The Ostrobothnian Cavalry Company in the 1620s and 1630s

Published in Eteläpohjalaiset Juuret 2/2016, pp. 43–50.

As is well known from the biography of Jaakko Ilkka, Ostrobothnia had cavalry — huovit — already in the second half of the 16th century. But a unified Ostrobothnian cavalry unit, a company in the proper sense, existed, to my knowledge, only in the 1620s and 1630s. Minor exceptions occurred during later wars; for instance, when the Great Northern War broke out at the very start of the 18th century, clergy, sheriffs and other officials were required to provide a cavalry company of about 50 men. What follows concerns the Ostrobothnian cavalry company of the reign of Gustav II Adolf.

Johan Printz

Has anyone heard of Johan Printz? He was born in Sweden in 1592 and died there in 1663. You have probably heard of the Swedish colony of Delaware (New Sweden) — Printz was its governor from 1642 to 1653. Before that he was a cavalry officer. Briefly: before entering Swedish service he had served with the Imperialists in Germany and also among the Danes. In the Swedish army he was first a lieutenant in Gustav Horn’s regiment in 1624, then in Åke Tott’s cuirassiers; he is noted as cavalry captain (ryttmästare) of the Turku County cavalry in 1630, major in 1634, and lieutenant colonel on 29 September 1636. He transferred to the West Gothland cavalry regiment on 28 March 1638. His military career ended in its ranks in 1640 as a defender of the city of Chemnitz. A new career followed in New Sweden, after which he served as a parliamentarian and provincial governor. Nowhere is Ostrobothnia mentioned — yet Printz was commander of the Ostrobothnian company within the Turku County cavalry regiment.

Åke Tott simultaneously maintained both a territorial cavalry company and a cuirassier company, both Finnish. The cuirassiers were armoured cavalry. Printz was lieutenant of the cuirassier company; when Tott was promoted to general, Printz in practice commanded it as captain-lieutenant. The cuirassiers fought in Prussia in the second half of the 1620s.

The Ostrobothnian Company in Prussia

The Ostrobothnian company dates from the same period. Its first captain was Mickel Jordan, from 1628. When Jordan moved on, Printz succeeded him. Contemporaries described Printz as exceptionally large — he weighed about 200 kilograms — forceful in manner and commanding. He demanded strict observance of church regulations from his men. One could admire two things: the horse that carried Printz at full gallop in a charge (the squadron commander’s duty was to ride at the head of his troop); and the man who had the nerve to stand his ground as the squadron bore down on him. The Poles had swift horses and were hard to catch in pursuit.

Cavalry was the decisive arm in the wars fought in Livonia, Prussia and subsequently Germany. Under Gustav II Adolf the numbers of cavalry were continually increased, and against this background the formation of the Ostrobothnian company must be understood.

Mickel Jordan’s company was in Prussia in 1629, where it was mustered at Melsack on 2 May. He had recruited cavalry specifically from Ostrobothnia the previous year. The lieutenant was Per Galle, the ensign Hans Boije, the corporals were Juho Martinpoika and Yrjö Erkinpoika, the guide (johdattaja) was Tuomas Erkinpoika, the chaplain was Master Jakob, the clerk was Kalus Klausson, the barber was Master Joachim, the farrier was Niilo Niilonpoika and the provost was Hannu Maununpoika. There was no trumpeter. The men came from the following parishes: Kemi 2, Ii 2, Oulu parish 5, Liminka 1, Pyhäjoki 2, Kalajoki 2, Kokkola 10, Pedersöre 4, Uusikaupunki 1, Vaasa town 7, Uusikaarlepyy 5, Oulu town 1, Saloinen 1, Lohtaja 1, Kronoby 2, Maalahti 1, Isokyrö 16, Lapua 3, Ilmajoki 9, Hämeenkyrö (!) 10, Pori town 2, Paimio 3.

Total men: 113, of whom 25 were dead or captured, leaving 88 in the ranks. Identifying individuals from other sources is difficult, as many are recorded only by first name and patronymic with no village name. In towns such as Vaasa the muster notes that Simo Antinpoika was the burgomaster’s servant. The providers of horses (varustajat) were notably sheriffs, burghers and clergy from the more northern areas.

A second muster roll of the same company, made before the discharge, is dated 20 October 1629. Names are the same. The final section notes: 20 dead, 3 deserters, 3 prisoners, 88 maintained. The roll does not identify who died or was in Polish captivity.

From Prussia to Germany, 1635

The war against Poland ended with a truce in 1629 and the following summer Gustav II Adolf moved the war to Germany. At this point Printz transferred from the cuirassiers to the Turku and Pori County cavalry as captain. The Ostrobothnians were not immediately sent to Germany; while in Finland, Printz resided at Korsholma royal manor. The war went well enough in Germany at first that no Finnish reinforcements were needed. In 1634 the situation changed: a serious defeat at Nördlingen in August 1634, and the approaching expiry of the truce with Poland, created the threat of a new war in Prussia and Livonia. An auxiliary force was assembled from Finland and sent to Prussia because of the latter threat. The Ostrobothnians were one component. Although not formally appointed commander of the auxiliary force, Johan Printz became its de facto leader.

Printz commanded a squadron of four cavalry companies totalling just over 500 troopers. One of the four was his own Ostrobothnian company, which mustered 134 men including officers at Elbing on 2 July 1635. The lieutenant was Johan Munck, the cornet Peter Printz, the corporals Yrjö Erkinpoika and Hannu Yrjönpoika, the guide Pekka Jaakonpoika, the chaplain Master Anders, the provost Esko Jaakonpoika, the smith Mikko Heikinpoika and the surgeon Riggert Wolfsson. The providers of horses came from: Pyhäjoki 1, Kokkola 2, Karleby 7, Liminka 1, Vöyri 6, Mustasaari and Maalahti 5, Uusikaarlepyy 1, Vähäkyrö 9, Isokyrö 28, Lapua 22, Ilmajoki 24, Laihia 6 — total 112, plus 22 officers’ horses, giving 134 overall. The company had a strongly South Ostrobothnian character, with about 80% of the horses provided from there. Many individuals in this muster can be identified from other sources since most are given their home village, or are otherwise identifiable — such as Michell Ilka or Thomas Tutipä.

Minor changes had occurred when the company was mustered again on 18 September 1635 before the transfer to Germany. The truce with Poland was extended, so the squadron could be transferred to Pomerania and Germany, where the army under Johan Banér was in great difficulties. Chancellor Axel Oxenstierna needed an escort of about 50 Finnish cavalry, and from Printz’s company corporal Hannu Yrjönpoika and nine troopers were included.

Moving through Pomerania into Germany, the company was involved in heavy fighting. Printz, by then promoted to lieutenant colonel, and corporal Yrjö Erkinpoika were taken prisoner near Halle; four troopers were also killed there. The Battle of Wittstock on 24 September 1636 was significant for Finnish cavalry. The Ostrobothnians were present in Tore Bielke’s regiment, though Printz was probably still a prisoner. After the victory, numerous prisoners of war were available for exchange, and Printz was released.

Final Years and Dissolution

In early 1638 Printz simultaneously held command of two cavalry companies — the Ostrobothnian one and a West Gothland unit. He had been promoted to lieutenant colonel. By the end of March 1638 at Stolpe in Pomerania only 25 men were in the ranks: 10 at home, 9 prisoners, 3 killed at Wittstock, 32 dead of disease, 3 deserters, 2 promoted to junior officers, 1 left behind sick. Simultaneously in Ostrobothnia, 72 new horsemen were being assembled to be sent to Germany.

On 10 July 1638, under Printz’s command, a large batch of new recruits arrived at Stettin. The Ostrobothnian company had 92 in the ranks when mustered at Tribsees on 7 August; only 18 of them were veterans. Those going to war had been mustered in Isokyrö on 13 February. Printz himself then transferred to command the West Gothland cavalry, and the new captain of the Ostrobothnian company was Nils Thomasson. Disease ravaged both veterans and new recruits heavily through 1638. By autumn 1639 only two had been killed in battle and two had died of disease; 15 were sick in Wismar. The company had again shrunk to just 19 in the ranks. Officers were kept at full strength but most were sent home to collect reinforcements; only cornet Sven Skute and corporal Jaakko Erkinpoika remained in Germany, where they were still present in February 1640. At the same time there were 19 troopers at home in Ostrobothnia.

The company re-formed in Ostrobothnia was present at Vähäkyrö parsonage on 1 September 1640. Cornet Skute had returned from Germany and was promoted to lieutenant; he brought a couple of troopers back with him. New recruits were also enrolled. But this final muster is effectively the end of the company as a distinct Ostrobothnian unit.

What the Muster Rolls Tell Genealogists

For genealogists researching Ostrobothnian families, the muster rolls of the Ostrobothnian cavalry company are a valuable source. They provide, for the years 1629, 1635, 1638 and 1640, lists of men with their home parishes and sometimes home villages — a rarity for the 1620s and 1630s when most Finnish records are sparse. The men who provided horses (rusthållare) are listed with their parishes and many with their specific farms, making it possible to trace families in the muster rolls of this company to their home communities.