Livgardet

The Livgardet (Life Guards) is a combined cavalry/infantry regiment of the Swedish Army, with responsibility for training. The infantry battalion (called the Guards Battalion) trains ordinary infantry soldiers in both the mechanized and rifle roles, as well as training clerical soldiers. The cavalry battalion (called the Dragoons Battalion) has responsibility for training military police, depot soldiers and guards. The regiment is also responsible for training a company of Royal Guards each year.

The Life Guards as it exists today has been part of the Swedish Army since 2000, when the functions of three separate units, the Svea Life Guards, the Household Brigade and the Household Dragoons, all of which were classed as Household troops, were amalgamated into a single regiment.

History

Livgardet is the world's oldest extant regiment, dating back to the year 1521 when the men of Dalecarlia chose 16 young men as body guards for Gustav Vasa.

The motto of the Life Guards is possunt nec posse videntur meaning "they can [do], what it seems they cannot" or more directly "they can do what seems to be impossible".

External links

• The Life Guards
• History of the Svea Life Guards
• History of the Household Brigade
• History of the Household Dragoons