Södermanlands storregemente or Landsregementet i Södermanland (Södermanland Grand Regiment, Regiment of the Land in Södermanland) was one of the nine grand regiments organized by Gustavus Adolphus in the late 1610s and split into smaller regiments in the 1620s.

History

Raised in Svealand

Svealand

Svealand , Swealand or Sweden proper is the historical core region of Sweden. It is located in south central Sweden and is one of three lands of Sweden, bounded to the north by Norrland and to the south by Götaland. Deep forests, Tiveden, Tylöskog, Kolmården, separated Svealand from Götaland...

 from smaller units of 500 men called fänikor, more specifically from the provinces of Södermanland

Södermanland

', sometimes referred to under its Latin form Sudermannia or Sudermania, is a historical province or landskap on the south eastern coast of Sweden. It borders Östergötland, Närke, Västmanland and Uppland. It is also bounded by lake Mälaren and the Baltic sea.In Swedish, the province name is...

, Närke

Närke

' is a Swedish traditional province, or landskap, situated in Svealand in south central Sweden. It is bordered by Västmanland to the north, Södermanland to the east, Östergötland to the southeast, Västergötland to the southwest, and Värmland to the northwest...

 and Värmland

Värmland

' is a historical province or landskap in the west of middle Sweden. It borders Västergötland, Dalsland, Dalarna, Västmanland and Närke. It is also bounded by Norway in the west. Latin name versions are Vermelandia and Wermelandia. Although the province's land originally was Götaland, the...

, in 1614 and counting 3,000 men. The grand regiment was in turn organized into three field regiments (fältregementen) and a cavalry regiment, thus actually being more like a brigade

Brigade

A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...

 in spite of the name.

The Scot

Scot

A Scot is a member of an ethnic group indigenous to Scotland, derived from the Latin name of Irish raiders, the Scoti.Scot may also refer to:People with the given name Scot:* Scot Brantley , American football linebacker...

 Alexander Leslie

Alexander Leslie, 1st Earl of Leven

Alexander Leslie, 1st Earl of Leven was a Scottish soldier in Dutch, Swedish and Scottish service. Born illegitimate and raised as a foster child, he subsequently advanced to the rank of a Dutch captain, a Swedish Field Marshal, and in Scotland became lord general in command of the Covenanters,...

 led the regiment between 1622 and 1624. The grand regiments of Sweden where reorganized during the period to consist of three field regiments, each of 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...

 of 150 men, thus making the total number 3,600 soldiers per grand regiment. It is unsure whether or not the cavalry regiment was included in the total number.

Between 1624 and 1627, the regiment was split into three smaller regiments, Södermanlands regemente

Södermanlands regemente

Södermanlands regiment has been the name of two former regiments in the Swedish army:*Södermanlands regemente, infantry regiment *Södermanlands regemente, armoured regiment...

, Närkes regemente and Värmlands regemente (these two where soon after merged into the Närke-Värmlands regemente

Närke-Värmlands regemente

Närke-Värmlands regemente was a Swedish Army infantry regiment that traced its origins back to the 16th century. It was split into two new regiments in 1812. The regiment's soldiers were recruited from the provinces of Närke and Värmland.- History :The regiment has its origins in fänikor raised...

) and the cavalry unit Svenska adelsfanan.

Organization

Before being split, the regiment was organized as follows:

• 1:a fältregementet (1st Field Regiment)
  • 5 companies from Närke
  • 3 companies from Vadsbo-Valle Härad
    Hundred (division)
    A hundred is a geographic division formerly used in England, Wales, Denmark, South Australia, some parts of the United States, Germany , Sweden, Finland and Norway, which historically was used to divide a larger region into smaller administrative divisions...
    
     (in Västergötland
    Västergötland
    ', English exonym: West Gothland, is one of the 25 traditional non-administrative provinces of Sweden , situated in the southwest of Sweden. In older English literature one may also encounter the Latinized version Westrogothia....
    
    )
• 2:a fältregementet (2nd Field Regiment)
  • 8 companies from Värmland
• 3:e fältregementet (3rd Field Regiment)
  • 8 companies from Södermanland
• Kavalleriregementet (Cavalry Regiment)
  • 10 companies from different parts of Sweden

See also

• List of Swedish regiments
• List of Swedish wars
• History of Sweden
  History of Sweden
  Modern 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 Sweden
  Provinces of Sweden
  The 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....