Commandant General in Stockholm


Commandant General in Stockholm is a military position in Sweden with responsibility for state ceremonial activities. Vice admiral Jan Thörnqvist, Chief of Operations of the Swedish Armed Forces is the Commandant General in Stockholm since 2019.

History

The King's Adjutant General was tasked with, among other things, commanding the troops in Stockholm. In 1810 a commanding Adjutant General of Stockholm's Garrison was appointed. In 1818, this position was referred to as the Commandant General of Stockholm's Garrison. Prior to November 1905, the Commandant General was a specially appointed general officer, after which the position was taken over by the commanding officer of the IV Army Division, Eastern Army Division, IV Army Division, then by the military commander of the Eastern Military Area, then by the commanding officer of the Middle Military Area, and finally by the commanding officer of the Middle Military District. After 2005, when the military districts were discontinued, a three-star general of the Swedish Armed Forces has held the position as the Commandant General. Today, the Director Joint Staff is the Commandant General in Stockholm.

Tasks

According to the Swedish Armed Forces Code of Statutes 2005:6, the Commandant General in Stockholm is the chief representative of the state ceremonial activities of the Swedish Armed Forces. The Commandant General shall advise the Supreme Commander in matters relating to state ceremonial activities. The Commandant General is appointed by Supreme Commander and must be a minimum of major general. The Commandant General in Stockholm and the Commandant are:
  1. The Commandant General or the Commandant shall, if necessary, participate in state ceremonies or at other ceremonies organized in conjunction with national ceremonies or foreign official visits in Sweden or on similar occasions. They will also participate in receptions or visits if the King, the Regent ad interim, the Speaker of the Riksdag, the Prime Minister, the Marshal of the Realm, a Head of Ministry or the Swedish Armed Forces Headquarters request it.
  2. It is the responsibility of the Commandant General or when he is prevented from attending, the Commandant, to receive such heads of foreign states' military units on an official visit in Stockholm, in the Royal Guards Wing of the Stockholm Palace.

    Uniform

The Commandant General is wearing a staff that is steel blue and sprinkled with gold crowns and fitted with a gold knob and chape. The staff is provided with a twist in gold and black silk with a hard braided tuft. At the deposing of King Gustav IV Adolf in March 1809, the staff played an important symbolic role as the one who held the staff is also associated with the person who was in charge in Stockholm.

Heraldry

The coat of arms of the Commandant General in Stockholm. Blazon: "Azure, powdered with open crowns and charged with the badge of Stockholm, the crowned head of Saint Eric couped, all or. The shield surmounted a sword bendwise and a baton bendwise sinister in saltire, both or, the baton charged with open crowns azure placed two and one".

List of Officeholders

Footnotes