The Hälsinge Regiment (), designations I 14, I 14/Fo 49 and I 14/Fo 21, was a Swedish Army infantry regiment that traced its origins back to the 16th century. It was disbanded in 1997. The regiment's soldiers were originally recruited from the provinces of Hälsingland and Gästrikland, and it was later garrisoned in Gästrikland.
History The regiment has its origins in fänikor (companies) raised in Hälsingland and Gästrikland in the 1550s and 1560s. In 1615, these units—along with fänikor from the nearby provinces of Medelpad, Ångermanland and Västerbotten—were organised by Gustav II Adolf into Norrlands storregemente, of which eleven of the total 24 companies were recruited in Hälsingland and Gästrikland. Norrlands storregemente consisted of three field regiments, of which Hälsinge Regiment was one. Sometime around 1624, the grand regiment was permanently split into three smaller regiments, of which Hälsinge Regiment was one.
The regiment was officially raised in 1630 although it had existed since 1624. Hälsinge Regiment was one of the original 20 Swedish infantry regiments mentioned in the Swedish constitution of 1634. The regiment was also called Joakim Brahe's Regiment after its first commander Joakim Brahe. It was allotted in 1682 as the second Swedish regiment to be so, after Dalarna Regiment.
The regiment was given the designation I 14 (14th Infantry Regiment) in a general order in 1816. Hälsinge Regiment was garrisoned in Gävle from 1909. In 1973, the regiment gained the new designation I 14/Fo 49 as a consequence of a merge with the local defence area Fo 49. When the local defence area changed designation to Fo 21 in 1982, the designation changed to I 14/Fo 21. The regiment was disbanded in 1997, and the barracks that had been refurbished in 1995–1996 were turned into a college campus for the University College of Gävle.
Campaigns
The Swedish War of Liberation (1521–1523)Participated as the various fänikor that later formed the regiment. The Northern Seven Years' War (1563–1570) The War against Russia (1590–1595) The Polish War (1600–1629) The Thirty Years' War (1630–1648) The Torstenson War (1643–1645) The Northern Wars (1655–1661) The Scanian War (1674–1679) The Great Northern War (1700–1721) The Hats' Russian War (1741–1743) The Seven Years' War (1757–1762) The Gustav III's Russian War (1788–1790) The Finnish War (1808–1809) The Campaign against Norway (1814)
Organisation
1634(?) Livkompaniet Överstelöjtnantens kompani Majorens kompani Alfta kompani Delsbo kompani Ovansjö kompani Arbrå kompani Jervsö kompani
1814(?) Livkompaniet Forssa kompani Järvsö kompani Delsbo kompani Färnebo kompani Arbrå kompani Alfta kompani Ovansjö kompani
Heraldry and traditions
Colours, standards and guidons The regiment have carried a number of colour over the years. In 1897, King Oscar II presented a new colour to the two battalions of the regiment, which then replaced the 1850 colour. On 29 September 1952, the 1897 colour was replaced when the regiment was presented with a new colour in Gävle by His Majesty the King Gustaf VI Adolf. It was used as regimental colour by I 14/Fo 21 until 1 January 1998. The new colour was similar to the 1850 colour. It was white and black, which is also the regimental colour, and taken from Hälsingland (black) and Gästrikland (white). The colour is drawn by Brita Grep. It has not been possible to discover who has manufactured the colour. It is embroidered by hand in insertion technique. Blazon: "On cloth per saltire black and white the provincial badge of Hälsingland; a rampant yellow buck, armed red. On a yellow border at the upper side of the colour, battle honours (Novgorod 1611, Warszawa 1656, Fredriksodde 1657, Tåget över Bält 1658, Lund 1676, Landskrona 1677, Narva 1700, Düna 1701, Jakobstadt 1704, Gemäuerthof 1705, Malatitze 1708, Gadebusch 1712) in black".
Coat of arms The coat of the arms of the Hälsinge Regiment (I 14/Fo 21) 1977–1997 and the Gävleborg Group (Gävleborgsgruppen) since 1997. Blazon: The provincial badge of Hälsingland, saltire sable and argent, a buck rampant or, armed and langued gules. The shield surmounted two muskets in saltire or".
Medals In 1959, the ("Hälsinge Regiment (I 14) Medal of Merit") in gold (HälsregGM) of the 8th size was established. The same year, the ("Royal Hälsinge Regiment Medal of Reward") in gold (HälsregGM) was established. In 1959 and 1985, the ("Hälsinge Regiment Medal of Merit") in silver (HälsregSM) were established. The medals from 1959 and 1982 are of the 8th size. In 1992, the medals were reinstated as a Jeton, but then of the 12th size. The medal ribbons are divided in black and white moiré.
Heritage In connection with the disbandment of the regiment, its traditions came from 1 January 1998 onwards to be continued by Gävleborg Group (). From 1 July 2013 the Gävleborg Battalion, within the Gävleborg Group.
Commanding officers Regimental commanders active at the regiment during the years 1627–1997.
Commanders
1630–1360: Joachim Brahe 1630–1638: Åke Ulfsparre 1638–1645: Johan Oxenstierna 1645–1645: Johan Strijk 1645–1654: Gustaf Saabel 1654–1655: Gustaf Oxenstierna 1655–1660: Carl Larsson Sparre 1660–1669: Henrik Johan Taube 1670–1673: Anders Månsson Arenfeldt 1673–1683: Gustaf Karl von Wulffen 1683–1698: Ludvig Wilhelm Taube 1698–1700: Carl Gustaf Frölich 1700–1708: Jöran von Knorring 1708–1723: Gideon Fock 1710–1717: Reinhold Henrik Otto Horn 1717–1724: Lorentz von Nummers 1723–1738: Henrik Magnus von Buddenbrock 1739–1750: Johan Karl Silversparre 1750–1762: Reinhold Otto Fock 1762–1772: Anders Rudolf Du Rietz 1772–1776: Fredrik Gyllenswan 1776–1782: Arvid Nils Stenbock 1782–1809: Gustaf Wilhelm von Kaulbars 1809–1815: Fredrik Christian von Platen 1815–1847: Adolf Ludvig von Post 1847–1856: Charles Emil Rudbeck 1856–1860: Alexander Reuterskiöld 1860–1861: Sven Peter Bergman 1861–1864: Nils Henrik Hägerflycht 1864–1868: Axel Krister Gregersson Leijonhuvud 1868–1874: Ernst von Vegesack 1874–1882: Johan Gottlieb Wilhelm von Rehausen 1882–1893: Carl Bror Munck af Fulkila 1893–1901: Knut Robert Fabian Reuterskiöld 1901–1902: Johan Kasimir De la Gardie 1902–1909: Wilhelm Ernst von Krusenstjerna 1909–1915: Carl Alexander Fock 1915–1923: Georg Nyström 1923–1932: Henning Stålhane 1932–1933: Ernst Hortelius 1933–1934: Colonel Ernst af Klercker 1934–1940: Casper Ehrnborg 1941–1946: Carl Hamnström 1946–1955: Hans Berggren 1955–1957: Colonel Curt Göransson 1957–1967: Axel Henriksson 1967–1968: Colonel Nils Sköld 1968–1971: Jan Smedler 1968–1969: Carl-Henrik Gåsste (acting) 1971–1973: Carl-Henrik Gåsste 1973–1975: Allan Månsson 1975–1977: Colonel Robert Lugn (acting) 1975–1982: Senior colonel Carl-Henrik Gåsste 1982–1987: Ingmar Arnhall 1987–1991: Karl-Evert Englund 1991–1992: Folke Ekstedt 1993–1994: Senior colonel Hans Berndtson 1994–1994: Lars-Erik Ljungkvist (acting) 1994–1997: Tomas Bornestaf
Deputy commanders 1979–????: Colonel Paul Strömberg
Names, designations and locations Name Translation From To Joakim Brahe's Regiment 1630-??-?? – 1634-??-?? Royal Hälsinge (Hälsingland) Regiment 1634-??-?? – 1709-07-01 Royal Hälsinge (Hälsingland) Regiment 1709-??-?? – 1713-05-06 Royal Hälsinge (Hälsingland) Regiment 1713-??-?? – 1974-12-31 Hälsinge (Hälsingland) Regiment 1975-01-01 – 1997-06-30 Designation From To No. 14 1816-10-01 – 1914-09-30 I 14 1914-10-01 – 1973-06-30 I 14/Fo 49 1973-07-01 – 1982-06-30 I 14/Fo 21 1982-07-01 – 1997-12-31 Location From To Florhed 1630-??-?? – 1689-??-?? Mohed hed 1689-??-?? – 1909-02-14 Gävle Garrison 1909-02-15 – 1997-12-31
See also List of Swedish infantry regiments
Footnotes
References
Notes
Further reading