HOME | DD

Description
That is one heck of a boring title...
Also, I know it's been a lot of 17th century stuff lately but this one was lying around in my stash and I just had to upload it.

The allotment system in Sweden was a form of militaristic way of gaining new soldiers for the armies. It was founded in the late 17th century by king Charles XI (1655-1697) and lasted up until the dawn of the 20th century.

But let's head back to the roots of this thing, shall we? Previous to the allotment system the most common way warfare was faught was with forreign mercenaries or conscripted peasant soldiers in garrisons that only served in wartime and would later disban when peace came. This made it impossible to have an actual organized army that could be mobilized quickly. In the 1620's however it all started to change. When king Gustav II Adolf/Gustavus Adolphus (1594-1632) needed organized armies to finish off the wars Sweden found itself in during the time, he founded regional regiments, bound to specific regions and provinces, with around 1.000 men in each. The infantry was recruited through impressment, which had already been a thing since the mid-16th century, while the cavalry was hired through normal recruitment and were led by the nobility, who had a duty to lead cavalry armies. If said leader wasn't a noble however, he recieved freedom from taxation...so technically he kind of had the same rights as the nobility with an exception of the wealth. During the 1620's a new taxation system was also introduced to fund the wages of the soldiers and of the command. That was the embryo of the allotment system.

...but that wouldn't last and after the Scanian War (1675-1679) and the hugely poor economic state superpower Sweden was in during the late 17th century, king Charles XI introduced a new kind of system with a total reorganization of the army. The new system kept the structure of the old, but instead of conscription contracts with the regions were written, stating that they would have to raise and supply a regiment of 1.000 or 1.200 men in both wartime and peacetime. Usually, four farms were to join forces and equip a soldier and fix a croft or soldier hut (soldattorp) for the soldier. The surrounding farmers were called rote-peasants and provided the soldier with farmland and equipment for one volunteer soldier who could then make a military career, while the rest of the men in the rote escaped conscription. The soldier's duty was to attend military drills, and in time of war was to report for duty. In that way, the armies still got their ever so precious infrantry while the majority of peasants didn't have to go to war. And everyone was happy...
It was from this economic and militaristic system the ever so popularized and famous (thanks, Sabaton) Carolean army came.

Sooner or later, during the 1690's, actual uniforms were presented. The uniforms could vary from regiment to regiment and regions. During the Great Northern War (1700-1721) the main uniform colour was blue or grey, but could have different smaller details such as yellow, red, white and another shade of blue. Previous to that the entire regimental colour could be totally varried. The one you see on the stoic soldier here is an actual representation of a uniform from Uppland's regiment in 1680.
www.hhogman.se/uniformer_armen…

The allotment system would be used up until 1901 when it was replaced by more modern forms of recruitment systems.

Special thanks to for linking me some awesome scenebuild models. Already having fun with them!

Description
That is one heck of a boring title...
Also, I know it's been a lot of 17th century stuff lately but this one was lying around in my stash and I just had to upload it.

The allotment system in Sweden was a form of militaristic way of gaining new soldiers for the armies. It was founded in the late 17th century by king Charles XI (1655-1697) and lasted up until the dawn of the 20th century.

But let's head back to the roots of this thing, shall we? Previous to the allotment system the most common way warfare was faught was with forreign mercenaries or conscripted peasant soldiers in garrisons that only served in wartime and would later disban when peace came. This made it impossible to have an actual organized army that could be mobilized quickly. In the 1620's however it all started to change. When king Gustav II Adolf/Gustavus Adolphus (1594-1632) needed organized armies to finish off the wars Sweden found itself in during the time, he founded regional regiments, bound to specific regions and provinces, with around 1.000 men in each. The infantry was recruited through impressment, which had already been a thing since the mid-16th century, while the cavalry was hired through normal recruitment and were led by the nobility, who had a duty to lead cavalry armies. If said leader wasn't a noble however, he recieved freedom from taxation...so technically he kind of had the same rights as the nobility with an exception of the wealth. During the 1620's a new taxation system was also introduced to fund the wages of the soldiers and of the command. That was the embryo of the allotment system.

...but that wouldn't last and after the Scanian War (1675-1679) and the hugely poor economic state superpower Sweden was in during the late 17th century, king Charles XI introduced a new kind of system with a total reorganization of the army. The new system kept the structure of the old, but instead of conscription contracts with the regions were written, stating that they would have to raise and supply a regiment of 1.000 or 1.200 men in both wartime and peacetime. Usually, four farms were to join forces and equip a soldier and fix a croft or soldier hut (soldattorp) for the soldier. The surrounding farmers were called rote-peasants and provided the soldier with farmland and equipment for one volunteer soldier who could then make a military career, while the rest of the men in the rote escaped conscription. The soldier's duty was to attend military drills, and in time of war was to report for duty. In that way, the armies still got their ever so precious infrantry while the majority of peasants didn't have to go to war. And everyone was happy...
It was from this economic and militaristic system the ever so popularized and famous (thanks, Sabaton) Carolean army came.

Sooner or later, during the 1690's, actual uniforms were presented. The uniforms could vary from regiment to regiment and regions. During the Great Northern War (1700-1721) the main uniform colour was blue or grey, but could have different smaller details such as yellow, red, white and another shade of blue. Previous to that the entire regimental colour could be totally varried. The one you see on the stoic soldier here is an actual representation of a uniform from Uppland's regiment in 1680.
www.hhogman.se/uniformer_armen…

The allotment system would be used up until 1901 when it was replaced by more modern forms of recruitment systems.

Special thanks to for linking me some awesome scenebuild models. Already having fun with them!