Västerbotten Regiment

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Västerbotten Regiment

What it was
- A Swedish Army infantry regiment from Västerbotten, active from 1624 to 1709 and again from 1709 to 2000.
- Nickname: The Wild Man. Motto: They have never backed down or for their own part lost.
- Garrison: primarily Västerbotten, later based in Umeå from 1909.
- Designations: I 19, I XIX, I 20 and I 20/Fo 61.

Origins and history
- Roots go back to fänikor (local companies) raised in Västerbotten in the 1550s–60s.
- In 1615 these joined other northern regiments in Norrlands storregemente under Gustav II Adolf.
- Around 1624, the storregemente was split into three regiments, including Västerbotten Regiment.
- It was one of the original 20 infantry regiments named in the 1634 Swedish constitution and was allotted in 1696.
- Names and structure changed over time: renamed Västerbotten Ranger Regiment in 1829; in 1841 split into Västerbotten Ranger Corps and Norrbotten Ranger Corps; restored as Västerbotten Regiment in 1892.

Battles and honours
- Fought in major wars and earned several battle honours: Landskrona (1677), Düna (1701), Kliszów (1702), Fraustadt (1706), Malatitze (1708), Strömstad (1717).

Colours, insignia and symbolism
- The regiment carried colours and a coat of arms featuring Lapland’s provincial badge: a red savage with birch garlands, holding a club.
- The last regimental colour was presented in 1952; used until 2000.
- The unit’s insignia and heraldry changed over time as the regiment’s name and structure evolved.

Anniversaries
- The regiment celebrated many days, with 3 February (Fraustadt) the longest-running anniversary.

Disbandment and legacy
- Disbanded on 30 June 2000 under the Defence Act.
- Traditions passed to Västerbottens Group; from 2013 the Västerbotten Battalion within that group carried on the traditions.