Nylands och Tavastehus läns kavalleriregemente
Encyclopedia
Nyland and Tavastehus County cavalry regiment was a Swedish Army
cavalry
regiment
located in the county of Nyland and Tavastehus
that traced its origins back to the 17th Century. It was split in 1791.
. It was one of the original eight Swedish cavalry regiments mentioned in the Swedish constitution
of 1634. The regiment's first commander was Torsten Stålhandske
. Finnish horsemen were also known as "Hakkapeliitat
".
In the spring of 1700 the regiment was transferred to General Wellingk's army corps in Swedish Livonia
. From 1702 on, the regiment, with six of its eight companies
, had joined the main army. In 1705–1706 it was part of Carl Gustaf Rehnskiöld's corps. After the Battle of Poltava
in 1709, the regiment was present at the capitulation in Perevolochna
. The regiment had to be completely reraised. It was then stationed with the army in Finland. The regiment was part of General Armfeldt
's army of 7,500 men which invaded Norway
through Jämtland
in August 1718.
The cavalry regiment was reorganized into Nyland and Tavastehus dragoon
regiment in 1721. In 1791, the regiment was converted to infantry. The northern battalion was incorporated into Tavastehus county infantery regiment as its third battalion
, while the southern battalion was incorporated into Nyland infantery regiment.
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 :...
cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
located in the county of Nyland and Tavastehus
Nyland and Tavastehus County
Nyland and Tavastehus County was a county of the Swedish Empire from 1634 to 1809.In 1775 a part of Satakunta was added from the Åbo and Björneborg County, while Upper Hollola was transferred to the new Kymmenegård County....
that traced its origins back to the 17th Century. It was split in 1791.
History
The regiment has its origin in the Nyland knights raised in 1618. In 1632, this unit was organized into a cavalry regiment. The regiment's soldiers were conscripted mainly from the county of Nyland and TavastehusNyland and Tavastehus County
Nyland and Tavastehus County was a county of the Swedish Empire from 1634 to 1809.In 1775 a part of Satakunta was added from the Åbo and Björneborg County, while Upper Hollola was transferred to the new Kymmenegård County....
. It was one of the original eight Swedish cavalry regiments mentioned in the Swedish constitution
Constitution
A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is...
of 1634. The regiment's first commander was Torsten Stålhandske
Torsten Stålhandske
Torsten Stålhandske – Swedish for "Torsten Steelglove", sometimes written "Stålhansch" in the Swedish of the times , and referred to in German literature as Torsten Staalhansch, was a Finnish officer in the Swedish army during the Thirty Years' War.The son of Torsten Svensson , a noble military...
. Finnish horsemen were also known as "Hakkapeliitat
Hakkapeliitta
Hakkapeliitta is a historiographical term used for a Finnish light cavalryman in the service of King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden during the Thirty Years' War...
".
In the spring of 1700 the regiment was transferred to General Wellingk's army corps in Swedish Livonia
Swedish Livonia
- Swedish infantry and cavalry regiments:Infantry regiments:* Garnisonsregementet i Riga * Guvenörsregementet i Riga * Livländsk infanteribataljon I...
. From 1702 on, the regiment, with six of its eight companies
Company (military unit)
A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 80–225 soldiers and usually commanded by a Captain, Major or Commandant. Most companies are formed of three to five platoons although the exact number may vary by country, unit type, and structure...
, had joined the main army. In 1705–1706 it was part of Carl Gustaf Rehnskiöld's corps. After the Battle of Poltava
Battle of Poltava
The Battle of Poltava on 27 June 1709 was the decisive victory of Peter I of Russia over the Swedish forces under Field Marshal Carl Gustav Rehnskiöld in one of the battles of the Great Northern War. It is widely believed to have been the beginning of Sweden's decline as a Great Power; the...
in 1709, the regiment was present at the capitulation in Perevolochna
Perevolochna
Perevolochna was a settlement in Kobeljaky Raion of Poltava Oblast of Ukraine close to Svitlohirske. It was situated at the bank of the Dnepr, where a ford enabled people to cross the river...
. The regiment had to be completely reraised. It was then stationed with the army in Finland. The regiment was part of General Armfeldt
Carl Gustaf Armfeldt
Carl Gustaf Armfeldt was a Swedish officer, general and friherre who took part in the Great Northern War....
's army of 7,500 men which invaded Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
through Jämtland
Jämtland
Jämtland or Jamtland is a historical province or landskap in the center of Sweden in northern Europe. It borders to Härjedalen and Medelpad in the south, Ångermanland in the east, Lapland in the north and Trøndelag and Norway in the west...
in August 1718.
The cavalry regiment was reorganized into Nyland and Tavastehus dragoon
Dragoon
The word dragoon originally meant mounted infantry, who were trained in horse riding as well as infantry fighting skills. However, usage altered over time and during the 18th century, dragoons evolved into conventional light cavalry units and personnel...
regiment in 1721. In 1791, the regiment was converted to infantry. The northern battalion was incorporated into Tavastehus county infantery regiment as its third battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
, while the southern battalion was incorporated into Nyland infantery regiment.
Campaigns
- The Thirty Years' WarThirty Years' WarThe Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
1630–1648 - The Great Northern WarGreat Northern WarThe Great Northern War was a conflict in which a coalition led by the Tsardom of Russia successfully contested the supremacy of the Swedish Empire in northern Central Europe and Eastern Europe. The initial leaders of the anti-Swedish alliance were Peter I the Great of Russia, Frederick IV of...
1700–1721
Organization
1690(?)- Södra bataljonen
- Livskvadronen
- Majorens (Borgå) skvadron
- Helsing skvadron
- Raseborgs skvadron
- Norra bataljonen
- Överstelöjtnantens skvadron
- Nedre Hållola Skvadron
- Övre Hållola Skvadron
- Säxmäki Skvadron
Various
| Nylands ryttare | Nyland's horsemen | 1618 | – | 1632 |
| Nylands och Tavastehus läns kavalleriregemente | Nyland and Tavastehus County Cavalry Regiment | 1632 | – | 1721 |
| Nylands och Tavastehus dragonregemente | Nyland and Tavastehus Dragoon Regiment | 1721 | – | 1791 |
| none | – |
| Poldinaho | – | 1791 |
See also
- List of Swedish regiments
- List of Swedish wars
- History of SwedenHistory of SwedenModern Sweden started out of the Kalmar Union formed in 1397 and by the unification of the country by King Gustav Vasa in the 16th century. In the 17th century Sweden expanded its territories to form the Swedish empire. Most of these conquered territories had to be given up during the 18th century...
- Provinces of SwedenProvinces of SwedenThe provinces of Sweden, landskap, are historical, geographical and cultural regions. Sweden has 25 provinces and they have no administrative function, but remain historical legacies and the means of cultural identification....