Caroleans

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Caroleans carrying the dead Charles XII

Caroleans (Swedish: karoliner) were the soldiers of the Swedish kings Charles XI and Charles XII.

[edit] Swedish allotment system

The Caroleans soldiers were the soldiers of the yearly Swedish allotment system. It was Charles XI who drove through the necessary reforms in the Swedish army to raise the Carolean army. The Caroleans' tactics were to strike hard and be fearless; they also upheld strict discipline, which over the long course of a 20 year long war proved to be both successful and necessary.

It is said about Charles XII that "he could not retreat, only attack or fall". The same goes for his soldiers. In the Swedish army tactics of that time retreat was never covered. Troops were obligated to attack or fight where they stood; a military doctrine, that with the advantage of hindsight might have proven a bit rash.

[edit] Uniforms

The Carolean uniform was among many variants of the Swedish Standard Uniform introduced by Charles XI. The great coats were blue with yellow cuffs. The breeches were white, and the vest yellow. They wore tricorne hats or a special cap called a Karpus. They were equipped with carbines (short muskets), rapiers, grenades, et cetera.

The Carolean army consisted of different units such as;

Cavalry regiments
Infantry regiments
Grenadier regiments
Artillery regiments

The army also included a special unit called the Livdrabanterna (Royal Life Guard Corps). This was a special unit made up of some 100 men. It was under the personal command of King Charles XII, for which he was named captain. To become a private in the corps you had to attain the rank of Captain in the regular army. The king's second in command was a Colonel with the title of Kaptenlöjtnant (Lieutenant Captain). This corps fought to the bitter end, and some of its veterans carried Charles XII's coffin on its arrival to the capital for the burial in 1719.