With 1,674 men, Närke-Värmland was the largest regiment in the Swedish army and easily recognisable by the red colour on their uniform. Not many regiments participated in more battles during Sweden’s age of greatness than Närke-Värmland. They were involved in the greatest triumphs such as Breitenfeld, the march across the Belt, Narva, Fraustadt and Gadebusch. But it was also present in the greatest disasters such as Poltava and Tönningen, which meant that during the Great Northern War it had to be restored twice with great difficulty.

Organisational History

Närke-Värmland Regiment trace its origin in the so called “fänikor” that were organised within the duchy ruled by the future Charles IX, specifically Södermanland, Närke and Värmland as well as parts of Dalsland and Västergötland. These formed a separate part of the Swedish army and had a joint command from 1577. When Charles IX's younger son Karl Filip died in 1622, the duchy was annexed to the crown and the following year Gustav II Adolf carried out a major army reform (the so called “Older Allotment System”). This resulted in the former duchy's troops being organised into a "land regiment" which was divided into two "field regiments" (the Södermanland and Närke-Värmland regiments respectively). The division of the Swedish army into land regiments was not to last, however, and in practice the field regiments very soon became completely independent units, which was confirmed in the constitution of 1634 where Närke-Värmland was ranked as regiment number 19. At the same time, the men from the Västergötland and Dalsland parts of the former duchy were transferred to other regiments.

During the time of the Older Allotment System, soldiers were recruited through conscription and the size of the regiments varied according to the need for men. The regular organisation that applied to Närke-Värmland was nine companies (three from Närke and six from Värmland) but extra companies were raised during each war in the 17th century, and the company size was also irregular, both over time and within the regiment.

In preparation for Charles X Gustav's Polish War of 1655-1660, four new companies were recruited in 1654 and then two more in 1658. However, no redistribution of the men took place during these expansions, so the men in the new companies came from completely different parts of the regiment's recruitment district. In 1656, the regiment consisted of 1,369 men (plus 260 officers). But despite three conscriptions that replaced losses and formed two new companies, the regiment was only 975 strong at the end of 1658. A strength that was not to be expanded but rather Decreased slightly during the following peace period when the regiment went back to nine companies.

During the Scanian War, a tenth company was added, and a redistribution of the men had the result that there were now four Närke companies and six Värmland companies. During the winter of 1676-77, the number of soldiers from Närke-Värmland was greatly increased by an extra conscription that created "Närke's 10-männings" and "Värmland's 6-männings”. These men formed their own companies but came to be mixed with the regular regiment in a way that sometimes made the distinction very unclear. After the end of the war, the regiment returned to the old peacetime organisation, but already in 1681, a tenth company was added again, this time a weak Värmland company.

After the Scanian War, it became necessary to reform the Swedish military organisation. Instead of conscription that occurred irregularly, the peasants in each province were to be responsible for recruiting and maintaining a certain number of soldiers (the “Younger Allotment System” or the “Permanent Force” is it was actually called). The peasants of Närke were among the first group to agree to the reform on 27 October 1682 (confirmed by the king on 5 December), while the Värmland peasants were more hesitant and waited until the end of 1686 to give their approval. The final contracts for the allotting of soldiers in the provinces were concluded on 11 May 1686 for Närke (confirmed by the king on 5 August) and on 25 June 1688 for Värmland (royal confirmation on 18 November). The fact that the Värmland peasants took longer to agree to the reform may be due to the disproportionately large burden imposed on them. It proved to be particularly difficult to organise the Younger Allotment System in Värmland, and during the Great Northern War the province would also take longer to restore lost companies.

According to the contracts, the peasants in Närke were to provide three companies with a total of 474 men, while the peasants in Värmland were to provide seven companies with a total of 1200 men. The provinces were divided into “rotar”, each of them responsible for recruiting and maintaining one soldier. The economically important Bergslagen was exempt from recruiting soldiers in peacetime. Bergslagen included the Lekeberg district and the parishes of Axberg, Kil, Hovsta and Lerbäck in Närke, and in Värmland: the Karlskoga, Nyed and Filipstad districts and the parish of Gunnarskog in Jösse district.

The above-described organisation from 1688 would remain unchanged until 1812 when the regiment was divided in the middle along the Klarälven River. The new Närke regiment then consisted of Närke's 474 rotar and 292 Värmland rotar while the new Värmland regiment received the remaining 908 rotar. The company organisation was also changed so that both regiments were divided into eight companies. There were more organisational changes at the same time, but these and the following reforms are not discussed here. It can be mentioned, however, that Närke Regiment merged with the Life Regiment's Grenadier Corps in 1893 and formed the Life Regiment on Foot, which already changed its name to the Life Regiment's Grenadiers in 1904. Both this regiment and the Värmland Regiment were disbanded in 2000.

Within the Närke-Värmland area, the towns recruited sailors for the navy. These so-called boatsmen were distributed in peacetime as follows: Örebro (13), Nora (8), Lindesberg (6), Askersund (8), Karlstad (11), Kristinehamn (7), Filipstad (5). In wartime, the number of boatsmen was doubled.

Additional Troops in the Scanian War

During the Scanian War, the army's need for soldiers surged. In addition to the regular regiment, an extra conscription was carried out in both Närke and Värmland. The procedure differed in the two provinces, but in both cases the military service was conditional on only lasting for the duration of the war.

In Värmland, every sixth man was conscripted, and these soldiers were called 6-männings. The border districts were exempt from this extra conscription because they were to a larger extent burdened to assist the army with peasant levies. The conscription of the 6-männings seems to have taken place in at least two rounds. Already at the end of 1676, six-männings arrived at Eda redoubt where at the beginning of 1677 there were six companies of 6-männings with a total of 700 men. The last round of 6-männings (410 men) were mustered in Kristinehamn on 14–16 May 1677. In the same month, four companies (600 men) "Värmland's 6-männings of 1677" were included in the Västergötland army which was stationed in Gothenburg.

In Närke, every tenth man was conscripted in October 1676 by dividing the province into rotar that made no distinction between land-owning peasants and the nobility’s peasants. A total of 447 men were recruited in this way, and they came to be called 10-männings. "Närke's 6-männings" are also mentioned, while the term 10-männings gradually disappears. But this change in terminology is most likely a misunderstanding and both terms ought to refer to the same group of soldiers and not to separate rounds of conscripts.

In early 1677, the Livgarde was given the 6-männings from Örebro County as replacements for losses during the previous year. These 6-männings had first been sent to the Eda redoubt but were so undisciplined that many of them deserted and returned to Närke. The number of 6-männings that had been added to the Livgarde in May 1677 was no more than 19 men. But at the end of June the Livgarde received in Scania a contingent of 121 recruits, which consisted entirely or mostly of the 6-männings. However, not all 6-männings were incorporated into the Livgarde, since 150 men of "Närke's 6-männings" are stated to have been garrisoned in Bohus from October 1677 onwards.

The distinction between the 6- & 10-männings and the regular regiment seems to have gradually become blurred as men from each category were mixed in the same companies. During the second half of the war their special companies seem to have been limited to two companies of Värmland 6-männings in Eda redoubt and one company of Närke "6-männings" in Västra Götaland.

At the same time as the 6-mmännings were conscripted, two dragoon companies (150 men) were also raised in Värmland. This was done at the suggestion of the governor and, as usual, the peasants paid for their clothing and horses, while the crown provided for their armament. Both companies were initially stationed in Dalsland but returned to Eda at the end of 1677. At that time, they consisted of 6 officers and 136 NCOs and privates, of whom 18 men lacked horses. But the condition of these companies was so poor that they were barely fit for service.

Additional Troops in the Great Northern War

The same part of the allotment system that recruited Närke-Värmland Regiment was given the task of raising another regiment at the outbreak of war in 1700. This was done by bringing the rotar together into groups of three who would recruit an extra soldier, a so-called 3-männing. The new Närke-Värmland 3-männing Regiment thus consisted of 158 men from Närke and 314 men from Värmland (there should actually have been 400 men from Värmland, but the rotar along the border were exempted from recruiting 3-männings). In addition, 551 men from Bergslagen were added through conscription. Together with the Bergslagen soldiers, the regiment thus reached a strength of 1023 men. Unlike the regular regiment, however, the 3-männing regiment was a one-off recruitment and their rotar did not have to replace losses. However, 4- and 5-männings were added in 1703. These were recruited in a similar way so that the rotar whose soldiers were on campaign were brought together into groups of five, while the rotar of the companies at home were given a slightly higher burden by forming groups of four that would field an extra soldier. A total of 369 four- and five-männings were recruited in Närke-Värmland, which together with their colleagues from Västergötland formed a full regiment consisting of 1209 men. This was also a one-off recruitment of the rotar.

The first incarnation of the 3-männing regiment was disbanded in 1708 because of the Battle of Lesnaya and its men were transferred to the Livgarde. However, in 1711, Charles XII Decided to raise a new 3-männing regiment, which was done the following year. This time, however, it did not include any conscripts from Bergslagen and more rotar along the border were exempt from recruiting 3-männings. The second 3-männing regiment was therefore no larger than a battalion when it was raised (158 men from Närke and 300 from Värmland). However, through recruitment of enlisted soldiers it was later increased to over 700 men, although the plan for a complete regiment consisting of 1200 men was not achieved. This unit participated in the Battle of Hangöudd (Gangut) in 1714, where they lost about a hundred men. It was disbanded in 1720 and the men, who then numbered only 481, were transferred to the Livgarde (261 men), the Artillery Regiment (86 men) and the Östgöta 3-männing Regiment (134 men). The 4- and 5-männing regiment was also disbanded in 1720 and its men were used to form a garrison regiment in Stralsund.

Wartime Organisation in the Great Northern War

On 11 November 1700, the 4 ½ companies that were part of the main army in Wesenberg were reorganised into ten field companies in order to increase the officer density. However, on 8 January 1701, the company organisation was restored to the old one. Instead, a higher officer density was achieved by doubling the number of officers in each company. In April, three extra non-commissioned officers were added to each company (an extra fältväbel, sergeant and förare) so that these companies had eight non-commissioned officers instead of the normal five. Only the companies that were on campaign received extra officers and NCOs, and they were paid with cash salaries instead of being funded by the allotment system as the regular personnel.

Nordensvan's regimental history does not mention what the wartime organisation was like for the restored regiment after the Battle of Poltava, but it probably followed the same pattern as the Dal Regiment's wartime organisation. The regimental history also mentions very little about the time before 1709, and the above information comes from Nordensvan's article in Karolinska förbundets årsbok 1916 (page 126).

Colonels and Battles
(Green background indicates victories, red background defeats and grey background indecisive battles)

Närke-Värmland Regiment was partitioned into Närke Regiment and Värmland Regiment in 1812.
Both regiments were disbanded in 2000, but Närke Regiment was called the Life Regiment’s Grenadiers from 1904.

Soldiers from Närke-Värmland Regiment participated in the Battle of Lützen in 1632 as part of Erik Hand's combined regiment which also included soldiers from Östergötland, Jönköping, Uppland and the Dal Regiment.

Scanian War

The Närke-Värmland Regiment was split up in several different theatres of war during the Scanian War. Troop movements within the regiment between the different theatres of war were common, and men from both regular and extra companies were often split up and merged during the course of the war. This and the lack of sources make it very difficult to give a clear picture of the regiment's movements and total strength during the Scanian War.

As an example of what it could look like, the general muster in May 1677 reported that there were 4 Närke companies and 2 Värmland companies in Scania with a total of 767 privates. In the Västgöta army located at Gothenburg, there were 146 men divided between two Värmland companies and in Eda redoubt there were two Värmland companies with 158 men. The number of “sick and paralyzed” was 107 and the number of “prisoners and missing” etc. was 63. However, the men were so mixed up after constant relocations that each company had men at all three places.

At the end of April 1679, the regiment was divided into four companies in the home districts, one in Eda, three in Eda redoubt (of which two were 6-männings) and five companies in Gothenburg and Nya Älvsborg (of which one was 6-männings). No regular companies existed in Scania, although there were men there who were part of a composite unit (1 officer and 100 men). In total, the regiment then reported a strength of 27 officers and 1386 men, of which 208 were sick.

Bremen-Verden

In 1672, two Närke-Värmland companies were transferred to Bremen-Verden. There they were part of a regiment composed of contingents from various provincial regiments under the command of Jean Mell. In January 1673, the two Närke-Värmland companies had a strength of 248 men (the part of the regiment that stayed at home consisted of 817 men). These companies were stationed in the fortress of Carlsburg in western Bremen-Verden, which in the autumn of 1675 was subjected to a blockade by troops from Denmark, Münster and Lüneburg. The Swedish garrison, which suffered from a lack of food and shoes, was weakened by disease and chose to capitulate on 12 January 1676. The Swedish-born soldiers (four companies) were allowed to be shipped over to Gothenburg. But of them, no more than 200 healthy men remained.

Värmland

Immediately after Denmark Declared war on Sweden in September 1675, five companies of the Närke-Värmland Regiment were garrisoned in the Eda redoubt on the Norwegian border. These companies consisted of a total of 15 officers, 74 non-commissioned officers and 740 privates. They were also reinforced with two cavalry companies from the Livregemente. Since the redoubt was dilapidated, they immediately began to work to refit it together with levied peasants. This could be done relatively undisturbed since the only activity from the Norwegian side during 1675 was that a cavalry force showed up at the end of October. However, it turned back without a fight when it saw that the redoubt was too strongly defended. The Swedes also crossed the border in early December when they made a foray towards the Kongsvinger area, and they too turned back without being involved in any fighting.

Even during the continuation of the war, Värmland's border with Norway was relatively calm. Only minor raids were carried out by both sides to gather intelligence or plunder. Insufficient provisions and disease were a bigger problem for the garrison in Eda redoubt than the Norwegian enemy.

At the beginning of 1676, the troops in Värmland and Eda consisted of 900 men from Närke-Värmland Regiment as well as 7–8 thousand levied peasants and 300 cavalrymen from the Livregemente and 118 Värmland dragoons.

At the beginning of 1677, there were two companies of 200 men in Eda redoubt, along with 300 men from the “brigades” on campaign. In addition, there were 6 companies of 6-männings (700 men), two of which were soon sent to Bohuslän. In Eda itself, there were 4 companies with 400 men. At the end of February, the strength in Eda was 250 men from the regular regiment, as well as 400 six-männings and 350 ten-männings. In May, the corresponding figures were 500, 600 and 400 men. However, the general muster in May only reports two regular companies (158 men) at Eda. The troops were plagued by a lack of suitable clothing and provisions, which led to high levels of sickness. In August, the Närke-Värmland regiment had six companies at Eda and it was reported that 216 men were sick. The number of 6-männings was then 390 men.

It was planned to rebuild the Eda redoubt during the summer of 1677 so that it could be defended by a smaller garrison. However, it is unclear whether this was carried out. To guard the long border, 1 officer and 50 men were sent to Nordmarken and the same number to Gunnarskog. 1 non-commissioned officer and 25 men were sent to Morast, 15 men to Ås and 12 men to Kortlanda.

On 20 January 1678, the Eda garrison consisted of 5 companies, one of which consisted of 6-männings. A total of 14 officers and 385 healthy and 217 sick NCOs & privates. 6-männings were in all companies and constituted the majority of the force.

Since a Norwegian attack on Värmland was feared, Lieutenant Colonel Sparre was ordered to reinforce Eda by sending all the people in Västergötland who belonged to the regiment. Sparre replied that there were no more people left in Västergötland, but he would gather all the people who had been sent home from Scania due to illness. The result was 1 captain, 1 ensign, 3 non-commissioned officers, 6 corporals, 1 healthy drummer and 1 sick drummer, 43 privates who were fit for duty, 20 sick, 4 paralyzed and 6 who had the Royal Maj.'s passport.

The Norwegian attack did not come, however, and when a battalion was sent to relieve Bohus, the garrison in Eda redoubt was reduced to one regular company and two companies of 6-männings (a total of 300 men). This force constituted the garrison of Eda redoubt for the rest of the year. Because when the siege of Bohus was lifted in July, the Värmland battalion was ordered home and remained in its home districts throughout the winter of 1678-79.

In February 1679 the Norwegians attacked both Eda, which was subjected to shelling, and the southern part of Värmland and Dalsland. However, the Eda redoubt was judged to be too strong, so the Norwegians instead bypassed it and captured Morast redoubt, where 15 Swedes were killed and 40 were captured. After destroying this redoubt, they returned to Norway.

At the end of April, the part of Närke-Värmland Regiment that had been sent to its home districts was mustered in Brunskog parish. It then consisted of four companies with 14 officers and 520 men, who were then sent to Gothenburg. In Eda there was a company that included contingents from other companies and therefore consisted of 4 officers and 200 men. In Eda redoubt there were also three companies with 8 officers and 229 men (two of these companies were 6-männings).

While the regular regiment was away, the commandant of Eda redoubt carried out a raid into Norway with the help of levied peasants from Finnmarken to burn and plunder. However, the roads were so well defended that only the farms closest to the border were exposed to the ravages of the Värmland Finns, and with this the Scanian War ended for Värmland.

After peace was made on September 26, the regular regiment was sent home in October, but 3 officers and 58 men remained in Eda redoubt and were still there in February 1680.

Västra Götaland

The Swedish war plan for 1676 was to carry out a campaign against Norway and in January an army was assembled in Vänersborg under the king's command, which included a battalion from Närke-Värmland Regiment. This consisted of 12 officers (including the colonel, lieutenant colonel and major) and 408 NCOs and privates. Due to a too mild winter, the campaign could not be launched and in May Charles XI was forced to head to Scania with the larger part of the army to meet a threatening Danish landing. Närke-Värmland Regiment was among the troops left behind in western Sweden.

In June 1676, the Norwegian army advanced through Bohuslän and captured Vänersborg, after which the main force continued towards Gothenburg. Närke-Värmland Regiment, reinforced with levied Värmland peasants, marched towards Vänersborg, but thirty kilometres from the city the regiment was abandoned by the peasants who returned home. Vänersborg remained in Norwegian hands until September, when the Norwegian army called off the campaign and returned to Norway.

In May 1677 there were two regular Värmland companies (146 men) in Gothenburg. But in addition to these, the Västgöta army also had four companies of Närke's 10-männings (400 men) and four companies of Värmland's 6-männings (600 men). In October there were two companies from Värmland at Göta älv river and 150 Närke's "6-männings" in Bohus. The latter remained there when the fortress was besieged by the Norwegians in 1678.

In July 1678, the three Närke companies arrived in Gothenburg. During the winter of 1677–78, they seem to have been at home, and they remained there until June, during which time a new conscription of 319 men took place. On arrival in Gothenburg, they consisted mostly of new recruits who were considered to be in good condition but untrained. Their commander Sparre therefore requested that the part of the regiment that was in Nya Älvsborg should join the Närke battalion. That part consisted of 2 officers, 5 non-commissioned officers and 70 “old soldiers”. When these had arrived in Nya Älvsborg is unclear, but Nordensvan writes that they possibly came during the summer of 1676 (perhaps from Bremen-Verden, whose companies Nordensvan was not aware of). However, Sparre had been ordered at the beginning of 1678 to send all the men in Västergötland to Eda redoubt but replied that there was nothing to send.

When a Norwegian attack on Dalsland was feared, Major Lüttke was sent there with the “Värmland Squadron”, but he was soon allowed to continue to Gothenburg, where in July the regiment was part of the army that was assembled to relieve Bohus from a Norwegian siege. The regiment's strength in that army consisted of seven companies with 639 men. During a battle on Hisingen, the regiment lost 5 dead and 14 wounded. The Norwegian siege was lifted the same month. The Värmland companies returned home while the Närke companies were stationed in Gothenburg.

At the end of April 1679, there were five companies in Gothenburg and Nya Älvsborg (one of which consisted of six-männingss) with a strength of 8 officers and 358 men. In May, four more Värmland companies arrived with 14 officers and 520 men who became part of a field army that in July made an unsuccessful attempt to take Uddevalla. After peace was concluded on 26 September, the Närke-Värmland regiment was returned to its home districts, but one company of Närke's "6-männings" remained in Gothenburg for some time.

Scania

The Danes probably captured one of Närke-Värmland's colours when Helsingborg capitulated on 3 July 1676. The colour belonged to Lieutenant Colonel Thomson's company. Nordensvan's regimental history has no information that Närke-Värmland was in Scania at the time, but it is possible that part of Närke-Värmland Regiment accompanied Charles XI when he left Vänersborg in May and went to Scania.

In October, Charles XI gathered an army in Ljungby in Småland to launch a counter-offensive in Scania. This included a Närke-Värmland battalion of 260 men under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Thomson. The campaign was conducted under difficult conditions and the soldiers suffered from cold and hardship. Before the Battle of Lund on 4 December, the Närke-Värmland battalion had shrunk to only 117 men, and after the bloody battle, so few remained that they were merged with another (unknown) regiment.

On 26 January 1677, however, the main army in Scania once again had a Närke-Värmland battalion, whose strength consisted of 14 officers and 390 NCOs and privates. In May, the strength was 767 privates divided into six companies.

The major war event of 1677 was the Battle of Landskrona on 14 July. Närke-Värmland Regiment participated with two battalions and its losses consisted of 2 officers and 41 men killed as well as 4 officers, 3 non-commissioned officers and 106 men sick and wounded.

In 1678 Kristianstad was besieged by the main Swedish army and the Värmlanders who were still part of it had been merged into a battalion that also consisted of men from Småland and Västerbotten. At the end of 1678 the Värmlanders consisted of 1 lieutenant and 54 men. At the end of April 1679 they consisted of 1 officer and 100 men.

Great Northern War

When the Great Northern War broke out, the entire Närke-Värmland Regiment was tasked with defending the Norwegian border. But already in the autumn, the Närke companies, Kristinehamn Company and 54 men from Karlstad Company were transferred to Pernau from where they marched east. They then participated in the Battle of Narva with a strength of 26 corporals and 674 privates. In the spring of 1701, the remaining 117 men from Karlstad Company were transferred together with 328 recruits to replace losses. In the autumn, Näs Company was also transferred to the main army. This resulted in a division of the regiment that would largely remain in effect until 1716 and also resulted in differences in uniforms and colours.

The four companies that stayed home (686 men) were tasked with guarding the Norwegian border and only participated in battles in 1711. Three of these companies were in Scania from September 1714 to February 1715 (Jösse Company stayed home), but otherwise they were near their home districts the whole time. The other six companies formed a "field regiment" consisting of 988 men and they belonged to the main army until the Battle of Poltava and the capitulation at Perevolotchna in 1709. They were restored in 1709 and separated again from the "home" companies when they were sent to Germany in 1712 to participate in Stenbock's campaign, which resulted in another capitulation in 1713. Restored again, the "field regiment" was in Roslagen in the summer of 1715. Thereafter, the entire regiment was assembled, and it participated in the Norwegian campaigns of 1716 and 1718 and spent the summers of 1719-21 in Uppland.

Field Regiment 1700-1709

In the Battle of Narva, 59 men were killed and another 35 died later from their injuries. In addition, 4 officers were killed. An alternative source mentions 100 killed and 200 wounded. The period after the battle resulted in a continued high casualty rate due to cold and lack of food in the country that had been severely ravaged by the Russians. No less than 328 recruits (238 from Närke and 90 from Värmland) left Örebro in April 1701 to replace the losses in the field regiment, which was then only supposed to consist of 700 men. After that, the losses seem to have become lighter for the field regiment, which during the summer of 1701 had a nominal strength of 817 men and then with the arrival of Näs Company in the autumn reached its "ordinary" field strength of 988 men. However, the last reinforcements were mostly missing weapons when they arrived. Of the 171 men in Näs Company, only 30 had muskets and none of them had pikes. The recruits had no weapons at all.

In the Battle of Düna on 9 July 1701, eleven men were killed. Another ten men died the next day in the Cobron redoubt after a mine left by the fleeing Saxons exploded. In addition, eleven men are said to have died that same month during a raid on the Russian border. A year later in the Battle of Kliszow on 9 July 1702, only one man was killed.

A second round of recruits arrived at the regiment's winter quarters in Würgen in Courland in the autumn of 1701 (together with Näs Company), but after that recruits only arrived once a year. The table below shows the number of recruits for each shipment and gives an idea of ​​the regiment's losses. Note, however, that not all recruits replaced fallen soldiers. Even seriously injured or too old soldiers who were granted a discharge are included in these figures. For example, there is a list from the stay in Thorn in 1703 of 26 non-commissioned officers, corporals and privates who requested a discharge. The age range for these was 40 to 64 years and a third gave "pain" as the reason. The reasons for the others were evenly distributed between the categories hernia, unfitness to march and war injuries.

From July 1705 to August 1706, the Närke-Värmland field regiment was part of the army division under Rehnsköld's command that had been left behind on the border with Silesia. As a result, they participated in the Battle of Fraustadt in February, where the regiment's losses amounted to seven killed and 40 wounded. After reuniting with the main army, a year-long stay in Saxony followed, with low casualties as a result.

The news of the comfortable life in Saxony spread through letters to the homeland, so that the rote-peasants had an easy task of finding willing recruits. The result was the 1707 contingent consisting of 43 men who left in August. The following two rounds of recruits for the year of 1708 (50 in May and 17 in August) did not get further than Riga, however. Together with recruits for other regiments and refugees from the Battle of Lesnaya (including from Närke-Värmland 3-männing Regiment), they formed a new regiment in October 1709 under the command of H. G. von Buddenbrock. However, this and a similar regiment were disbanded in 1710 when all national Swedish soldiers were recalled to the homeland to join the restored regiments.

For the years 1707-1709, we have unusually detailed information for Närke-Värmland Regiment about how its manpower changed month by month. During the stay in Saxony from January to August 1707, the departures among the rank and file were 29 men, which was divided into 3 promoted, 18 dismissed, 1 "sentenced from service", 1 executed, 3 escaped (deserters) and 3 dead. In September, the march from Saxony to Thorn (450 km) began and that month one soldier died and six were dismissed. The next month another soldier died but after that there were no more departures for the rest of the year.

The table above does not include officers and non-commissioned officers. The number of the latter was at a stable level of about 35 men until the Battle of Poltava. The musicians are also not included and their number fell during the period from 18 men to 15.

On 1 June 1709, the field regiment consisted of 638 men (+ 20 officers and 33 non-commissioned officers and 15 musicians). Since the beginning of the campaign, the regiment had thus lost 328 men. Those who were killed in the Battle of Poltava consisted of 4 officers, 5 non-commissioned officers, 1 musician and about 175 of the rank and file. Just over 400 men were taken prisoner by the Russians at Poltava and Perevolochna.

An important note is, however, that after the Battle of Lesnaya, Närke-Värmland Regiment was reinforced with Finnish soldiers who are not included in the figures above. Since the soldiers in Lewenhaupt's army left all equipment that they could not carry in Lesnaya, they could no longer function as independent units. Therefore, they were temporarily assigned to other regiments in the main army. Exactly who ended up in Närke-Värmland is unclear, as two sources have conflicting information. According to Lieutenant von Weihe's diary, it was Nyland Regiment (311 men) and the Finnish 3-männings (354 men). However, according to Ensign Petre's diary, it was Österbotten Regiment (336 men). In any case, the Närke-Värmland Regiment participated in the Battle of Poltava with two battalions and may well have had more men than when they began the campaign two years earlier.

Närke-Värmland Regiment 1709-1721

When news of the disaster in Ukraine reached Sweden, the rote-peasants were ordered to restore the six field companies. These were to be ready for departure on 15 January 1710, but the governor announced that the lack of equipment made this impossible. The entire regiment instead stayed at home as a border guard and in 1711 made a minor incursion into Norway. This was to relieve the pressure on the troops defending Bohuslän against the Norwegians. The next year, however, the division of the regiment into two parts was re-established when the same six companies as before on 30 April were ordered to march to Karlskrona to join Stenbock's field army. The plan was that these companies would be reinforced with 53 men each from the four companies that stayed at home so that the field regiment would reach a strength of 1200 men, but this was not carried out.

The field regiment arrived in Germany in mid-September 1712 and on 15 October had a strength of 823 present, 88 sick, 15 vacancies and 62 men left in Karlshamn to prepare for the next transport. Unfortunately, the field companies still had major deficiencies in equipment (including 79 men missing coats and as many as 469 men missing uniform hats). The last delivery of equipment was not handed out from the manufacturers in Stockholm until January 1713 and never arrived before the field regiment surrendered in Tönningen. Before that, it had participated in the Battle of Gadebusch in December where two officers and eleven privates were killed (three officers and 25 privates were wounded). Those who were wounded in the Battle of Gadebusch were sent to Wismar together with other personnel so that 83 soldiers from Närke-Värmland Regiment escaped the fate that befell Stenbock's army after Gadebusch. When Stenbock's army capitulated in Tönningen on 22 May 1713, 768 men from Närke-Värmland regiment became prisoners of war. The 83 soldiers in Wismar were then part of a composite regiment and they too became prisoners of war when Stralsund capitulated on 12 December 1715. Even the 62 men who were left behind in Karlshamn were not too lucky, as about ten of them died from hardship by May 1713, after which they were sent to better quarters in Kalmar.

The second restoration took longer than the first. The Värmland peasants had been very reluctant to restore the 3-männing regiment, which was only completed in the spring of 1713 (the king's order to this effect was written in July 1711 and repeated in the spring of 1712). The restoration of the regular regiment began in the autumn of 1713, but at the general muster on 21 February 1715, 207 rotar were still vacant. At a separate general muster of the three home companies that were in Scania that winter, 75 men were discharged. The situation does not seem to have improved when the "field regiment" was sent to Roslagen in the spring, since it only counted 661 men present on 25 July 1715 (out of a nominal strength of 988 men). At the beginning of the Norwegian campaign in 1716, however, the regiment was almost at full strength, as on 18 January 1716 it counted 82 commissioned officers, 7 "absent without leave", 153 sick, 62 vacant and 1370 present. After that, the manpower situation was stable and, unlike other regiments (the Livgarde), they did not suffer high losses after the retreat from the second Norwegian campaign in 1718. During the summer stays in Uppland in 1719-21, the strength reports indicate that the regiment was almost at full strength, albeit with high sickness numbers.

During the Norwegian campaign of 1716, Närke-Värmland was part of the main force in Holmedal led by Charles XII. It crossed the border on 25 February and arrived in Kristiania on 10 March where a siege of Akershus began. However, the siege was broken off on 19 April and the army marched to Svinesund instead, which effectively ended the campaign for Närke-Värmland, who returned home during the summer.

During the 1718 Norwegian campaign, Närke-Värmland was part of an independent force that set out from Töcksmark on 4 November and arrived at Blaker redoubt at Glommen on 24 November. The redoubt was then blockaded until word of Charles XII's death arrived on 6 December. The regiment broke up and crossed the border on 11 December. As a border defence, 600 men were placed in Eda redoubt. On 31 March 1720, there were still 200 men from Närke-Värmland Regiment in Eda redoubt, but the border was calm that year and peace was made with Denmark-Norway on 3 July 1720.

Närke-Värmland Uniforms

Charles X Gustav's War

Scanian War

Great Northern War

Seven Years' War

Närke-Värmland Regiment stands out as a Swedish regiment that has never worn a blue-yellow uniform. Its traditional regimental colour is red and that colour has appeared in various combinations ever since the first uniform regulation in 1655. During the time of Charles X Gustav, it was combined with green, which was also the colour of the colours (flags) at that time. Red-green uniforms were issued until 1675, but during the Scanian War, Närke-Värmland fought in red-white uniforms. After the Scanian War, the white colour was replaced with blue, and then in the mid-18th century it returned as a third colour in Närke-Värmland's blue-red-white uniforms.

Närke-Värmland's Oldest Uniforms

1655

1675

Eda Redoubt 1676

1676-1681

1683-1691

A source from 1624 states that the Närke-Värmland officers were to have coloured clothing while the men's uniforms were to consist of uncoloured grey clothes. This was probably a typical uniform for Swedish regiments during the first half of the 17th century. However, we do not have any more information than that about Närke-Värmland until Sweden received its first uniform regulation in 1655. According to this, the Närke-Värmland uniforms were to consist of green jackets and red breeches. Even though this regulation only applied to the procurement of uniforms that was carried out before the war against Poland in 1655, it is likely that the green colour was retained during Charles X Gustav's war. This is because the regiment ordered green colours (= flags) in 1658.

During the rule of the Regency Council of Charles XI, we have no information about the uniforms of Närke-Värmland, so the next uniform source is an undated list from 1672 or 1673. According to this, Närke-Värmland was to have red clothes. In 1674, two companies that were in Bremen-Verden also received red coats, and on 17 December a uniform regulation determined that Närke-Värmland was to have red clothes with green cuffs and edges. However, this uniform regulation was replaced on 15 March 1675, by a new regulation that removed the green colour. Instead, Närke-Värmland was to have red coats with white cuffs and edges, which was also confirmed in a royal decree a month later in which the colour of the stockings is stated as white.

The uniforms that were issued to Närke-Värmland Regiment in June 1675, however, did not follow m/1675 but consisted of red coats with green cuffs and edges as well as green stockings. They also received hats and the non-commissioned officers received grey coats with green cuffs. However, according to Höglund, this uniform was only issued to a limited number.

For the year 1676, Höglund states that the field regiment had the m/1675 uniform with a red coat and white cuffs and edges. He also writes that the garrison in Eda redoubt (two companies) had a black karpus and a grey coat with black cuffs. The latter uniform is also said to have been worn by the 6-männings in Eda redoubt. The Närke 10-männings are also said to have had grey coats in 1676, but otherwise their uniform is unknown.

In 1678 the men still wore the red and white m/1675 uniform, and the non-commissioned officers wore grey coats with red cuffs. The same uniform information is mentioned for 1679 but now the colour of the breeches is also mentioned, red for the privates and grey for the non-commissioned officers.

Broadcloth for new uniforms was possibly issued as early as the autumn of 1681, and their uniforms were stated in 1683 to have consisted of red clothes with blue cuffs.

Närke-Värmland's Carolean Uniforms

Närke-Värmland received its first Carolean uniforms in the summer of 1691, replacing the earlier red coats with blue cuffs that the regiment wore according to a list from 1683. These were to be worn until 1704 and 1705, when first the companies at home and then the field companies were issued new uniforms. Since Närke-Värmland Regiment was de facto divided into two parts, their uniforms became different during the war, and it was not until 1727-28 they once again received a common uniform.

The fact that the uniforms had red cuffs instead of yellow is a very clear characteristic of the Närke-Värmland regiment. But the metal details also distinguished Närke-Värmland from the other regiments during at least the first half of the war. Colours that were made in 1682 and lost in 1709 (possibly two different sets) had silver-plated finials and nails (the normal thing was that they were gilded). The coats that were made in 1696 had iron buckles that were tinned (the normal thing was that they were made of brass). Then there is a source from 1708 stating that the sword mounts were tinned instead of the usual procedure of them being blackened (Larsson page 248). The uniform buttons were also always made of tin (which was not unusual). What can be observed is that every time metal details are mentioned, they are made of silver/tin before 1709. After Poltava, however, the regiment no longer seems to distinguish itself in that regard, as finials & nails are gilded and all buckles are made of brass when those details are mentioned.

First Carolean Uniform 1691-1704/05

Liberty Age Uniforms

In 1727 and 1728, new uniforms were finally issued to the entire regiment, which for the first time since 1705 was dressed uniformly (the cloaks had already been issued in 1724). The appearance was the same as the field companies' previous uniforms, but with leather breeches instead of red broadcloth breeches, as described in more detail in the table above. A regimental order from 1728 also included the instruction that soldiers who could grow beards should have moustaches with black beard wax.

Next time new uniforms were issued was in 1741, at least for the companies sent to Finland (no cloaks were issued this time). However, these uniforms were worn out during the 1741-1743 war against Russia and were replaced in 1746 and 1750 by completely new uniforms. These had the same appearance as the previous ones, except for the leather breeches which were partly replaced with red broadcloth breeches in 1750. Due to a work assignment in 1751-1753 to build the fortress of Sveaborg, the uniforms were subjected to a lot of wear and tear. At the general muster in 1754, a third of the uniforms were judged to be in such poor condition that they should be discarded. However, this did not happen, and Närke-Värmland Regiment was had to participate in the Seven Years War with these uniforms.

A regimental order from 29 April 1744 stipulated that the “släpmundering” would consist of grey wadmal coats with red cuffs and collars and flat tin buttons. On 6 November 1753, the men were ordered to obtain a “släpmundering” that would have the same cut as the regular uniform and consist of a hat with white lace, a coat and waistcoat of wadmal with white ticking as lining, red cuffs, collar and buttonholes and flat tin buttons, leather breeches, white stockings and good shoes.

In the roll for the general muster in 1761, it was noted that grenadier decorations acquired in the 1750s were still in usable condition.

The uniform regulation from 1756 stipulated that Närke-Värmland Regiment should have the same uniforms as the other regiments, that is, yellow instead of red. But even though most of the clothing were replaced during the Seven Years War 1757-1762, the regiment retained its red distinctive colour. The uniforms issued in 1759 were Närke-Värmland's last of the Carolean model and consisted of a blue coat with a red collar and red cuffs, as well as a white waistcoat and white breeches. These were considered to be completely worn out at the general muster in 1767. By that time a new uniform regulation had come into force in 1765 that was inspired by the decorative uniforms of the Prussian army. Among other things, the hats were to have tassels. Närke-Värmland had its first and only set of m/1765 uniforms issued in August 1770 (see picture below).

Non-commissioned officer, musketeer and drummer with uniform m/1765

Gustavian Uniforms

Officer and musketeer with uniform m/1779

Grenadier with uniform m/1792 (never issued but the old m/1779 uniform was re-sewn as best as possible to resemble it)

A radical change to the army's uniforms came into effect in 1779 and, like the other regiments, Närke-Värmland chose to re-sew their old m/1765 coats from 1770 into m/1779 jackets, which happened shortly after the general muster in 1780. The cylinder-shaped hat that was part of the new uniform model was provided with decorations (plumes and lace) that the soldiers had to pay for themselves. In 1784, new neckcloths, stockings and boots were issued.

At the general muster in 1785, the re-sewn jackets were judged to be in such poor condition that they were discarded. However, for financial reasons, the distribution of new jackets was delayed until the summer of 1788 when war with Russia broke out. The war meant that the uniforms quickly wore out and a new m/1779 uniform was issued in 1792. This uniform was then re-sewn as the uniform regulations were changed until it was discarded at the general muster in 1806.

Grey m/1807 uniforms began to be manufactured in August 1807 and were thus issued just before the Finnish War began in February 1808. As in the previous war, these uniforms wore out quickly and were therefore discarded in December 1809. The following year they were replaced by a new uniform model that had mainly the same cut as the m/1807 but with the colours that had previously been used by the regiment. This uniform was in use by the Värmland Regiment until 1816, albeit with some additions. This uniform was also replaced by a completely new uniform model (m/1816 with a shako as a headdress).

Since 1771, officers wore a white armband as a reminder of Gustav III's coup d'état. It was removed after the coup d'état in 1809. The gorget that was used as a rank insignia for officers had previously been replaced by epaulettes on the shoulders with m/1792. Epaulettes were also introduced on the non-commissioned officer uniform in July 1795, with the colonel paying for them. Insignia for corporals are mentioned in 1787 when the colonel selected one that would then be purchased in Stockholm through a joint order.

As a regimental symbol, the officers had a special design on the button, which is depicted in the m/1779 picture above. Most regiments used the provincial coat of arms as a symbol on the buttons, but it was probably because Närke-Värmland was recruited in two provinces that they did not choose that option. When the regiment was divided in 1812, it was Närke Regiment that took over the button symbol.

There were also company badges consisting of a button with different colour combinations in blue and yellow. These had been introduced in 1783 on the initiative of the colonel. In 1807, a regimental symbol was introduced on the hats by royal decree, consisting of a two-coloured cross on a white background. The crosses were blue vertically and red horizontally.

Already at the general muster in 1771, the existing cloaks had been deemed unusable, but it was not until 1789, when war with Russia had broken out, that new cloaks were issued. The old cloaks had continued to be used in the meantime, although in fewer and fewer numbers. The privates had provided themselves with their own overcoats made of “buldan” instead of the defective cloaks. The musicians had never had cloaks but instead wore surtouts, which the officers were also allowed to wear. The cloaks from 1789 were of the same model that had been used throughout the 18th century and were worn until 1807, when they were replaced by so-called “kapotter”, which were grey with sleeves and had a large turn-down collar that covered the shoulders and reached down to the elbow. The grey colour of the kapotter was also retained when new ones were issued after the Finnish War.

According to a royal letter from 28 August 1793, the “släpmundering” was to have the same cut as the regular uniform but consist of dark grey “wadmal” with a light blue collar and cuffs, lapels and turnbacks of dark grey cotton and a lining of dark grey fabric ("väv"). The hat was not to have a plume. However, the neckcloth was to be red like the regular uniform because the colonel thought it would brighten up the dark uniform. Sashes could also be included in the ”släpmundering” if the rote-peasants were willing to pay for them. In 1806, it was decided that the jackets of the “släpmundering” would be slightly longer when new ones were manufactured. Gustav IV Adolf also ordered that the “släpmundering” be made of the same grey fabric that had recently been introduced for the regular uniform’s waistcoat and trousers.

Since the mid-18th century, soldiers' hairstyles were to include a pigtail, and instructions on soldiers' hairstyles were something that officers spent a surprising amount of time on during the Gustavian Age. For example, in 1792, the curls at the ears and the pigtail were regulated so that: "the measurement of the ear curls is that the lead sits below the earlobe and the hair underneath is cut off a good inch below the ear, the pigtails on the soldiers is wound 4 inches, the hair below 2 inches is cut off sharply, the ribbon must not be tied but fastened". Five days later, the instruction was supplemented by an amendment stating that until further notice, the men were not allowed to cut the ear curls or the back of the hair. The following year, the instructions were changed so that the hair whip was greatly lengthened: "The hair is powdered, tied 2 inches from the head, the pigtail is made of 14-inch ribbon with 2-inch long hair at the end, the hair band is tied with two loops of the band and the hair is dressed with a curl at each ear". To achieve this hairstyle, the captain of Näs Company gave a supplementary instruction: "To change the pigtail, each man procures for the company meeting three and a quarter ells of black wide Paduan ribbon, 4-inch long false hair similar to his own to the thickness of a finger, a thin piece of leather the size of a hand and a ball of coarse thread or sail twine, the size of a hen's egg. For each corporalship, half a pound of linen or hemp, the corporals are to take care of the procurement of which, when they then receive their compensation from the privates". He continues the instruction with: "Each soldier procures for the company meeting a hook ring and a piece of lead 4 inches long and 1 inch wide. Powder, pomade and everything that belongs to the decorum, no man may be without for fear of punishment".

After the turn of the century, Gustav IV Adolf too began to issue instructions about the soldiers' hairstyles. In 1801, he ordered the infantry and artillery to get moustaches that should not be longer than covering the upper lip. In 1802, he ordered the soldiers to get sideburns that started at the ear and then followed the jawbone so that they were at the height of the outer corner of the eye and went under the neckcloth. The top of the sideburns should be just under an inch wide and the bottom should be 1 ¼ inches wide. In addition, they were to have side braids at the ears that were wrapped with thin lead sheeting half an inch high. Below the lead there was to be a one-inch-high tuft of hair. On 26 June 1805, the king ordered that the braids and the pigtail be removed so that the hair was cut short around the head. This applied to the entire army, but the officers were allowed to keep their pigtails if they wished. This change in hairstyle meant that the existing model drawing for m/1802 was corrected afterwards (the one with the non-commissioned officer and musketeers).

Närke-Värmland Colours

Olof Hoffman's model drawings of Närke-Värmland’s colonel’s and company colour m/1686

The oldest evidence of Närke-Värmland colours is from 1626 when they are said to have had eight colours of red and ash-grey taffeta. Höglund, from whom the information comes, has interpreted it as consisting of six horizontal stripes in red-black-grey.

Otherwise, the oldest known colours from Närke-Värmland are probably the white colonel’s colour and two green company colours that were taken by the Danes in the Battle of Nyborg on 14 November 1659. They are said to have been part of a set of five colours that were made in 1655. All the colours have the same motif consisting of a crowned golden lion standing on a green stone and holding a silver sword and a pointed green palm wreath that is tied with a blue ribbon and inside a black field with the letters CGRS in gold under a closed crown. Above the lion a blue ribbon with tassels at each end and in gold the text "HOC NOMINE VICTOR" (In this name you shall win). Everything is surrounded by a green laurel wreath with green berries and black grenades in the corners.

Colonel’s colour that was probably in use 1655-1659.
The company colours were green but with the same motif and were in use to 1674.

Even before Närke-Värmland lost its colours on Funen, a set consisting of a colonel’s colour and seven parrot green colours had been made by Peter Blohm in Hamburg in 1658. However, they were never issued due to non-payment and remained in Hamburg until 1677. Some of these company colours were then issued to Västmanland Regiment in 1679 and are described in the section on Västmanland's colours. The colonel’s colour was issued to the Närke-Värmland 3-männing Regiment in 1713 and is preserved in the Swedish Army Museum's collections. The colonel’s colour is interesting because it has the coats of arms of Närke one side of the colour and Värmland on the other side, and it may have been the first time that the provincial coats of arms were painted on Närke-Värmland’s colours.

In both 1665 and 1666, Närke-Värmland’s colonel requested new colours "since the old ones are worn out and most of them were lost on Funen". Both times he was refused, the second time with the note: "When other get them". New colours were delayed until the autumn of 1674 when nine colours painted by Baltzar Friedrich were issued. One was a white colonel’s colour and the others were crimson company colours. All had the Närke provincial coat of arms as a motif (two crossed arrows in gold and four roses in silver) and at least the company colours lacked other details. Another red company colour by the same painter was issued in 1675. One of the company colours was probably lost when Helsingborg capitulated on 3 July 1676 and two more company colours were lost in the Battle of Lund the same year. Two unpainted colours of crimson taffeta and with silver-plated finials were issued on 17 May 1677.

A new colour regulation came into force in 1682, and Närke-Värmland Regiment received a complete set of ten colours that same year, painted by Baltzar Friedrich in accordance with the new regulation. The colonel’s colour now had the large national coat of arms as the main motif in the middle and the provincial coat of arms in the upper inner corner. The company colours had Närke’s provincial coat of arms surrounded by a green laurel wreath and four grenades in the corners. When the much more famous colour regulation from 1686 came into force, the four grenades were removed from the company colours and the national coat of arms on the colonel’s colour was given lion supporters. However, it is unclear when Närke-Värmland received its first m/1686 colours.

When the Great Northern War broke out, the regiment still had its m/1682 colours with grenades in the corners. The field companies may have carried these until the Battle of Poltava, while the home companies kept them until 1732. When the field companies were restored in 1709-10, they received five red company colours and a white colonel’s colour of m/1686, but these were already lost in 1713 when the field regiment capitulated in Tönning. When the field companies were restored for the second time, they had to wait until 1717 before they received new colours. A completely new set of m/1686 colours for the entire regiment was not issued until 1732, and this was then in use until 1766, when a new colour regulation came into force.

The field company colours from 1682 may have been replaced at some point before the Battle of Poltava. This is not mentioned in any source, but the same applies to the Skaraborg colours, which were definitely replaced, since the descriptions of the Skaraborg colours lost in Poltava do not match the appearance of the last known colours issued in 1689. Some of Uppland Regiment’s colours had also probably been replaced before Poltava, since three company colours were still red, while the other four had faded so much that they had become sand-coloured, which made the Russians believe that they belonged to a different regiment. The last known Närke-Värmland colours were clearly older than the colours of these two regiments, and the Närke-Värmland colonel had already requested new colours in 1700, citing the fact that the old ones were worn out. The Russian descriptions of Närke-Värmland’s colours taken at Poltava also do not mention the grenades that were on the colours from 1682. However, there are some details that correspond to the set from 1682. The colours were nailed with silver nails and had silver-plated finials, which was unusual since it was standard for the metal to be gilded on Swedish colours. However, until 1709, Närke-Värmland seems to have distinguished itself by having metal details in silver/tin on its equipment where brass was otherwise standard.

The set that was issued in 1710 is in Danish and Russian custody. The descriptions of them in Rudolf Cederström's book (no. 748-753) indicate that they had finials of gilded brass and unpainted staffs. These colours were either made by Johan Wikman or Daniel Stawert. If it was the latter, they should have looked like Olof Hoffman's model drawings because he followed them more closely than Wikman.

Company colour in use 1717-1732

Of the set from 1717, which was probably made by Johan Wikman, two colours remain and are kept in the Swedish Army Museum. These too have gilded finials while the staffs are made of blue-painted pine. Interestingly, the colours are attached with different types of nails, one has gilded nails while the other has tinned nails, which may indicate that at least one of them was remounted at a later time.

Company colour in use 1732-1766

The set from 1732 also had gilded finials and gilded nails. This set was definitely made by Johan Wikman. Of the four preserved colours in the Swedish Army Museum, two have brown-painted staffs and two have white-painted staffs. The white-painted staffs, however, do not appear to be original but of a model used during the time of Charles XIV. This set was made by Johan Wikman and had been ordered as early as 1718. However, due to disputes over payment, it was not until 1732 that it was delivered.

The set from 1732 was the last one of the m/1686 design and when it was replaced in 1766 the new colours had a completely different appearance. The motif was smaller and the green laurel wreath had been replaced by stylised palm leaves and a crown in gold. The field was no longer solid red but now diagonally quartered in red and white. In addition, the number of colours had been reduced to only two per battalion (i.e. one colonel’s colour and five "company colours"). The set, which had been made by Tobias Leij the Younger, was in use until the partition of the regiment in 1812 when new colours needed to be purchased. The remains of one of these colours from 1766 still exist and can be seen in the picture on the left.

The new Närke regiment received in 1813-1814 a colonel’s colour embroidered by Hedvig Carolina Wrangel and two company colours embroidered by her sister Inga Christina Meck. These followed the m/1766 and the regiments apparently reused one of the company colours from the old 1766 set. Three more company colours were issued in 1815, and these colours were embroidered by Abigael Ulrika Rahmn. One of them should have replaced the colour from 1766 that was still in use, while the other two were intended for a newly formed battalion consisting of conscripts. These were also intended to follow the m/1766 design, but the red and white fields had been reversed during production so that the white fields ended up on the sides while the red fields ended up at the top and bottom. All these m/1766 colours were replaced by two battalion colours of m/1819 embroidered by Abigael Ulrika Rahmn. These were identical for the entire army and consisted of the Swedish flag.

In 1813, Värmland Regiment received a colonel’s colour and three company colours. Two more company colours for the new conscription battalion were added in 1814. All colours were embroidered by Inga Christina Meck. These colours had the Värmland provincial coat of arms as a motif, but the colouring follows an older variant that differs from the one used today. The eagle was black on a yellow field. It was also more than just the provincial coat of arms that differed from their old m/1766 colours. The company colours were blue and had a completely new type of design that most closely resembled the colours that had been issued to Västgöta-Dal Regiment in 1804. The motif consisted of the provincial coat of arms in a crowned shield above two green laurel branches that were tied together with a red bow and had red berries. Why individual regiments received a different design while the rest continued to receive m/1766 colours has not been explained in the sources. But Värmland Regiment too had its colours from 1813-1814 replaced by two m/1819 colours in 1821.

Unknown colonel’s colour from the reign of Charles XIII. All regiments' colonel’s colours were then identical.

Company colour of Värmland Regiment from either 1813 or 1814 and which was in use until 1821

Like the other regiments in the early 19th century, the Närke and Värmland regiments received colonel’s colours that lacked the provincial coat of arms in the upper inner corner. Instead, they had crowns in each corner. But this means that all regiments had identical colonel’s colours and it is therefore not possible to determine which of the preserved colonel’s colours belonged to which regiment.

Other equipment

According to Anders Larsson, the drums from 1715-1719 were painted blue and red, with a gilded crown, the king's coat of arms and monogram. The exception was the drums of the colonel’s company, which were white with a gilded royal coat of arms and gilded crowns. In 1720-1721, the colonel’s company had white-painted drums with the coat of arms of Sweden and a gilded crown and monogram. Anders Larsson uses a symbol in his description that looks like Charles XII's mirrored monogram, which I translate as monogram. However, since the monogram looked different after Charles XII's death, both descriptions of the colonel’s company seem to refer to the same drums (the king's and Sweden's coats of arms are then identical).

Nordensvan states in his regimental history that the regiment was armed with pikes throughout the reign of Charles XII and that these did not disappear until the 1730s. However, this is not the whole picture. The companies that were restored after Poltava only received muskets and the acting colonel requested in 1710 that the pikes of the companies at home should also be replaced because he considered "pikes unsuitable here in this terrain". I do not know how that request went, but in any case, the field regiment still lacked pikes at the Battle of Gadebusch. Charles XII was a strong supporter of pikes and after his return to Sweden he ordered that all regiments should re-introduce this weapon. Gustaf Jonasson also mentions (page 228) that before the Norwegian campaign in 1718 the six restored field companies had been issued new weapons, of which a third received pikes and the rest received muskets. After the death of Charles XII, however, the proportion of pikemen in each regiment was reduced from one third to one quarter.

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