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Royal Life Guards (Denmark)

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The Royal Life Guard
Den Kongelige Livgarde
Coat of arms
Active30 June 1658 – present (366 years, 5 months)
Country Danish Realm
Branch Royal Danish Army
TypeFoot Guards
Role1st Battalion – Mechanized infantry
2nd Battalion – Training
Guards Company – Public Duties
SizeThree battalions & one company
Part ofArmy Staff
Garrison/HQHøvelte
Rosenborg Castle
Nickname(s)Livgarden, Garden
Motto(s)Pro Rege et Grege (For King and People)
EngagementsNorthern 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
WebsiteOfficial website
Commanders
Current
commander		Colonel Mads Rahbek
Chief of the Guard CompanyMajor 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

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]

History

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The Royal Life Guards were established by Frederik III of Denmark on 30 June 1658, the guards were both to protect Frederik and to be a combat troop regiment.

Role

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The Royal Life Guards serve as a front-line unit and as a guard/ceremonial unit as well to the Danish monarchy.

Organisation

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The regiment consists of two infantry battalions, the Guard Company and the Musical Corps:

  • 1st Battalion – Founded 1658.[3] 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)
    • Staff Company (STKMP/II/LG)(inactive)
    • 1st Mechanized Infantry Company (1/II/LG)
    • 2nd Basic Training Company (2/II/LG)
    • 3rd Basic Training Company (3/II/LG)
  • 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

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Names[4]
Hans 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

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  • Life Guard in old combat uniform
    Life Guard in old combat uniform
  • Life Guard in combat uniform (m/84) staff company/1st battalion.
    Life Guard in combat uniform (m/84)
    staff company/1st battalion.
  • Soldier of 1st Company, 2nd Battalion during Combined Resolve III, Germany, 2014.
    Soldier of 1st Company, 2nd Battalion during Combined Resolve III, Germany, 2014.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Værnsfælles Forsvarskommando (11 September 2018). "Om Den Kongelige Livgarde". forsvaret.dk (in Danish). Danish Defence. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  2. ^ Værnsfælles Forsvarskommando (18 December 2016). "Livgardens historie". forsvaret.dk (in Danish). Danish Defence. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  3. ^ Gram-Andersen, J. (1991). Den kongelige Livgarde (PDF) (in Danish) (3rd ed.). Nyt Nordisk Forlag Arnold Busck. p. 17. ISBN 87-17-06294-2. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  4. ^ Laursen, Ole (22 April 2014). "Historical Overview of Royal Life Guards". Wadschier. Retrieved 5 June 2017.

Further reading

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  • Brammer, G. (1908). Livgarden 1658-1908 (in Danish). Copenhagen: Vilhelm Trydes Forlag.
  • Gram-Andersen, J. (1983). Den Kongelige Livgarde 325 år - perioden 1958-1983 (in Danish). Copenhagen: Nyt Nordisk Forlag Arnold Busck.
  • Gram-Andersen, J. (1986). Livgardens Kaserne & Rosenborg Eksercerplads 200 år (in Danish). Copenhagen: Nyt Nordisk Forlag.
  • Lövenskiold, C.L.v (1858). Efterretninger om Den Kongelige Livgarde til Fods (in Danish). Copenhagen: Det Thieleske Bogtrykkeri.
  • Thaulow, Th. (1933). Livgarden 1908-1933 (in Danish). Copenhagen: H. Hagerups Forlag.
  • Thaulow, Th.; Mentze, E.; Friis Møller, M., eds. (1958). Livgarden gennem 300 år (in Danish). Copenhagen: Martins Forlag.
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