The Late Allotment System, "Yngre indelningsverket" (2)
The Soldier Names
At the end of the 17th century the Army and later the Navy began giving soldiers and sailors special surnames.When a soldier was recruited he was assigned a special "soldier name" by the Captain of the Company. In each company the soldiers had to have a unique last name. When an order was given to a certain soldier only one soldier was to react. A lot of soldiers with the same last name could generate problems.These soldier names was of a special character, many of the names had military touch. Some of the names assigned were for example:•Typical military names: Sköld (Shield), Attack, Modig (Brave), Granat (Grenade), Stål (Steel) and Svärd (Sword).•Names expressing personal qualities: Glad (Happy), Rolig (Funny), Lång (Tall), Munter (Cheerful) and Flink (Quick) etc.•In the Navy the names often were associated with nautical terms such as Ankare (Anchor), Däck (Deck), Kompass (Compass), Segel (Sail), Mast (Mast), Köl (Keel) and Talja (Tackle).•Other names were adopted from the world of animals, names like Mård - Marten, Järv - Wolverine, Hjort - Deer, Örn - Eagle etc. •Another set of names were adopted from names of trees such as Al - Alder, Alm - Elm, Ek - Oak, Gran - Spruce, Björk - Birch, Lind - Linden, Syrén - Lilac etc.However, the largest group of soldier names was related to the name of the soldier croft or from the name of the rote. These names were similar to the names of craftsmen, for example Sundin, Blackberg, Bårström, Brolin, Brunnberg, Beckman, Fagerberg, Kihlström, Sjölund, Malmberg, Lid, Snytberg etc. The previously noted names are examples of soldier names in the Södermanland Regiment.For example, Sundby rote of the Södermanland Regiment often used the soldier name Sund and Sundin for the soldiers serving at this rote.Independent of which soldier name was used, the name was linked to the "rote". When a soldier died or was discharged the new recruit often inherited the former soldier’s name of that "rote". When a soldier was transferred to another "rote" he was given a soldier name that previously was used at that "rote". This was normally the case if the soldiers was transferred to another company of the regiment. If he moved to another "rote" within the same company, the soldier often kept the soldier name he already had. If a soldier didn’t like the name he was assigned, he could request to have it changed to another name. The new name must be a unique name within his Company.The same soldier name could be used by soldiers in different companies. However, within the same company, each soldier name was to be unique. So, there could be several soldiers named "Attack", for example, within a regiment but there could only be one soldier with the name Attack in the same company.This means that many soldiers in a regiment over a period of time could have used the same name.The Army began using with special soldier names in the 1680’s. The use of special sailor names in the Navy didn’t begin until 30 or 40 years later.When a soldier retired he normally changed his surname to his “ordinary” last name. But it also was not unusual for the discharged soldiers to keep their soldier name, especially in the 19th century.
The Soldier Numbers - Rote Numbers
Each rote of a regiment was assigned a number (soldier number). In total there normally were 1,200 "rotar" which provided soldiers to an infantry regiment and each rote was a assigned a number between 1 and 1,200. This series of numbers also constituted the soldier numbers.For example, soldier "407 Attack" means that this soldier was soldier 407 (out of 1,200) and belonged to "rote" number 407. His soldier name was of course Attack.When a soldier was transferred to another rote he always was assigned the number of the new rote. The number belonged to the rote.Two series of numbers:This series of soldier numbers were known as soldier numbers within the regiment ( 1 - 1,200). However, there were also a series of soldier numbers within the company. Since a company normally numbered 150 soldiers this series ranged from 1 to 150.So, a soldier had two different soldier numbers.
The Uniform
Before the 1680s each regiment had their own uniform with their own colors. Different regiments wore different uniforms in their own colors. When you saw a soldier in a uniform prior to the 1680s you could tell the regiment by the colors of the uniform.King Karl XI introduced a standard uniform ("enhetsuniformen") in the 1680s. This uniform was standardized and the same for all regiments. The colors were, with a few exceptions, blue and yellow. The coat was blue with a yellow lining. The stockings the soldier wore were also yellow. The hat was a triangular shaped and fairly typical during that time frame.The process of changing the uniforms began in 1687 and took 10 to 15 years before the transition was complete.The soldiers under the regime of King Karl XI and Karl XII (1682 – 1721) were called Caroleans ("karoliner"). The uniform was called the Carolean uniform ("karolineruniformen"). The soldier in the image to the right is wearing the Carolean blue and yellow standard uniform.This uniform was in use (with a few modifications) for nearly 100 years.The Navy did not get its first standard uniform until 1817.See also Uniforms of the Swedish Army
Enlisted Regiments, "värvade regementen"
In addition to the alloted regiments (indelta regimenten) organized through the Allotment System there were also enlisted regiments("värvade regementen"). The soldiers in the enlisted regiments were employed in a convention way with a salaries paid by the Crown and living in military barracks in cities and in the nation’s fortresses. The soldiers were hired on short terms contracts and served for 4 - 6 years at a time.Both the Life Guard Regiments and the Artillery Regiments were Enlisted Regiments.For a comparison, allotted regiments versus enlisted regiments, see Allotted vs. Enlisted Regiments.
Military Peacetime Work
In peacetime, a regiment could receive orders ("arbetskommendering") to do various types of construction and maintenance labor throughout the nation. This work could include projects such as the construction or repairing of fortresses, bridges, canals and other public works facilities. In other words they participated in different types of civic projects.Examples of canals constructed with major labor contributions from many regimental soldiers are "Göta kanal" and "Hjälmare kanal". Another area of military peacetime work was serving as prison guards at prisons or penitentiaries.During the 17th and 18th century when Sweden was at war much of the time, the Crown also used prisoners of war for these types of civic labor projects.
The Size of the Swedish Armed Forces in 1700
Sweden had a long borderline to defend and a limited number of inhabitants. In 1700 Sweden only had about 2,000,000 inhabitants. Yet, Sweden managed to mobilize an army of about 76,000 soldiers at the outbreak of The Great Northern War (1700 - 1721). This force was much larger than our enemy neighbors could mobilize. Denmark had 36,000 soldiers, Poland 22,000 and Russia 40,000. Modern research has established that Sweden mobilized a total of 200,000 soldiers during the 21 years of The Great Northern War. A lot of replacements were needed. So, every "rote" had a tough job providing replacement soldiers in the pace they were needed. If the rote-farmers weren’t able to find new recruits in time they could face having to put on the uniform themselves. Getting enough replacement soldiers was one of the major weaknesses of the Allotment System.
The Order of Battle
Before a battle the opposing armies lined up in battle lines facing each other. The first line was called "första träffen" and the second "andra träffen". Each line had a center, a right flank and a left flank plus the artillery.The infantry was placed in the"center" of both the first and second lines. Within the "center" there was a right, left and center of infantry. On the left and the right flanks were the cavalry.In the line, each battalion fought together as a unit. Normally, each line was three soldiers deep. In some battles a "line" was as many as six soldiers deep.
Examples of a soldier contracts and military rolls
In 1901 the Allotment System was abandoned. Sweden then changed to a universal conscription system / draft system ("Allmän Värnplikt") system with a conscript army ("värnpliktsarmé"), i.e. compulsory military service. More about The End of the Allotment System and the new Universal Conscription System.
At the end of the 17th century the Army and later the Navy began giving soldiers and sailors special surnames.When a soldier was recruited he was assigned a special "soldier name" by the Captain of the Company. In each company the soldiers had to have a unique last name. When an order was given to a certain soldier only one soldier was to react. A lot of soldiers with the same last name could generate problems.These soldier names was of a special character, many of the names had military touch. Some of the names assigned were for example:•Typical military names: Sköld (Shield), Attack, Modig (Brave), Granat (Grenade), Stål (Steel) and Svärd (Sword).•Names expressing personal qualities: Glad (Happy), Rolig (Funny), Lång (Tall), Munter (Cheerful) and Flink (Quick) etc.•In the Navy the names often were associated with nautical terms such as Ankare (Anchor), Däck (Deck), Kompass (Compass), Segel (Sail), Mast (Mast), Köl (Keel) and Talja (Tackle).•Other names were adopted from the world of animals, names like Mård - Marten, Järv - Wolverine, Hjort - Deer, Örn - Eagle etc. •Another set of names were adopted from names of trees such as Al - Alder, Alm - Elm, Ek - Oak, Gran - Spruce, Björk - Birch, Lind - Linden, Syrén - Lilac etc.However, the largest group of soldier names was related to the name of the soldier croft or from the name of the rote. These names were similar to the names of craftsmen, for example Sundin, Blackberg, Bårström, Brolin, Brunnberg, Beckman, Fagerberg, Kihlström, Sjölund, Malmberg, Lid, Snytberg etc. The previously noted names are examples of soldier names in the Södermanland Regiment.For example, Sundby rote of the Södermanland Regiment often used the soldier name Sund and Sundin for the soldiers serving at this rote.Independent of which soldier name was used, the name was linked to the "rote". When a soldier died or was discharged the new recruit often inherited the former soldier’s name of that "rote". When a soldier was transferred to another "rote" he was given a soldier name that previously was used at that "rote". This was normally the case if the soldiers was transferred to another company of the regiment. If he moved to another "rote" within the same company, the soldier often kept the soldier name he already had. If a soldier didn’t like the name he was assigned, he could request to have it changed to another name. The new name must be a unique name within his Company.The same soldier name could be used by soldiers in different companies. However, within the same company, each soldier name was to be unique. So, there could be several soldiers named "Attack", for example, within a regiment but there could only be one soldier with the name Attack in the same company.This means that many soldiers in a regiment over a period of time could have used the same name.The Army began using with special soldier names in the 1680’s. The use of special sailor names in the Navy didn’t begin until 30 or 40 years later.When a soldier retired he normally changed his surname to his “ordinary” last name. But it also was not unusual for the discharged soldiers to keep their soldier name, especially in the 19th century.
The Soldier Numbers - Rote Numbers
Each rote of a regiment was assigned a number (soldier number). In total there normally were 1,200 "rotar" which provided soldiers to an infantry regiment and each rote was a assigned a number between 1 and 1,200. This series of numbers also constituted the soldier numbers.For example, soldier "407 Attack" means that this soldier was soldier 407 (out of 1,200) and belonged to "rote" number 407. His soldier name was of course Attack.When a soldier was transferred to another rote he always was assigned the number of the new rote. The number belonged to the rote.Two series of numbers:This series of soldier numbers were known as soldier numbers within the regiment ( 1 - 1,200). However, there were also a series of soldier numbers within the company. Since a company normally numbered 150 soldiers this series ranged from 1 to 150.So, a soldier had two different soldier numbers.
The Uniform
Before the 1680s each regiment had their own uniform with their own colors. Different regiments wore different uniforms in their own colors. When you saw a soldier in a uniform prior to the 1680s you could tell the regiment by the colors of the uniform.King Karl XI introduced a standard uniform ("enhetsuniformen") in the 1680s. This uniform was standardized and the same for all regiments. The colors were, with a few exceptions, blue and yellow. The coat was blue with a yellow lining. The stockings the soldier wore were also yellow. The hat was a triangular shaped and fairly typical during that time frame.The process of changing the uniforms began in 1687 and took 10 to 15 years before the transition was complete.The soldiers under the regime of King Karl XI and Karl XII (1682 – 1721) were called Caroleans ("karoliner"). The uniform was called the Carolean uniform ("karolineruniformen"). The soldier in the image to the right is wearing the Carolean blue and yellow standard uniform.This uniform was in use (with a few modifications) for nearly 100 years.The Navy did not get its first standard uniform until 1817.See also Uniforms of the Swedish Army
Enlisted Regiments, "värvade regementen"
In addition to the alloted regiments (indelta regimenten) organized through the Allotment System there were also enlisted regiments("värvade regementen"). The soldiers in the enlisted regiments were employed in a convention way with a salaries paid by the Crown and living in military barracks in cities and in the nation’s fortresses. The soldiers were hired on short terms contracts and served for 4 - 6 years at a time.Both the Life Guard Regiments and the Artillery Regiments were Enlisted Regiments.For a comparison, allotted regiments versus enlisted regiments, see Allotted vs. Enlisted Regiments.
Military Peacetime Work
In peacetime, a regiment could receive orders ("arbetskommendering") to do various types of construction and maintenance labor throughout the nation. This work could include projects such as the construction or repairing of fortresses, bridges, canals and other public works facilities. In other words they participated in different types of civic projects.Examples of canals constructed with major labor contributions from many regimental soldiers are "Göta kanal" and "Hjälmare kanal". Another area of military peacetime work was serving as prison guards at prisons or penitentiaries.During the 17th and 18th century when Sweden was at war much of the time, the Crown also used prisoners of war for these types of civic labor projects.
The Size of the Swedish Armed Forces in
1700
Sweden had a long borderline to defend and a limited number of inhabitants. In 1700 Sweden only had about 2,000,000 inhabitants. Yet, Sweden managed to mobilize an army of about 76,000 soldiers at the outbreak of The Great Northern War (1700 - 1721). This force was much larger than our enemy neighbors could mobilize. Denmark had 36,000 soldiers, Poland 22,000 and Russia 40,000. Modern research has established that Sweden mobilized a total of 200,000 soldiers during the 21 years of The Great Northern War. A lot of replacements were needed. So, every "rote" had a tough job providing replacement soldiers in the pace they were needed. If the rote-farmers weren’t able to find new recruits in time they could face having to put on the uniform themselves. Getting enough replacement soldiers was one of the major weaknesses of the Allotment System.
The Order of Battle
Before a battle the opposing armies lined up in battle lines facing each other. The first line was called "första träffen" and the second "andra träffen". Each line had a center, a right flank and a left flank plus the artillery.The infantry was placed in the"center" of both the first and second lines. Within the "center" there was a right, left and center of infantry. On the left and the right flanks were the cavalry.In the line, each battalion fought together as a unit. Normally, each line was three soldiers deep. In some battles a "line" was as many as six soldiers deep.
In 1901 the Allotment System was abandoned.Sweden then changed to a universal conscription system / draft system ("Allmän Värnplikt") system with a conscript army ("värnpliktsarmé"), i.e. compulsory military service. More about The End of the Allotment System and the new Universal Conscription System.
