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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]
The Royal Life Guard | |
---|---|
Den Kongelige Livgarde | |
![]() Coat of arms | |
Active | 30 June 1658 – present (366 years, 2 months) |
Country | ![]() |
Branch | ![]() |
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 | ![]() |
History
editThe 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
editThe 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
editThe 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
editHans 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
editReferences
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.
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: 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)