Ryttmästare (from the German word Rittmeister) was a military rank in the Swedish cavalry in the Swedish Army. The rank corresponded to the rank of captain in other service branches. The rank was abolished in 1972.

Ryttmästare
Country Sweden
Service branchArmy
RankCaptain
NATO rank codeOF-2
Formation16th century
Abolished1972
Next higher rankMajor
Next lower rankLieutenant
Equivalent ranksCaptain

History edit

The military rank of ryttmästare as a designation for the rank of captain had been used since the 16th century.[1] The name was then used for the commander of a company of riders (several of them were usually part of a squadron). Ryttmästare later became squadron commander.[2] Since the 17th century it was the title for a company officer of the highest rank in the Swedish cavalry with position between lieutenant and major (corresponding to the rank of captain in other branches).[3][4] A 1967 inquiry (Tjänsteställningsutredningen 1967) considered that the position of ryttmästare as a designation for the rank of captain in the cavalry should be retained as long as the cavalry remained as a service branch in the organization.[1] The rank was abolished after a reform in 1972 (Tjänsteställningsreformen 1972).[5]

Uniform edit

Field uniform model 1958/1959 – rank structure of 1949 edit

Uniform model 1939 – rank structure of 1949 edit

Uniform model 1939 edit

Uniform model 1923 edit

Uniform model 1910 edit

Uniform model 1906 edit

Other edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b Tjänsteställningsutredningen (1967). Tjänsteställning inom krigsmakten: betänkande (PDF). Statens offentliga utredningar, 0375-250X ; 1967:15 (in Swedish). Stockholm: Esselte. p. 135. SELIBR 617608.
  2. ^ Westrin, Theodor; G:son Berg, Ruben; Söderberg, Verner, eds. (1916). Nordisk familjebok: konversationslexikon och realencyklopedi (in Swedish). Vol. 24 (New, rev. and rich ill. ed.). Stockholm: Nordisk familjeboks förl. p. 5. SELIBR 8072220.
  3. ^ "Ryttmästare". Svenska Akademiens ordbok (in Swedish). Vol. 23. 1960. p. R 3445. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  4. ^ "Ryttmästare". Förvaltningshistorisk ordbok (in Swedish). Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  5. ^ "Kungl. Maj:ts proposition nr 44 år 1972 - Prop. 1972:44 - Kungl. Maj:ts proposition med förslag till lag om ändring i värnpliktslagen (1941:967), m. m." (in Swedish). Stockholm: Riksdag. 17 March 1972. Retrieved 8 October 2021.