The Royal Life Guards
The Royal Swedish Life Guards
In 1521, King
Gustav Eriksson Vasa created the Royal Life Guard. When Gustav Vasa created the Guard
it acted like the private bodyguards to him. It consisted of 16 men, so called “Dalakarlar”,
men from the Dukedom of Dalarna. The King is the official chief of the
Guards. Today his Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf is the Honorary Chief of the
Life Guards.
![]() |
The coat of arms of the Royal Life Guards "Possunt nec posse videntur" |
The Regiment has
several victories on its banner, such as; Befrielsekriget, Rhen, Lützen,
Warszawa, The March over Bält, Halmstad, Lund, Landskrona, Narva, Düna,
Kliszów, Holowczyn, Svensksund.
The Regiment has
fought upon Swedish and foreign fields for nearly 400 years, for King, God and
Country. The pride and traditions in the Regiment are so overwhelming and
great, they carry the traditions of the famous Swedish Caroleans.
The “Drabantvakten” consists of “Karl XI:s Drabanter” and “Karl XII:s Drabanter” who wear the
classic uniforms of the Carolieans.
![]() |
"Drabantvakten" |
The Royal Life
guards consists of: 10. Life battalion, 11. Military police battalion, 12. Motorized
shooting battalion, 13. Security battalion, Military region Middle, Swedint, Armed
Forces Military Unit, The Commandant staff, The International Education Unit, Dala
Regiments group, Gävleborgsgroup and The Life Guard group. The Regiment Chief
today is Colonel Christer Tistam. As of the year 2000 the Regiment formally
became a new Regiment which included the “Livgardets
Dragoner” (a cavalry regiment) but it has the same heraldry, traditions and
assignments as always.
Today the
Headquarters of the Life Guards is stationed at Kungsängen in Stockholm. The
Regiment also has activity in Sollefteå, Falun, Gävle, Märsta, Stockholm,
Göteborg, and Karlskrona. A total of about 1 300 people are working at the
Royal Life Guards, from soldiers to lawyers. Most famous of them are the Royal
Guards, in Swedish known as Högvakten; wearing dark and light blues suits armored
with traditional weapons to protect the King and his Royal Family. The Parliament
and the Government of the Kingdom of Sweden.
![]() |
The coat of arms of the Royal life guards and the "Överkommendanten" |
Because the Royal
Life Guards is one of the oldest military institutions in our Kingdom it has a
lot of old and illustrious traditions, such as the ceremonies, military masses
etc. The biggest, yet an immaterial tradition, is the pride of the Guards or as
known in Sweden; Livgardister. The Regiment has 5 marches, including:
For the
infantry: Kungl. Svea Livgardes Marsch (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xgOFtDFhOY),
To end the brief
information and history of the Royal Life Guard, I will declare the Swedish
Warriors Prayer.
Gud bevare
Konungen och Fäderneslandet!
Kevin Sundin
Writer at the Swedish Armed Forces Editorior
Office
Kommentarer
Skicka en kommentar