Royal Life Guards (Denmark)
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The Royal Life Guard | |
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Den Kongelige Livgarde | |
Active | 30 June 1658 – present (366 years, 3 months) |
Country | Kingdom of Denmark |
Branch | Royal Danish Army |
Type | Foot Guards |
Role | 1st Battalion – Mechanized infantry 2nd Battalion – Training Guards Company – Public Duties |
Size | Three battalions & one company |
Part of | Army Staff |
Garrison/HQ | Høvelte Rosenborg Castle |
Nickname(s) | Livgarden, Garden |
Motto(s) | Pro Rege et Grege (For King and People) |
Engagements | Northern Wars Scanian War Great Northern War Royal Life Guards' Mutiny Napoleonic Wars First War of Schleswig Second War of Schleswig Operation Weserübung War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) Post-invasion Iraq, 2003–2011 Operation Inherent Resolve Resolute Support Mission |
Website | Official website |
Commanders | |
Current commander | Colonel Mads Rahbek |
Chief of the Guard Company | Major H. C. Rørvang |
Notable commanders | Duke William of Württemberg Christian X of Denmark Alexander III of Russia |
Insignia | |
Cap Badge of the Royal Danish Guard | |
Regimental belt | |
Colours |
The Royal Life Guards (Danish: Den Kongelige Livgarde) is a mechanized infantry regiment of the Danish Army, founded in 1658 by King Frederik III. The primary task is to provide a number of soldiers from the Guard Company to serve as a guard/ceremonial unit to the Danish monarchy, while training the Royal Guards for various functions in the mobilisation force.[1] Until its disbandment, the Royal Horse Guards (Danish: Livgarden til Hest), served the role as the mounted guard/ceremonial unit, afterwards the role was taken over by Guard Hussar Regiment Mounted Squadron. During the time period 1684–1867, the Royal Life Guards were called The Royal Foot Guard (Danish: Den Kongelige Livgarde til Fods), in order to distinguish between the regiment and the Royal Horse Guards.[2]
History
[edit]The Royal Life Guards were established by Frederik III of Denmark on June 30, 1658, the guards were both to protect Frederik and to be a combat troop regiment.
The life guards still carry out these 2 tasks to this day
Role
[edit]The Royal Life Guards serve as a front-line unit and as a guard/ceremonial unit as well to the Danish monarchy.
They are an elite unit of the regular armed forces, so they maintain special privileges.
Organisation
[edit]The regiment consists of two infantry battalions, the Guard Company and the Musical Corps:
- 1st Battalion – Founded 1658. Mechanized Infantry Battalion, part of 1st Brigade. Plus Ultra (Even further)
- Staff Company (STKMP/I/LG)
- 1st Armored Infantry Company (Army's Flank company ) (1/I/LG)
- 2nd Mechanized Infantry Company (2/I/LG)
- 4th Mechanized Infantry Company (4/I/LG)(inactive)
- 2nd Battalion – Founded 1867. Mechanized Infantry Battalion, Vincere Volumus (We'll be victorious)
- Royal Guard Company (Vagtkompagniet) - Founded 1659. Ceremonial/guard unit.
- Royal Life Guard Music Band (Den Kongelige Livgardes Musikkkorps) - Founded 1658. Musical unit.
- Disbanded units
- 3rd Battalion – Founded 1923, Disbanded 2018. Infantry (basic training) Battalion. (Mechanized Infantry Battalion 2000-2004)
- 4th Battalion – Founded 1961, Disbanded 2005. Infantry Battalion.
- 5th Battalion – Founded 2001, Disbanded 2005. Infantry Battalion. (Merged in from 3rd Btn/Danish Life Regiment, only as reserve)
- 6th Battalion – Founded 2001, Disbanded 2005. Infantry Battalion. (Merged in from 4th Btn/Danish Life Regiment, only as reserve)
- 7th Battalion – Founded 2001, Disbanded 2005. Infantry Battalion. (Merged in from 4th Btn/Zealand Life Regiment, only as reserve)
Names of the regiment
[edit]Hans kongelige Majestæts Livregiment | His Royal Majesty's Life Regiment | 1658 | – | 1684 |
Vor Garde til Fods | Our Guard on Foot | 1684 | – | 1763 |
Den kongelige Livgarde til Fods | Royal Life Guard on Foot | 1763 | – | 1867 |
Livgarden | Life Guard | 1867 | – | 1961 |
Den kongelige Livgarde | Royal Life Guard | 1961 | – | present |
Alliances
[edit]- United Kingdom – The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (Queen's and Royal Hampshires) – Bond of Friendship
- Germany – Bundeswehr
Image gallery
[edit]-
Life Guard in old combat uniform
-
Life Guard in combat uniform (m/84)
staff company/1st battalion. -
Soldier of 1st Company, 2nd Battalion during Combined Resolve III, Germany, 2014.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Værnsfælles Forsvarskommando (11 September 2018). "Om Den Kongelige Livgarde". forsvaret.dk (in Danish). Danish Defence. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
- ^ Værnsfælles Forsvarskommando (18 December 2016). "Livgardens historie". forsvaret.dk (in Danish). Danish Defence. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
- ^ Laursen, Ole (22 April 2014). "Historical Overview of Royal Life Guards". Wadschier. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
Further reading
[edit]- Brammer, G. (1908). Livgarden 1658-1908 (in Danish). Copenhagen.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - Gram-Andersen, J. (1983). Den Kongelige Livgarde 325 år - perioden 1958-1983 (in Danish). Copenhagen.
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: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - Gram-Andersen, J. (1986). Livgardens Kaserne & Rosenborg Eksercerplads 200 år (in Danish). Copenhagen.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - Lövenskiold, C.L.v (1858). Efterretninger om Den Kongelige Livgarde til Fods (in Danish). Copenhagen.
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: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - Thaulow, Th. (1933). Livgarden 1908-1933 (in Danish). Copenhagen.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - Thaulow, Th.; Mentze, E.; Friis Møller, M., eds. (1958). Livgarden gennem 300 år (in Danish). Copenhagen.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)