Sunday, 28 February 2021
The Free Company of the Turku and Pori County Cavalry Regiment
A previously unpublished article (2004–2005) on the Free Company of the Turku and Pori County Cavalry Regiment during the Great Northern War — an obscure unit that appears in muster rolls for January–May 1712.
Previously unpublished article from 2004–2005.
According to Adam Lewenhaupt’s Karl XII:s officerare (published 1977, p. 693), Ludvig Johan Taube — who entered service in 1688 — was cornet in the Livonian cavalry regiment of Tiessenhausen on 1 August 1700, was promoted to lieutenant on 28 December 1702, became captain (ryttmästare) of the Free Company of the Turku and Pori County Cavalry Regiment on 5 August 1710, and died around 1715. The Free Company mentioned here has been entirely unknown from other sources. There is also no trace of it in the general muster rolls of the main Turku and Pori County Cavalry Regiment, such as the roll from 1712. What was this company? How did it come into being and what became of it?
When writing my 2001 book on the Great Northern War, I was aware of the references in Lewenhaupt’s register but, lacking other information, paid no further attention. While researching Finns transferred to the Life Guard Dragoon Regiment, this Free Company came to light again — even muster rolls appeared. They are provisioning rolls for January–May 1712.
The title of the first roll reads: “Januari Månads Rulla hwar efter dhe wedh Åbo och Biörneborgz Lähns Cavallerie, samt Öfwerstens Reinholt Delabarres Regemente, Förordnade Frij ryttare komma att åthniuta sin profwiant…”
(Monthly January Roll according to which the appointed Free Riders of the Turku and Pori County Cavalry, as well as Colonel Reinhold Delabarre’s Regiment, are to receive their provisions…)
Such a cavalry company was organised when Taube was appointed its commander. In early January 1712 it had 49 men.
The February 1712 Muster Roll
The February roll lists the following men under captain Taube’s Free Company. The annotation notes that men 1–11 were detached under Cornet Christopher Mallm to escort Prince von Meliten’s body, and were to receive their provisions there. Men 14–18 were discharged from Vilnäs on 6 February and had received their provisions there.
- Berent J. Fellbhom
- Reinholt Dettloff
- Niels Palmstedt
- Johan Ulbergh
- Lars Klöffvert
- Johan Köökman
- Daniel Ruuth
- Petter Gaddelius
- Michael Jordan
- Mathias Tärräväinen
- Carl Jean Wittman
- Samuel Rosengren
- Petter Frödingh
- Lars Knape
- Oluff Boman
- Anders Flinck
- Anders Engeman
- Engebrächt Regel
- Swen Udde
The company’s composition suggests it was a mixed unit of Swedish- and Finnish-born soldiers assigned to the Turku and Pori County Cavalry regiment’s command during the chaotic final phase of the war in Finland. The “free riders” (frij ryttare) designation indicates they were outside the normal allotment cavalry structure — probably men raised directly for the emergency rather than through the allotment system.
This unit has left almost no trace in the standard regimental histories, which makes the provisioning rolls discovered here a rare source for its short existence.