The Commandant of Stockholm ( sv, Kommendanten i Stockholm) is a military position in

Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of SwedenUNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden./ref> is a Nordic country located on ...

with responsibility for state ceremonial activities. The Commandant of Stockholm is deputy to the

Commandant General in Stockholm The Commandant General in Stockholm ( sv, Överkommendanten i Stockholm) is a military position in Sweden with responsibility for state ceremonial activities. Lieutenant General Michael Claesson, Chief of Joint Operations is the Commandant Genera ...

. Since the post was reintroduced in 1936, the Commandant of Stockholm has at the same time served as either

Defence District Commander The Defence District Commander ( sv, Försvarsområdesbefälhavare, Fobef) within the Swedish Armed Forces, was a senior commanding officer, who led forces in a geographical/military territorial district, or within a specific area of responsibility ...

for Stockholm Defence District (1938–1973), commander of Life Guard Dragoons with Stockholm Defence District (1973–1984), commander of Svea Life Guards with Stockholm Defence District (1984–2000), commander of the Life Guards (2000–2017) and commander of the Central Military Region (2018–present).

History

Colonel Carl Rosenblad died on 11 July 1926, shortly after he had left his post as the last Commandant of

Stockholm Stockholm () is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, largest city of Sweden as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in Scandinavia. Approximately 980,000 people liv ...

and was at the same time appointed major general in the reserve. The previously existing commandant post for Stockholm was re-established in 1936 and the Commandant of Stockholm became in 1938

for Stockholm Defence District (Fo 44). Fo 44 was co-located in the years 1975–1985 with Life Guard Dragoons (K 1), and when K 1 was disbanded on 30 September 1984, the tasks of the

defence district A defence district ( sv, Försvarsområde, Fo) was a military subdivision of the Swedish Armed Forces created in 1914. It was a lower regional level subdivision, usually corresponding to a Swedish county. The commander of a defence district was t ...

were transferred to the Svea Life Guards (I 1). In 1984, K 1/Fo 44 was disbanded and the regiment's name was changed. Svea Life Guards with Stockholm Defence District (I 1/Fo 44) took over the task as lower regional head of Stockholm Defence District and maintenance of cavalry units in the war organization. The regimental commander became the Commandant of Stockholm. The regimental commander's duties as Commandant of Stockholm, including state ceremonial activities, were coordinated by a garrison unit located at Stockholm Palace. The regional command of central Sweden, the Central Military Region, was from the disbandment of the military districts in 2004 until November 2017 under the commander of the Life Guards. Because the commander of the Life Guards from 2004 was also responsible for regional command when the Central Military Region was connected to the Life Guards, the Commandant of Stockholm also took over the

's previous operational command duties. From 2017, when special commanders for the

military regions Military districts (also called military regions) are formations of a state's armed forces (often of the Army) which are responsible for a certain area of territory. They are often more responsible for administrative than operational matters, and ...

were appointed, the commander of the Central Military Region (still located at

Kungsängen Kungsängen ( en, King’s Meadow) is a locality and the seat of Upplands-Bro Municipality Upplands-Bro Municipality (''Upplands-Bro kommun'') is a municipality in Stockholm County in east central Sweden. Its seat is located in the town of Kungs� ...

) became the Commandant of Stockholm while retaining operational responsibility. A certain return to the conditions up to 2004 thus took place with the difference that the general level (with the Commandant General in Stockholm) was moved from the military district/military region to the

Swedish Armed Forces Headquarters The Swedish Armed Forces Headquarters ( sv, Högkvarteret, HKV) is the highest level of command in the Swedish Armed Forces. Established in 1994, its primary task is to command operations, but is also involved in areas such as military strategy, ...

. Previously, Defence District Commanders and also other regimental commanders in Stockholm Garrison have also served as commandants. The Chief of the Commandant Staff (''Kommendantsstaben'') (formerly called

adjutant Adjutant is a military appointment given to an officer who assists the commanding officer with unit administration, mostly the management of human resources in an army unit. The term is used in French-speaking armed forces as a non-commission ...

and later head of the Garrison Department) with staff, is responsible under the Commandant General in Stockholm and the Commandant of Stockholm for the direct command of the Royal Guards service and the state ceremonial activities.

Joint command

The post of the Commandant of Stockholm has been held by the following commanders: *1942–1975: The

of Stockholm Defence District (Fo 44) *1975–1984: CO of Life Guard Dragoons with Stockholm Defence District (K 1/Fo 44) *1984–2000: CO of Svea Life Guards and Stockholm Defence District (I 1/Fo 44) *2000–2017: CO of the Life Guards (LG) *2018–present: CO of the Central Military Region (MR M)

Tasks

2005–2018

4 § according to the Swedish Armed Forces Code of Statutes 2005:6, the Commandant of Stockholm shall # cohesive and decide on the Royal Guards service, # cohesive other state ceremonial or other ceremonial activities, including coordination of the participation of agencies and organizations in such ceremonies, # at the request of the Speaker of the Riksdag, the

Prime Minister A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is not ...

, the Marshal of the Realm, a cabinet minister or the

, organize the participation of

guard of honour A guard of honour ( GB), also honor guard ( US), also ceremonial guard, is a group of people, usually military in nature, appointed to receive or guard a head of state or other dignitaries, the fallen in war, or to attend at state ceremonials, ...

or other military personnel or

military band A military band is a group of personnel that performs musical duties for military functions, usually for the armed forces. A typical military band consists mostly of wind and percussion instruments. The conductor of a band commonly bears the tit ...

in such ceremonies as are referred to in 1 § 2, # cooperate with the Speaker of the Riksdag, the Prime Minister, the Marshal of the Realm and the Chief of His Majesty's Military Staff in ceremonial matters, and # continuously inform the

in matters concerning the state ceremonial activities. 5 § The Commandant shall decide the instructions for the Royal Guards at Stockholm Palace and

Drottningholm Palace The Drottningholm Palace ( sv, Drottningholms slott) is the private residence of the Swedish royal family. Drottningholm is near the capital Stockholm. Built on the island Lovön (in Ekerö Municipality of Stockholm County), it is one of Swede ...

6 § The Commandant decides on the Swedish Armed Forces Music Centre's (''Försvarsmusikcentrum'', FöMusC) participation in Royal Guards service and other ceremonial activities referred to in 1 § 2.

Common regulations for the Commandant and the Commandant General

7 § The

or the Commandant of Stockholm shall, if necessary, participate in such ceremonies as are referred to in 1 § 2. They shall also otherwise participate in receptions or visits if

the King In the British English-speaking world, The King refers to: * Charles III (born 1948), King of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms since 2022 As a nickname * Michael Jackson (1958–2009), American singer and pop icon, nicknamed "T ...

, temporary regent ('' Riksföreståndare''), Speaker of the Riksdag,

, Marshal of the Realm, cabinet minister or the

so request. 8 § It is the responsibility of the Commandant General in Stockholm or, when he has an impediment, the Commandant of Stockholm to receive in the Royal Guards Wing at Stockholm Palace such commanders of foreign military units who are on an official visit to Stockholm

Delegation

9 § The Commandant of Stockholm may hand over to the head of the Garrison Unit in the Life Guards to fulfill the duties incumbent on the Commandant.

Utilization of the Royal Guards units

10 § The power to use the Royal Guards units, including on and off units, is regulated in a special order.

2018–present

According to the Swedish Armed Forces Code of Statutes 2018:3: 4 § the commander of the Central Military Region is the Commandant of Stockholm 5 § The Commandant of Stockholm shall, in the absence of the

, fulfill his duties at parades, receptions and representation 6 § The Commandant of Stockholm may hand over to the Chief of the Commandant Staff (''Kommendantstaben'') in Stockholm to fulfill the duties incumbent on the Commandant.

Uniform

The Commandant of Stockholm (and the garrison commanders in

Gothenburg Gothenburg (; abbreviated Gbg; sv, Göteborg ) is the second-largest city in Sweden, fifth-largest in the Nordic countries, and capital of the Västra Götaland County. It is situated by the Kattegat, on the west coast of Sweden, and has ...

and

Karlsborg Karlsborg (, outdatedly ) is a locality and the seat of Karlsborg Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden. It had 3,551 inhabitants in 2010. This garrison town lies at the shore of lake Vättern in Västergötland. History The town of Karl ...

) is wearing a staff (m/1802) which is the same look as a ''vaktkäpp m/1793'', 90 cm long but provided with a special '. The Commandant of Stockholm and officer in the Commandant Staff (''Kommendantsstaben'') may wear a hat (hatt m/1854-1859) with a yellow plume (plym m/1830).

List of officeholders

*1820–1854: Carl Ludvig Dævel *1854–1858: Adolf Ludvig de Maré *1858–1860: Fredrik von Troil (acting) *1860–1868: Fredrik von Troil *1868–1868: Gustaf Edvard Taube (acting from 10 October 1868) *1868–1899: Gustaf Edvard Taube *1899–1899:

Gustaf Uggla General Gustaf Fredrik Oskar Uggla (22 January 1846 – 7 January 1924) was a senior Swedish Army officer. Uggla's senior commands include commanding officer of the Military Academy Karlberg, executive officer of Svea Life Guards and commander of ...

(acting from 16 May to 7 July 1899) *1899–1909: Axel Laurell *1909–1915: Carl Ankarcrona *1915–1926: Carl Rosenblad *1926–1938: – *1938–1945:

Hugo Cederschiöld General Hugo Montgomery Cederschiöld (25 September 1878 – 17 March 1968) was a senior officer in the Swedish Army. He served as commander of Svea Life Guards (1936–1938), as Commandant of Stockholm (1938–1945) and as Defence District C ...

(as CO of Fo 44/ Fo 45) *1945–1950: Nils Stenbeck (as CO of Fo 44) *1950–1957: Gustaf (Gösta) Magnus von Stedingk (as CO of Fo 44) *1957–1963: Carl-Johan Wachtmeister (as CO of Fo 44) *1963–1966: Per Tamm (as CO of Fo 44) *1966–1969: Carl Reuterswärd (as CO of Fo 44) *1969–1973:

Nils-Ivar Carlborg Nils Ivar (''Nils-Ivar'') Carlborg (29 March 1913 – 21 September 2005) was a Swedish Army officer. He started the paratrooper training in Sweden and founded the Swedish Army Paratroop School of which he was its first commander (1952–1953). H ...

(as CO of Fo 44) *1973–1976: Nils Östlund (as CO of K 1/Fo 44) *1976–1981: Nils Landergren (as CO of K 1/Fo 44) *1981–1984: Hodder Stjernswärd (as CO of K 1/Fo 44) *1984–1987: Rolf Frykhammar (as CO of I 1/Fo 44) *1987–1992: Jan-Olof Borgén (as CO of I 1/Fo 44) *1992–1994: Göran De Geer (as CO of I 1/Fo 44) *1994–1997: Markku Sieppi (as CO of I 1/Fo 44) *1997–2000: Kim Åkerman (as CO of I 1/Fo 44) *2000–2002: Ingvar Hellquist (as CO of LG) *2002–2005: Kent Edberg (as CO of LG) *2005–2009: Svante Borg (as CO of LG) *2009–2014: Håkan Hedlund (as CO of LG) *2014–2017: Christer Tistam (as CO of LG) *2017–2022: Thomas Karlsson (as CO of MR M) *2022–present: Mattias Ardin (as CO of MR M) Legend:

Footnotes

References

{{Leadership of the Swedish Armed Forces Military appointments of Sweden Stockholm Garrison