The Life Guards (, designation LG) is a combined Swedish Army cavalry/infantry regiment. Its responsibilities include the defence of Stockholm as well as provision of the royal guard of honour for the King of Sweden and the Stockholm Palace. With traditions dating from 1521, the regiment is one of the oldest military units in continuous operational existence in the world. It was established in its present form in July 2000, following a merger of the Svea Life Guards and the Life Guard Dragoons. Headquarters are mainly located in Brunna north of Kungsängen in Upplands-Bro Municipality and at the "Cavalry Barracks 1" in central Stockholm.
History
left|thumb|Gustav Eriksson addressing men from [[Dalarna in Mora. Painting by Johan Gustaf Sandberg.]]
Svea Life Guards dates back to the year 1521, when the men of Dalarna chose 16 young able men as body guards for Gustav Vasa, thus making the Life Guards one of the world's oldest regiments still on active duty.
The King's Battalion's Life Company is the world's oldest company. Since the year 1523 the section, now enlarged, has been known as the Royal Corps of Halberdiers and, under various names, the regiment has had its natural home at the Palace in Stockholm. The Halberdiers were transformed in 1619 into the Household Company which accompanied Gustavus Adolphus wherever he went in Europe. It was from this time too that the unit was classed as a regiment. In 1633 the company brought the king's body home from Lützen and thereafter formed the basis of Queen Christina's new guards regiment within the royal household.
The three following Carolean kings – Charles X Gustav, Charles XI, and Charles XII – required a government organization that was more mobile and the guards officers and soldiers accompanied them to the various battlefields under the name of His Royal Majesty's Guards. With the destruction of the palace in Stockholm by fire in 1697 the guards' natural responsibility for the defense of the capital disappeared. The new palace was completed in the 1750s and there was again a need for Life Guards and Household Troops for defending the capital.
During the period 1756–1810 – when there were constant palace coups and a large number of assassination conspiracies – the guards officers and the palace guard often played a decisive role. Gustav III tried to exploit this by appointing himself head of the regiment in 1774. The colonel was then given the title of second-in-command or deputy commander and this command hierarchy continued until 1980 when a number of constitutional changes brought it to an end. The Life Guards reckon 19 August 1772, as the proudest day in this period for it was then that Gustav III was able to break with corrupt governments. The most ignominious day is 20 June 1810 when the Marshal of the Realm, Axel von Fersen, was lynched during the funeral of the crown prince without the regiment intervening in spite of its being on duty.
thumb|left|Uniforms of Svea Life Guards 1803-1845, [[lithography by Adolf Ulrik Schützercrantz]]
The name was changed to the Svea Life Guards in 1792 and in 1802 the regiment moved to barracks at Fredrikshov. In the ensuing century the unit was used for various tasks. For example, the commander of the capital made use of the men and officers for keeping order in Stockholm. The regiment moved to barracks on Linnégatan in 1888. At the same time there were proposals to extend the training grounds on Ladugårdsgärde and at the beginning of the 1900s an artillery range was commissioned on Järvafält. The Svea Life Guards again moved their barracks in 1946, this time to Ulriksdal on the outskirts of Stockholm. At the end of the 1960s the Municipality of Stockholm wanted to build dwellings on Järva and the regiment was again under increasing pressure to move. In 1970 there was no longer room for the unit in central Stockholm and it was obliged to move men and equipment out to Kungsängen. A positive aspect of the move was that the regiment at last had access to training grounds and artillery ranges adjacent to the barracks.
During the military alert in the 1940s Sweden was divided into a number of defense districts. The idea was that the various staff commands would be wholly responsible for defending their own geographic areas. In 1946 the Stockholm and Norrtälje defence districts were united into the joint Fo 44. In order to reduce administration, the Svea Life Guards were grouped with K 1 out in Kungsängen in 1975–1985. In August 1985 the regiment also assumed responsibility for training K 1. Between 1985 and 1992 the Svea Life Guards also had administrative responsibility for the Armed Forces NBC-defense units, which was also grouped in the barracks at Kungsängen.
The official collective name of Svea Life Guards (I 1/Fo 44), lasted for nine years. In 1994 I 1, IB 1 and K 1 were separated and became independent units. But they retained the old barracks in Kungsängen and on Lidingövägen. The Svea Lifeguards also continued to take responsibility for various administrative duties for the other two units.
With the reorganization of the defense forces, the Svea Life Guards were disbanded on 30 June 2000. Most of the staff and duties are now to be found with the Life Guards. At a solemn ceremony on the inner palace yard, the Life Guards and the Household Brigade were presented with a new colour by King Carl XVI Gustaf. The new colour is a unique artifact presenting the national coat of arms with the chain of the Royal Order of the Seraphim and two supporting lions, as well as all the battle honours, on a white ground.
Units (2000–2011)
Guards Battalion
The infantry battalion (Guards Battalion) trained ordinary infantry soldiers in both the mechanized and rifle roles, as well as training clerical soldiers. The Guards Battalion consists of three companies:
- Life Company
- 6th company
- 8th company
They are light mechanized companies trained for urban combat with the defense of Stockholm as its first and foremost wartime duty.
Dragoons Battalion
The cavalry battalion (Dragoons Battalion) had the responsibility for training military police, counter-sabotage units, depot soldiers and guards. The Dragoons Battalion's 4th Squadron was the only mounted cavalry unit in the Swedish Armed Forces. The soldiers of the Life Guards are also frequently used for ceremonial duties like the Royal Guard at the Stockholm Palace, state occasions like the annual opening of the Riksdag and as a guard of honour on the occasion of royal audiences and visits.
Structure (2016–present)
The Life Guards as it exists today has been part of the Swedish Army since 2000, when the functions of three separate guards units, the Svea Life Guards, the Household Brigade and the Life Guards Dragoons, all of which were classed as Household troops, were amalgamated into a single regiment.
As of 2018, the unit employs 448 officers, 575 active soldiers, 470 part-time soldiers, 334 civilian employees and 439 reserve officers; totalling 1,300. For the Life Guards the colours will be white and show the Swedish Royal coat of arms without mantle. Kettledrum banners type B have a cloth moulded in two rows of flaps. The Life Guards is the only unit which may use kettledrum banners of this type and then only to kettledrums made of silver. The Dragoon Battalion of the Life Guards may use a white trumpet banner with three open crowns in the centre, placed two and one, all in gold. embroidered décor and a fringe made of gold thread.
Life Guards colour
The colour of the Life Guards was presented to the then Svea Life Guards and the Life Guards Brigade on 30 April 2000 by His Majesty the King Carl XVI Gustaf at the Stockholm Palace in connection with his birthday. It was used by the two units until the amalgamation with the Life Guard Dragoons (K 1) on 1 July 2000. The colour is also carried by the Guards Battalion of the Life Guards.
Medals
When the regiment was raised in 2000, the ("Life Guards Medal of Merit I") in gold and silver (LGIGM/SM) of the 8th size was established. The medal ribbon is of yellow moiré with a white stripe on each side both followed on both sides by a blue line. His Majesty the King's monogram is attached to the ribbon. This medal was established in 1999 as the ("Svea Life Guards (I 1) and Life Guards Brigade (IB 1) Medal of Merit") (SvealivgLivgbrigGM/SM).
In 2001, ("Life Guards (LG) Medal of Merit II") in gold and silver (LGIIGM/SM) was established. This medal was originally established in 1993 as the ("Life Guard Dragoons (K 1) Medal of Merit") in gold and silver (LGDGM/SM). The medal was a Maltese cross and the medal ribbon was of blue moiré with a white stripe on each side. His Majesty the King's monogram in gold/silver is attached to the ribbon.
In 2004, ("Life Guards Medal of Merit III") in gold and silver (LGIIIGM/SM) of the 8th size was established. The medalj ribbon of the gold medal is blue with two yellow lines on each side and a yellow stripe on the middle. The medal ribbon of the silver medal is yellow moiré with two blue lines on each side and a blue stripe on the middle. The obverse differs, however, this is due to the different units of the Life Guards.
<gallery class="center">
File:AM.095933.jpg|Medal, miniature medal and ribbon bar of Life Guards Medal of Merit I
File:Livgardets förtjänstmedalj II & Livgardets dragoners förtjänstmedalj.svg|Ribbon bar of Life Guards Medal of Merit II
File:AM.088350.jpg|Medal, miniature medal and ribbon bar of Life Guards Medal of Merit III in gold
File:AM.088340.jpg|Medal, miniature medal and ribbon bar of Life Guards Medal of Merit III in silver
</gallery>
Heritage
275px|thumb|Grenadiers of the modern Swedish Life Guards wearing traditional ceremonial uniform.
The Life Guards continue the traditional heritage primarily of Svea Life Guards (I 1) Livkompaniet Light Mechanized Urban Warfare Infantry, Life Guard Dragoons (K 1) as well as the Swedish Armed Forces International Centre (, SWEDINT) and the Swedish Armed Forces Music Centre (, FöMusC). Secondarily, the Life Guards carry today the traditional heritage of Royal guard duty, by the Livkompaniet Life Guards Infantry/Grenadiers Seen in the dark blue Uniform and of the Dragoonbattalion on Horse (K 1), Life Regiment Dragoons seen in the light blue uniform (K 2), Swedish Armed Forces UN School (), National Swedish Defence Dog Training Centre (, HS) and the musical traditions of the Swedish Armed Forces Military Bands ().
Commanding officers
The King's role as Supreme Commander was abolished with the 1974 Instrument of Government. Since then, the King/Head of state is the chief representative of the Swedish Armed Forces (see Bill 1993/94:115). The King is traditionally also honorary Colonel-in-chief of the Life Guards (and the Life Regiment Hussars). From 2013 to 2017, the regimental commander was also the commanding officer of the Central Military Region. The commander of the Life Guards was from 2000 to 2017 also the Commandant of Stockholm. Previously, Defence District Commanders and also other regimental commanders in Stockholm Garrison have also served as Commandants of Stockholm.|group=note
- 2017–2020: Laura Swaan Wrede
- 2020–2024: Stefan Nacksten
- 2024–20xx: Gustaf Dufberg
In popular culture
- Swedish heavy metal band Sabaton released a song on 26 February 2021 about the Life Guards in relation to the 500 year anniversary of the Life Guards as a tribute to the regiment. The song was originally released in Swedish. An English version named "The Royal Guard" released on 9 April 2021.
Gallery
<gallery>
File:Livskvadron med hjälm m1879-1900-1928.jpg|The Life Squadron with its silver-plated helmets and blue uniforms.
File:Royal guards sweden.jpg|Mounted Changing of the Guard.
File:Högvakten, Stockholms slott.jpg|A dragoon standing sentry at the Royal Palace in Stockholm.
File:Marianne Bernadotte at Stockholm Palace in june 8, 2013.jpg|Grenadier Company standing guard of honour at the wedding of Princess Madeleine and Christopher O'Neill.
File:Livgardet 30 april 2012a.jpg|Female soldier from the Life Guards standing outside Stockholm Palace. 30 April 2012 (king's birthday).
File:Regementstrumslagaren.JPG|Regimental Drum Major of the Royal Swedish Army Band.
File:Lidingövägen 28, K1, panorama.jpg|The Cavalry Barracks at Lidingövägen 28, Stockholm.
</gallery>
See also
- Defence Act of 2000
- Svea Life Guards
- Life Guard Dragoons
- Royal Stables