Swedish Horse Lifeguards, 1808

This is a first test figure which is meant to represent the Swedish Horse Lifeguard regiment as they would have appeared in 1808. First, here are some images of the completed and fully painted model.

As many of you know, Swedish uniforms of this particular period changed several times. The changes came in quick succession, and often regiments had not had time to sew new uniforms (or re-sew old ones, as was often the case) according to the latest regulations when another new uniform model was introduced. Consequently, in 1808, many regiments wore uniforms that were 10-15 years old or more, some re-sewn to a new standard, some, apparently not.

The Horse Lifeguards (Livgardet till häst) originally wore a white uniform with a blue plastron, first introduced in 1792. It seems that this uniform was adjusted somewhat in 1802, but it was still of the same general design, white with blue plastron. A new and quite different uniform was introduced in 1806, which was all blue with white facings. However, according to Martin Markelius, “Bestämmelser och verklighet – uniformeringen i von Vegesacks kår”, in Kronans kläder (Armemuseums årsbok 2010), ed. Anna Fredholm & Martin Skog, the new blue uniform did not reach the troops before they transported to Finland in the autumn of 1808. By that time they did wear the new hat though, and according to Markelius they probably had the blue riding overalls on campaign. To make things more complicated, a part of the regiment was outfitted as mounted jägers; these troops had a green uniform with different headgear (as seen above).

The Lifeguard participated in the battle of Oravais, and would have most likely worn the white uniform then. When they fought in the battle of Sävar in Northern Sweden about a year later, they may well have worn the blue uniform.

The look of these troops can be seen quite well in period depictions that are not dress regulations. There is one painting of the troop review conducted by the king on Åland shortly before the Lifeguard were transferred to Finland. There are also a couple of very detalied portraits of junior officers, one with the earlier and one wearing the later uniform type.

Despite, or perhaps because of, the wealth of different sources, a couple of details are still very difficult to determine definitively. The sabretache is depicted slightly differently in each illustration. I tried to replicate the one from the troop review, as it is closest to the battles in Finland; it is likely that officers had a more elegant version. Also, the red cord worn on the hat is shown hanging across the front of the hat in some illustrations, but not in others. I chose to have it across the front, partly because it looks better, but partly also because it seemed logical. I must admit I am very unsure about that particular detail though.

Perry miniatures do only two types of Swedish cavalry, the Nyland and the Carelian dragoons. The Nyland dragoons wore a hat which is not entirely dissimilar to the ones worn by the Lifeguards. Being a guard regiment however, the Lifeguards have a added a large plume to their hat, which also seems to have been more rounded. The Guards hat is also turned up on the left hand side in a similar way to the Swedish infantry hats, and it has a fastening cord, company pompom etc of the same type as other Swedish hats of the period, which the Nyland hat does not have. But apart from the greenstuffing of the hat, there was very little modification to do. The only thing I recall was that the middle row of buttons on the jacket needs to be removed. Apart from that, everything is down to painting. Whatever doubts one may have over the uniform details, I am very happy with the way the figure turned out. The challenge that remains is to duplicate the same greenstuffing on enough models to make up a unit. To begin with, that means no more than 6 figures, eventually maybe 8 or 12.