Count Claës Lewenhaupt
Claës Axel August Lewenhaupt, born 3 April 1854 in Stockholm, died 4 September 1932, was a Swedish count, soldier and chamberlain. Lewenhaupt became a second lieutenant in the Life Hussars Regiment in 1876, and master horseman in 1892. In 1894 Lewenhaupt became Chamberlain to Crown Prince Gustaf and in 1908 Chamberlain of the Royal Court. In 1929, he became Chief Chamberlain. From 1884, Lewenhaupt held the Claestorp fideicommissum. Lewenhaupt was the son of Count Sten Axel Lewenhaupt and Augusta Elisabet Pauli.
The Life Regiment Dragoons (Swedish: Livregementets dragoner) was a Swedish Army cavalry regiment that was active in various forms 1791–1927. The unit was based in the Stockholm Garrison in Stockholm and belonged to the King's Life and Household Troops (Kungl. Maj:ts Liv- och Hustrupper) until 1974. The regiment has its origins in the ryttarfanor ("horsemen; cavalry units") which were raised in Uppland, Södermanland, Västmanland, Närke and Värmland. These were combined into two regiments, which, according to the Instrument of Government of 1634, were amalgamated into one. The regiment was from 1636 usually referred to as Upplands ryttare ("Uppland Horsemen"). Its first commanding officer was Isak Axelsson Silversparre. On 26 November 1667, the regiment was upgraded into a royal life squad as a thank you for their efforts during the campaign of Charles X Gustav and received the name Livregementet till häst ("Life Regiment of Horse"). At the same time, count Otto Wilhelm Königsmarck was appointed regimental commander. The regiment distinguished itself for great bravery in the Battle of Lund in 1676 under Nils Bielke. Charles XI is supposed to have said after the victory: "Next to God I had to thank the brave Nils Bielke and his Life Regiment". In 1680, the regiment was allotted within eastern
Svealand. The Life Regiment of Horse (Livregementet till häst) was the only regiment in the Stockholm Garrison that was not recruited. In 1785, a special squad of light dragoons was raised in the regiment. It was formed by adding 18 men from each company to the dragoons who formed 4 companies of 36 men in each. This force was increased later and in 1789 during the Russo-Swedish War, they operated as an independent unit of 300 men, 6 companies, under the name Light Dragoon Corps of the Royal Majesty's Life Regiment (Lätta Dragonkåren av Kungl. Maj:ts Livregemente). On 23 February 1791, the regiment was reorganized into a brigade consisting of the Livregementetsbrigadens kyriassiärkår ("Life Regiment Brigade Cuirassier Corps"), which consisted of the companies closest to the capital and which constituted heavy cavalry, the Life Regiment Brigade's Light Dragoon Corps, which consisted of Örebro, Fellingsbro, Östra Närke and Vadsbo companies and the Life Regiment Brigade's light infantry battalion which consisted of the companies in Västmanland and from 1804 also Södermanland's company. In 1815, the brigade was disbanded, and the three constituent units became independent on 16 December 1815. With that change, the Life Regiment Brigade Cuirassier Corps took the name Livregementets dragoner ("Life Regiment Dragoons"). On 31 December 1892, the name Livregementets dragoner ("Life Regiment Dragoons", K 2) was adopted. In 1816, all Swedish regiments received an order number, where the Life Regiment Dragoons were assigned number 2.
Lewenhaupt is the name of an old Swedish noble family, whose members occupied significant military and political positions in the Kingdom of Sweden. Lewenhaupt is the Germanized name of the Swedish Leijonhufvud noble family. They were granted baronial title in Sweden. The baronial branch was 1568 granted the title of Count. Branches of the family still exist in Sweden.
Awards: Collar, sash and star of the Royal Order of the Sword, insignia and star of the Order of Saint John in Sweden.
