Active 1623–1927, 1994–1997 Branch Swedish Army Size Regiment | Country Sweden Type Infantry Colours Red and yellow | |
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The Kalmar Regiment (Swedish: Kalmar regemente), designations I 20, I 21 and Fo 18, was a Swedish Army infantry regiment that traced its origins back to the 16th century. It was merged with another unit to form a new regiment in 1928. It was later reraised and disbanded again in 1997. The regiment's soldiers were originally recruited from Kalmar County, and it was later garrisoned there.
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History
The regiment has its origins in fänikor (companies) raised in Kalmar County in the 16th century. In 1616, these units—along with fänikor from the nearby Kronoberg County—were organised by Gustav II Adolf into Smålands storregemente, of which twelve of the total 24 companies were recruited in Kalmar County. Smålands storregemente consisted of three field regiments, of which Kalmar regemente was one. Sometime around 1623, the grand regiment was permanently split into three smaller regiments, of which Kalmar regemente was one.
Kalmar regemente was one of the original 20 Swedish infantry regiments mentioned in the Swedish constitution of 1634. The regiment's first commander was Patrick Ruthwen. The regiment was allotted in 1686. The regiment was given the designation I 20 (20th Infantry Regiment) in a general order in 1816. The designation was changed to I 21 in 1892.
The regiment was garrisoned in Eksjö from 1906, before it was merged with Jönköpings regemente to form Jönköpings-Kalmar regemente in 1927. Kalmar regemente was reorganised in 1994 as a local defence area with the designation Fo 18, although disbanded again just three years later in 1997.