Swedish Uniforms in the Battle of Kliszow

Armies

Battles and Sieges

Colours and Standards

Örjan Martinsson

Swedish Uniforms in
the battle of Kliszow

The information on the battle of Kliszow on this page comes from Lars-Eric Höglund's book "Stora nordiska kriget 1700-1721 - Fanor and uniforms" and the work by the Swedish General staff "Karl XII på slagfältet". Note however that Uppland 3-männing Regiment's uniforms in the battle are unknown apart from a report from 1701 which states that they wore coats of "vadmal" (coarse wool, usually undyed). I have therefore made an educated guess that they had the same uniforms as Östgöta-Södermanlands 3-männing Regiment which was raised at the same time and also had vadmal coat. In any case the 3-männing soldiers from both regiments were poorly dressed and after the battle they were issued red coats taken from the Saxon army.

Note that the Swedish uniforms are depicted in a way that distinguishes them from the classic Carolean uniform. They probably still had an older look to their uniforms at this time. The cavalry may have had turnbacks, all or parts of it, but probably not the infantry. The tricorne hat existed as a fashion at this time but it is likely that soldiers still wore a precursor to it with only two sides folded up (in various combinations which could sometimes be very similar to a tricorne).

Right (West) Wing

First Line

Second Line

Liv-dragoon Regiment
(1 squadron)

Drabant Corps

(1 squadron)

Livregementet
till häst
(7 squadrons)

Östgöta
Cavalry Reg.
(4 squadrons)

Liv-dragoon
Regiment
(1 squadron)

Livregementet
till häst
(3 squadrons)

Östgöta
Cavalry Reg.
(4 squadrons)

Centre (During the battle Dal-Regiment, Västmanland, Närke-Värmland, Kalmar and half of Uppland Regiment were redeployed to strengthen the left wing) First Line
Livgardet (4 battalions)	Uppland Regiment (2 battalions)	Närke-Värmland Regiment (2 battalions)	Västmanland Regiment (2 battalions)	Dal-regiment (2 battalions)
Second Line
Västerbotten Regiment (2 battalions)	Östgöta-Södermanland 3-männing Regiment (1 battalion)	Uppland 3-männing Regiment (1 battalion)	Kalmar Regiment (2 battalions)	Artillery Regiment (four 3-pounder cannons)