Royal Life Guards (Denmark)

The Royal Life Guard
Den Kongelige Livgarde
Coat of arms
Active	30 June 1658 – present (366 years, 8 months)
Country	Danish Realm
Branch	Royal Danish Army
Type	Foot Guards
Role	1st Battalion – Mechanized infantry 2nd Battalion – Training Guards Company – Public Duties
Size	Three battalions & one company
Part of	Army Staff
Garrison/HQ	Høvelte Livgardens Kaserne
Nickname(s)	Livgarden, Garden
Motto(s)	Pro Rege et Grege (For King and People)
Engagements	Northern 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
Website	Official website
Commanders
Current commander	Colonel Mads Rahbek
Chief of the Guard Company	Major 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

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

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

Organisation

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

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

•   United Kingdom – The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (Queen's and Royal Hampshires) – Bond of Friendship
•   Germany – Bundeswehr

Image gallery

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

See also

• Guard Hussar Regiment (Denmark)
  • Guard Hussar Regiment Mounted Squadron
• Royal Horse Guards (Denmark)

References

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

• 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.

External links

• Official Site
• Den Kongelige Livgardes Musikkorps