Great Northern War - Riksänkedrottningens (Queen Dowager's) Livregemente till häst

Finally managed to get the first six figures of the Queen Dowagers Mounted Lifeguard painted. There is nothing very distinctive about the uniform, apart from silver rather than gold for the lace, including on their tricorns. I found the flag after a bit of searching on line and printed it off in colour then touched it up a bit with some paint.

The second two bases should be completed tomorrow so look out for another post in a day or two.

The following information comes from "The Uniforms of The Swedish Army in the Great Northern War" by  Lars-Eric Höglund.

Riksänkedrottningens (Queen Dowager's) Livregemente till häst (800 men).   

Descended from the Dragonregementet of 1661 of the former Danish provinces and the Bohus-Jämtlands kavalleriskvadron. Indelt in Halland and Bohuslän 1685-89.

 

In 1710 the regiment to part in the Scanian Campaign  was shipped to Pomerania in 1712. Participated in Stenbocks Campaign and was captured at Tönningen in 1713. It was subsequently reraised and took part in the 1718 Norwegian Campaign. 

Uniform 1702 and 1708: hat with silver lace. Blue cloak with blue lining. Blue coat with brass buttons, blue lining and cuffs, black and white neckcloth, leather vest and breeches, blue nightcap, "bröstlapp", elkskin gauntlets. Major parts of the uniform were disapproved by the Muster Chief, Lieutenant General Nieroth, at the General Muster of 1708: Cloaks and coats deviated in color and quality from the official samples; breeches and gauntlets were improperly sown; the Fyrmännings troopers, who were divided among the companies, had horses which were too small, unserviceable firearms etc. Saddles swords, hats and cartridge boxes which dated from 1689 "somewhat usable!" 

Nieroth's observations fill seven folio sheets, everything from boots which were too expensive to gauntlets which were too stiff, and are a biting but interesting read. 1715: Old hats from 1701 with narrow gold lace. Blue coat, kyller (buff coat), leather breeches and gauntlets which were condemned in 1708 are now considered serviceable. Trumpeters had no special livery, but good blue cloth coats. The Other Ranks had new blue cloaks with blue lining and a brass clasp, a "bröstlapp" of chamois, blue and yellow stockings, together with a par of linen stockings. Schabraque and pistol covers were blue, like 1702. Standards, kettledrum and trumpets which were lost at Tönningen had not yet been replaced.