Sweden's Life Drabants cavalry

[Redmist1122]

Hello all,
Looking to paint up a squadron of Sweden's Life Drabants. I have the book The Great Northern War 1700-1721, but having difficulty in locating a flag for these guys. Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you!

[Tacitus]

They did not have any.

This is a well documented unit but there is no evidence at all for the existance of a standard for the Drabant corps. On the other hand an OOB written by the Cavalry commander at Poltava (Creutz) suggest that they fought without a colour.

Each box in the attached image represent a squadron and have a symbolic standard on the top. The Drabant squadron in the far right column is the only one without a standard. This is not a mistake since another illustration by Creutz of the planned battle line show one box for each regiment with the same amount of standards as they had squadrons, and again the Drabants are shown without standards.

The reason why they did not have a standard could be the fact that the Drabants corps was an all officer unit and they were not required to pledge their allegiance to a colour.

[Redmist1122]

Wow no flag. Not even the Kings colors...too bad...I'm a BIG flag nut.

I believe they sported a kettledrum...trying to make that squadron stand-out from the Life cavalry.

Thank you Tacticus for you help, I guess that explains why the flag was not mentioned in the book.

Thanks again...pressing on with the GNW muster.

[El Cid]

Source:
Lars-Eric Höglund: Den Karolinska Arméns uniformer under Stora Nordiska Kriget. The Uniforms of the Swedish Army in the Great Northen War (translated by Danial A. Schorr). 1995, 1996 Acedia Press.

Page 34: Drabantkaren (The Trabant Corps)

Kettledrummer and Trumpreter wore blue, richly decorated with silver lace. [...] The kettledrum color was white silk damask embroidered with the Royal monogram, crown and palm branches in gold, with gold fringe.

A color plate of the /similar) Pulkslagare (Kettledrummer) Livregementet till häst is in the book.

But again, no hint on a standard or similar.

Try to buy a copy of this spectacular publication, it's worth every cent.

If you have any more questions, please write.

Also to my Email-account: el-cid@aon.at

[pnorberg]

Life Drabants cavalry

[pnorberg]

livdrabant

[Redmist1122]

@ El Cid, I have the above mentioned book - my page 34 refers to the fleet. What's the name of the main section/chapter?

@ pnornberg, so the unit wore two different color coats and a breast plate/armor? Cool, I think I have some figures to fit the billet.

Thanks to all.

[pnorberg]

First picture with breastplate and buff clothes are from the squad
parade in the Royal Palace on ceremonial occasions and to be dressed like a copy of King Karl XI's bodyguard in 1680 -1700.
The second image depicts the guard corps during the Great Northern War under King Charles XII during the period 1700-1721

[Tacitus]

First picture with breastplate and buff clothes are from the squad
parade in the Royal Palace on ceremonial occasions and to be dressed like a copy of King Karl XI's bodyguard in 1680 -1700.

This ceremonial uniform is however not historically correct. Two sets of ceremonial "drabant" uniforms were created in 1860 and they were supposed to look like Karl XI's (buff coats with cuirasses) and Karl XII's (blue coats) drabants. But both sets had and still have numerous inaccuracies. The most obvious one in the picture is the tricorne hat (Karl XI reigned 1660-1697).

[El Cid]

@Redmist1122

"Enlisted Cavalry"