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"Welcome - Bienvenue - Välkommen - Tervetuloa - Добро пожаловать"
"By knowing our past, we may easier understand our present, and maybe even prepare for the future."
Dedicated to history
These pages are dedicated to history and all You fellow enthusiasts engaged in preserving and living history. My aim is to contribute by sharing events, contacts, photos, information, links and also some interesting, I hope, historical briefs on the theme of Scandinavian struggles, epic battles, historical quotes and much more. One of the bigger projects will be the editing of a - HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS DATABASE - for all various historical associations, across Euorpe and in North America. This database will be available to all of You. Work is already in progress and I hope to be able to publish this in the downloads page ... soon.
Living history - a way of life
Re-enacting is definitely not only about dressing up in fancy costumes. The immense pleasure of meeting and getting to know like-minded enthusiasts, the satisfaction of exploring new and interesting places, revisiting old and historical battlegrounds
I have met some wonderful people along the way, with special skills and fields of interest. Some are specialists in old weaponry, some in making costumes and uniforms, some in making instruments ... and the list could be made infinite. Then there are the preparations, the attention to minute details, gathering equipment, sewing up Your own garments. It is a hands-on education about how life was in the past, either in the ballrooms of the nobles or in the tougher environment of the soldiers. Any way, it is a way of life I warmly recommend and love to share with You.
My historical odyssey
I portray the World's oldest military regiment, Royal Swedish (Svea) Life Guards, from the end of the 17th to the latter parts of the 19th century.
Since early childhood, playing with Airfix toy soldiers, building model kits etc, I have always been interested in history. My library is swelling with historical books, not to mention loads of interesting DVD-documentaries and films. Occasionally I have also spent some time digging in old war-archives, looking for specific details on uniforms and weaponry. Now I am very happy that this interest has taken a “live” dimension in the shape of live re-enactments. Once caught with the bug it is simply addictive.
In the autumn of 2005 I embarked on my humble career in a historical association, taking part in The Life Guards Musketeers, portraying 1850’s Swedish musketeers. A round trip of some 180 kms to the Life Guards garrison north of Stockholm, hours were spent on the parade ground marching and doing rifle drill. The rewards came in the form of National Day parades, military tattoos, festivals and some occasional Royal appointments.
The historical odyssey has thence lead me to some amazing and memorable experiences. Having met and befriended some of the proud Legionaires at the Ystad International Military Tattoo in 2007, an invitation came from the French Foreign Legion, in Aubagne. I was fortunate enough to attend the majestic Camerone Day parades, both in 2008 and 2009.
Some re-enactments were dusted off on the theme of the Finnish War of 1808-09, as part of the Signatory years events. A memorable four-day rowing trip, measuring some 85 kms of stunning archipelago, and a commemorative landing was done at Lemo in June 2008. The 200th anniversary of the Battle of Oravais was attended in September 2008 and last but not least the Grand Finale of the 1808-09 events were concluded at Gärdet in September 2009. The year was rounded off in style, with a truly spectacular 18th century masked ball in the medieval Kalmar Castle in late October.
So if You ever need a proud Swedish Life Guardsman at Your event, just drop me an invitatation and I just might be knocking on Your door one day ... with very peaceful intentions, mind You.
- Updated 29 June -
Norway done - Estonia next!
We, that is the Nerike Wermelands Caroleans (and A Royal Life Guard), took part in the re-enactment of the 1660 Battle of Fredrikshald, an episode of the Dano-Swedish war of 1658-60, during 19-20 June. A truly great event, superbly organised by our gracious hosts, Fredriksten Artilleri Compagnie. The event took place at the magnificent Fredrikssten Fortress, in the small border town of Halden.
The town has seen quite a few attempts from the Swedish to take the fortress and advance into to Norway, but mostly unsuccessful. Even the Swedish warrior King, Charles XII died in a failed siege of the fortress in 1718 - so this is truly a historic place for the majority of Carolean re-enactors in Sweden.
Re-enacting the Battle of Narva, 1704
Next on the horizon is a trip to the eastern parts of Estonia, 13-15 August, to the border city of Narva. Narva has been the scene for many battles throughout history. For Sweden it signifies as the place of the greatest ever victory on the battlefield, the 1700 Battle of Narva.
At the outset of Great Northern War, the Russians laid siege to the fortified town in the winter of 1700. The Young Swedish King, Carl XII rallied his troops to relieve the besieged defenders and attacked in the blizzard, on 20 November. The battle resulted in a complete and utter victory for the Swedish as they routed the far bigger Russian army in what was called the Battle of Narva.
As the Swedish lost some 2,000 troops, injured or dead, the Russians suffered the humiliating losses of almost 10,000 killed and 20,000 captured. The magnitude of the victory is even more staggering when You consider the fact that the Swedish army consisted of some 10,000 troops facing the 35,000 strong Russian forces.
This epic victory raised the Young Swedish King to the state of National hero, revered even to this day.
Narva was eventually lost to the Russians in 1704, as the Swedish were campaigning in Poland/Saxony.
Military music and tattoos
There is something very special about military music and marching bands. The straight lines, the beautiful and sometimes inventive coreography, gleaming instruments, colourful uniforms, proud soldiers and last, but not least, pompous music - it just gives me the goosepimples! Need I mention that I have a fair collections of CD's at home ... with some of the very best military marches from around Europe. I guess You all are familiar with the distinct tunes of "Alte kameraden" ... maybe the best march ever!
Since I attended my first Military Tattoo in 1985, of all places - in my hometown Nynäshamn - I have been absolutely hooked. The greatest of them all is of course the mighty Edinburgh Tattoo, which I was fortunate enough to attend in 2004 - a truly magnificent event in a fantastic city. I was a regular attendee of the, now closed, biannual Swedish Army Tattoo and also visited the Hamina Tattoo. Hopefully there will be more Tattoos to explore, You will find some of them listed in the events page.
Through my participation in the Life Guards Musketeers and Fifes and Drum Corps I have partaken in the Eksjö Tattoo (2006), Ystad International Military Tattoo (2007) and the Stockholm Military Tattoo (2009). The Ystad Tattoo being, by a mile, the best ever that I have attended or partaken in.
Life Guards headwear from the 18th and 19th centuries (click on image to see more)
Collections, military headwear
Yes, it is true; I also suffer from a serious bout of the "collector's disease". I am fully aware that I am not the only one out there trying to find and add treasures to an already big collection running out of space ... I guess a spare room would be most welcome.
I have focused on collecting military headwear, i.e. peaked caps, side caps, kepis, field hats, berets and some helmets, from armies all over Europe. The collection consists of some 100 odd items (or thereabouts, as it grows by the week). The oldest original items are a Dutch Army 1912 kepi and a Finnish Army 1916 Austrian made helmet used in the Winter War (1939-40). These items are the pride of my collection, along with a number of old Swedish Army items.
- Updated 24 June -
As of May 2010 the only items missing from my European collection are headwear from Georgia, Bosnia, Macedonia and Montenegro. If You can help me out, or give me tips on any of these I would be more than grateful.
Uniforms, home made
I also have a fair collection of uniforms: Royal Swedish Life Guards uniforms from 1695, 1765, 1858, 1865 and 1887 (see more on next page) and the current issue 1990 field uniform. Along with these I have a Foreign Legion walking out uniform and a Finnish Army 1991 field uniform.
In the autumn of 2009 I embarked on new territory - needlework! Having a desire to add to my Life Guards uniforms I soon realised that having them made at a tailors is unrealistic due to the cost, so the only way of getting them is by making them Yourself.
In March 2010 I completed my m/1765 uniform and on 18 June, at 03:15 my m/1695 was finally completed, see image below. After endless hours of needlework I could finally wear the result of some hard labour.
Now I will take a a bit of a break before handling a needle again and thence to the next project - a m/1802-3 uniform - the one that Swedish Life Guards wore when they met Napolean's all conquering armies in Northern Germany.
Finally completed, my modell 1695
- Updated 23 June -
The historical associations database
I have been receiving information from hundreds of associations already – thank You all - just keep them coming!
I have started editing the database, a job that is somewhat bigger than I first presumed. Some 300 associations have already been recorded, and there are still quite a few to be added. When completed, this database will be available for anyone wishing to share in events, contacts etc. Please, feel free to contact me if You wish Your association added to this database.
I am afraid work has been down on this project, due to the needlework. I will rekindle this work presently. My apologies for the delay!
Contributions and comments most welcome
I would be profoundly grateful for YOUR input to these pages. Do You find these pages tedious, too personal, or anything else? Do You have comments, ideas, contributions, please, do not hesitate to contact me. You can either mail them to me or simply add Your comments in the guestbook. Thank You.
All the best and welcome back
Joacim Nieminen
KONGL SVEA LIFGARDE - ROYAL SWEDISH (SVEA) LIFE GUARDS
Anno - 1695, 1765, (1803+1812)*, 1858, 1865, 1887
* Future projects
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