augusta Victoria of Portugal, widow of King Manoel II.
Following his family's traditions, he was educated in the military, and he took part also voluntarily in many combat developments. Sweden did not wage any wars during his lifetime, so an actual combat and war situation had to be experienced elsewhere. As a relatively young man, Archibald Douglas participated as a volunteer in the Civil War of 1918
Finnish Civil War
The Finnish Civil War was a part of the national, political and social turmoil caused by World War I in Europe. The Civil War concerned control and leadership of The Grand Duchy of Finland as it achieved independence from Russia after the October Revolution in Petrograd...
in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, and received in that country the rank of Lieutenant-General. After the Finnish adventure, he continued a steady career in Swedish land forces, despite Sweden being neutral all his career. His tasks were more like guard duties and maintaining defense capabilities.
In 1930s and 1940s, Archibald held commands over large military districts, and ultimately over all Swedish land forces (1944-48).
Douglas wrote biographical literature and biographies of Marshal of Finland
Marshal of Finland
Marshal of Finland was the title awarded to the Finnish Commander-in-Chief Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim on his 75th birthday on June 4, 1942. The fully honorary rank was specially created for Mannerheim...
Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim
Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim
Baron Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim was the military leader of the Whites in the Finnish Civil War, Commander-in-Chief of Finland's Defence Forces during World War II, Marshal of Finland, and a Finnish statesman. He was Regent of Finland and the sixth President of Finland...
(his Finnish contemporary), and Swedish Field Marshal
Field Marshal
Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...
Robert Douglas, Count of Skenninge
Robert Douglas, Count of Skenninge
Robert Douglas , Count of Skenninge, Baron of Skalby, was a Scottish Field Marshal in the Swedish army, during the Thirty Years' War and the Swedish-Polish wars...
, his ancestor.
The ancestral Stjärnorp Castle
Stjärnorp Castle
Stjärnorp Castle is situated north of Linköping, in the southern province of Östergötland, Sweden. It was built by the Douglas Family, with a view over Lake Roxen.- History :...
, which his father had purchased back to the family some years before Archibald's birth, was designated as Archibald's family seat.
Douglas died as a result of a car accident near Linköping
Linköping
Linköping is a city in southern middle Sweden, with 104 232 inhabitants in 2010. It is the seat of Linköping Municipality with 146 736 inhabitants and the capital of Östergötland County...
in July 1960.
Published works
- Finlands frihetskrig: skildrat av deltagare. Helsingfors: H. Schildt, 1921-1928.
- Jag blev officer. Stockholm: Bonnier, 1950.
- Prins Gustaf Adolf: en minnesbok. Stockholm: Norstedt, 1951.
- Robert Douglas: en krigargestalt från vår storhetstid. Stockholm: Bonnier, 1957.
Further reading
- "Gen. Archibald Douglas", The Times (9 July 1960): 10.