Note: I have updated this page with additional information. I am indebted to Jan Schlurmann for providing this information and correcting the mistakes in the article. Although of course any errors, omissions, etc are entirely my fault.

Nick Dorrell. 12/2/2003

Infantry:

The Infantry of the Duchy consisted of two parts. The four native regiments and units of the Swedish army that were part of the army for various periods of time. Unfortunately details of the organisation that applied at a particular time can be sketchy. Therefore the following is my best guesstimate of the facts I know.

The 'Native' Regiments:

The 'Native' regiments were usually known by their current commander’s name. All the units were used in the initial part of the war in the campaign in Holstein, mostly as the garrison of Tonning. Some at least seem to have joined the international force sent to relieve the siege, although I am unsure if they were only nominally part of the 'field force' or if they had in fact never been part of the garrison of Tonning. Many of the units subsequently fought in the War of Spanish Succession, see note on these contingents below. They returned in time to again play a part in the Great Northern War from 1714 to 15..

The Ducal Life Guard Regiment, Kuskull's Regiment (1714), Swedish name - Holsteinska Livregementet til fot (1715)

Organisation: Unknown, but had 2 battalions probably of a similar size to the other regiments, ie about 830

Deployment:

1700 Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorf contingent to the international relief force - 2 battalions present with the 'field force'.

1705 The 4 'Native' regiments have a combined strength of 2,950 men. Assuming 7 battalions that gives each battalion about 420 men, or assuming 8 battalions about 370 men.

1714 Entered Swedish service.

1715 Based at Straslund with a strength of 192 men. Captured with the fall of the city and pressed into Danish and Prussian service.

Christian-August (1699), Von Barner or Berner or Barnier (1703), Von Dellwigh (1715),

Swedish name - Holsteinska infanteriregementet.

Organisation: Unknown until 1703 but probably similar or the same as the1703 organisation. In 1703 it had 10 Musketeer and 1 Grenadier companies of around 75 men. Giving a total regimental strength of 833 men. It is unclear if the regiment was divided into battalions, but was probably so.

Deployment:

1700 Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorf contingent to the international relief force - 1 battalion present with the 'field force'.

1703 Entered English service with 833 men, two battalions? Fought at Eckeren and had 473 men after this. Subsequently was at the battles of Ramilles, Oudenarde and Malplaquet.

1705 The 4 'Native' regiments have a combined strength of 2,950 men. Assuming 7 battalions that gives each battalion about 420 men, or assuming 8 battalions about 370 men.

1714 The regiment entered Swedish service with 600 men. It was based in the Rugen / Straslund area.

1715 Captured at Straslund when this place surrendered.

Bautzen (1699), Aderkass (1701), Grothusen (1709).

Organisation: Unknown until 1703 but probably similar or the same as the1703 organisation. In 1703 it had 10 Musketeer and 1 Grenadier companies of around 75 men. With a total regimental strength of 831 men. It is unclear if the regiment was divided into battalions, but was probably so.

Deployment:

1700 Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorf contingent to the international relief force - 1 battalion present with the 'field force'.

1703 Entered Dutch service with 831 men, two battalions? Subsequently was at the battles of Ramilles, Oudenarde and Malplaquet.

1705 The 4 'Native' regiments have a combined strength of 2,950 men. Assuming 7 battalions that gives each battalion about 420 men, or assuming 8 battalions about 370 men.

Von Barner (was known as the 'Hercules' regiment to distinguish it from the other Von Barner regiment),

Dobroffsky or Dobrokowsky (1709).

Organisation: Unknown until 1709 but probably similar or the same as the1709 organisation. In 1709 it had 5 Musketeer and 1 Grenadier companies of 100, 110 Grenadiers. With a total regimental strength of 626 men, this regiment appears to have had only one battalion.

Deployment:

1700 Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorf contingent to the international relief force - 1 battalion present with the 'field force'.

1705 The 4 'Native' regiments have a combined strength of 2,950 men. Assuming 7 battalions that gives each battalion about 420 men, or assuming 8 battalions about 370 men.

1709 Entered the service of the Maritime powers, probably Dutch. Fought at the battle of Malplaquet.

The Swedish Regiments:

A number of regiments were part of or attached to the Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorf army from the Swedish army. All of these units were eventual returned to Sweden as the situation for that nation worsened. Swedish infantry regiments were supposed to have 8 companies divided into 2 battalions of 4 companies each. The companies were 150 men strong, thus a battalion would be 600 men. Mainly this organisation was followed, but the Garnisonsregemente i Wismar detachment appears to have a different organisation. It appears to have had 12 companies of 100, rather than 8 of 150. 5 companies were sent as a battalion to Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorf in 1695. The following units were in Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorf service.

Garnisonsregemente i Wismar (1 Btn of 500 men) - sometimes called the Von Kemphen regiment and called the Duchess' life Guard or Duchess' Own regiment or the Erbprinzessin Hedewig Sophia. Note the Duchess in question was a Swedish princess, Hedwig Sophie.

1695 Entered Holstein service with 500 men.

1698 Renamed 'Duchess' Own'.

1700 Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorf contingent to the international relief force - 1 battalion present with the 'field force'.

1703 Became part of the 'Swedish Life Guard Duchess of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorf' - combined strength 1100 men.

1711 Ordered back to Swedish service and joined the garrison on Stade. Lost in 1712 when Stade capitulated.

Garnisonsregemente i Stade (1 Btn of 600 men) - sometimes called the Vellingk or Wellingk or von Wellinck regiment.

1699 Entered Holstein service with 600 men.

1700 Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorf contingent to the international relief force - 1 battalion present with the 'field force'.

1703 Became part of the 'Swedish Life Guard Duchess of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorf' - combined strength 1100 men.

1714 Released back into Swedish service but was very weak, 54 men strong with an additional 55 stragglers from other units. Became part of the garrison of Wismar and lost there in 1716 when it feel.

Guvernorsregemente i Wismar (2 Btns of 600 men, 1200 in total) - also know as the von Lievens regiment.

1699 Entered Holstein service with 1200 men in two battalions.

1700 Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorf contingent to the international relief force - 2 battalions present with the 'field force'. One battalion lost when Friedrichstadt was stormed by the Danes.

Late 1700 Returned to Wismar as part of the garrison and lost there in 1716.

Cavalry:

The cavalry of the army consisted of a small bodyguard unit, one Horse regiment and two Dragoon regiments. All of these units took part in the Holstein campaign.

Trabant Guard

Organisation: Unknown, probably around 50 men strong. This unit is really a complete mystery and very little is really known about it.

Deployment:

1700 Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorf contingent to the international relief force - 1 company present with the 'field force'.

1705 Reported as 114 men strong.

Von Osten (1699), Von Grothusen (1708), Von Kirchbuch (1714), Von During (1715), Swedish name - Holsteinska kavalleriregementet.

This unit was Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorf's contribution to the Imperial army.

Organisation: Unknown but was set at 296 men.

Deployment:

1702 Raised with a strength of 296 men for Imperial service sent to South Germany. Subsequently fought at Blenheim and reduced to 2 companies of 100 after this battle.

1705 Reported to have a strength of about 300 men.

1706 - 7 Returned home to rest, re-equip and recruit.

1708 Returned to service with the Imperial army, like the infantry probably return to Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorf in 1712 or 13.

1714 Entered Swedish service

1715 Based in Rugen and Straslund with 395 men. Fought in the battle of Stresow. Lost when Starslund capitulated.

Dragoon Guards (also know as Von Dernath or Von Der Nath), Swedish name - Holsteinska Dragongardet.

Organisation: Listed as 4 squardrons of 128 men, 526 men in total.

Deployment:

1700 Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorf contingent to the international relief force - 2 squarons present with the 'field force'.

1703 Entered English service. Fought at Eckeren and had 355 men, 350 horses after this action. Subsequently fought at the battles of Ramilles, Oudenarde and Malplaquet.

1705 Reported to have a strength of about 300 men.

1714 This unit and Baudisson's Dragoons, see below, were combined as one unit and entered Swedish service with a strength of 997 men. The combined regiment was know as the 'Holsteinska Dragongardet' in Swedsih and was stationed in Demmin and Anklam.

1715 Combined regiment in Straslund with a strength of 562 men, captured their with the surrender and pressed into Danish and Prussian regiments.

Baudisson's, sometimes called Bauditz's, Dragoon Regiment, Swedish name - Holsteinska Dragongardet.

Organisation: Listed as 4 squardrons of 128 men, 526 men in total.

Deployment:

1703 Entered Dutch service. Fought at Eckeren and had 312 men, 315 horses after this action. Subsequently fought at the battles of Ramilles, Oudenarde and Malplaquet.

1705 Reported to have a strength of about 300 men.

1714 This unit and the Dragoon Guards, see above, were combined as one unit and entered Swedish service with a strength of 997 men. The combined regiment was know as the ' Holsteinska Dragongardet' in Swedsih and was stationed in Demmin and Anklam.

1715 Combined regiment in Straslund with a strength of 562 men, captured their with the surrender and pressed into Danish and Prussian regiments.

The Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorf contingent in the War of Spanish Succession

Jan Schulurmann has kindly given me further details about the contingent that served in the War of Spanish Succession. The contingent did not return to their homeland, as the other allied contingents did, at the end of this war. this was because of the political situation there at the time. Namely the country was occupied by Danish forces. So instead they went directly from Flanders or the Upper Rhine to Stralsund and Wismar where they entered Swedish service.