List of oldest military units and formations in continuous operation

The modern standing armies first developed in the 15th century. The terminology for modern miliatry units and formations, such as company, battalion, regiment etc. mostly arise in the early modern period, during the 16th and 17th centuries.

Candidates for the oldest extant military unit in continuous operation include:

Oldest active military units still in continuous operation

Year Heraldry Name Founder Founding
location
Current
location
Notes
1248 King's Own Immemorial 1st Infantry Regiment Ferdinand III of Castile Kingdom of Spain SpainFuerteventura, Spain At present the Regiment is the Unit responsible for providing the central seat of Army Headquarters security, services, and support needed for its functioning.
1337 Royal Militia of the Island of Jersey King Edward III of England England England United Kingdom United Kingdom In 1987, it was re-formed as a Territorial Army regiment, the Jersey Field Squadron (The Royal Militia Island of Jersey), 111th Regiment, Royal Engineers, later 73rd Regiment, Royal Engineers. In 2007, it came under the operational command of the Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers (Militia).
1479
1st Infantry Regiment King Louis XI of France  Kingdom of France France Sarrebourg, France Founded in 1479-1480 by King Louis XI as Bandes de Picardie. It became the Légion de Picardie in 1558 during the Italian War of 1551-1559 and then Régiment de Picardie on May 29, 1569. It was ultimately renamed 1er régiment d'infanterie de ligne in 1791 after the military reforms of Louis Le Bègue Duportail.[2] It is now part of the Franco-German Brigade and was recently deployed in Afghanistan, Mali and the Central African Republic.
1506 Papal Swiss Guard Pope Julius II  Papal States   Vatican City The Pontifical Swiss Guard is one of the oldest active military units presently in existence.[3]
1509 Regimiento de Infantería Ligera Soria n.º 9 Kingdom of Spain SpainFuerteventura, Spain Originally founded in 1509 as "Tercio de Zamudio". It is the second oldest regiment still used for overseas military operations.[4][5]
1521 Life Guards (Sweden) Sweden Dalarna, Sweden Sweden Stockholm, Sweden Livgardet, formerly Svea Livgarde, dates back to the year 1521, when the men of Dalarna chose 16 "young able men" as body guards for Gustav Vasa, subsequent King of Sweden.
1536 Life Regiment Hussars Sweden Uppland and Södermanland Sweden Karlsborg, Sweden The Life Regiment traces back to two drafted units set up by Gustav Vasa in 1536 to lessen the dependency on foreign mercenaries. The regiment has fought in many battles and is one of Europe's most victorious regiments. Today the regiment participates in more international military missions for Sweden than any other regiment.
1537 Honourable Artillery Company {HAC} King Henry VIII England England United Kingdom City of London Officially incorporated by Royal Charter in 1537 by King Henry VIII. The Company fought with distinction in both World Wars and its current Regiment is the oldest surviving regiment in the British Army, and the second most senior in the Army Reserve. Today its purpose is to attend to the "better defence of the realm" by the support of the HAC Regiment and a detachment of Special Constabulary to the City of London Police.
1537 Spanish Navy Marines Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor Enlightenment in Spain Kingdom of Spain Spain Kingdom of Spain Now roughly small brigade size.
1539 Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers King Henry VIII of England England England United Kingdom Monmouth The Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers (Militia) is the most senior regiment in the British Army Reserve, having given continuous loyal service to the crown since 1539. It is part of the reserve forces, and is the only remaining Militia unit in the British Army.
1614 Guard Hussar Regiment (Denmark) King Christian IV of Denmark Denmark Denmark Denmark Denmark Unit amalgamated with and perpetuates Zealand Life Regiment, which was disbanded on 1 January 2001
1618
Portuguese Marine Corps Portugal Portugal Portugal Portugal Consists of 2 battalions
1635 1st-11th Cuirassier Regiment Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar Saxe-Weimar France Republic of France 1st Cuirassier Regiment existed almost continuously, with short periods of occupation, from 1635, amalgamated with 11th Cuirassier, themselves a storied unit, in 1999
1635 Skaraborg Regiment (infantry) King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden Sweden Kingdom of Sweden Sweden Sweden Founded 1613; In 1942 converted to Skaraborg Regiment (armoured); in 2000 changed back to Skaraborg regiment
1636
182nd Infantry Regiment (United States) United Kingdom Thirteen Colonies United States United States The 182nd Infantry Regiment is the oldest Infantry Regiment in the United States Army
1636
181st Infantry Regiment (United States) United Kingdom Thirteen Colonies United States United States The 181st Infantry Regiment is the second oldest Infantry Regiment in the United States Army
1636
101st Field Artillery Regiment United Kingdom Thirteen Colonies United States United States The 101st Artillery Regiment is the oldest Artillery unit of the US Army; was founded the same time as the 181st Infantry Regiment
1636
101st Engineer Battalion United Kingdom Thirteen Colonies United States United States The 101st Engineer Battalion was founded at the same time as the 181st Infantry Regiment
1638
211th Military Police Battalion United Kingdom Thirteen Colonies United States United States The 211th Military Police Battalion goes back to 1741; the 772nd Military Police Company of this Battalion was founded in 1638. Part of the Massachusetts National Guard.
1641 15th Infantry Regiment (Portugal) Portugal Portugal Portugal Portugal
1642 Scots Guards (third regiment of foot guards) King Charles the First  Scotland  United Kingdom Raised in 1642 to form a personal body guard to king charles the first when he campaigned in Ireland; became part of English Amy in 1661
1650 Coldstream Guards George Monck England England United Kingdom United Kingdom Raised in 1650; became part of the English Army in 1661
1652
276th Engineer Battalion (United States) United Kingdom Thirteen Colonies United States United States The 1953 US Army Lineage Book Infantry traces the 176th Infantry Regiment origins to 1652; 176th Infantry was a predecessor unit of the 276th Engineer Battalion
1656 Grenadier Guards  England United Kingdom United Kingdom Senior Regiment of the Guards Division
1657 Jutland Dragoon Regiment Field marshal Ernst Albrecht von Eberstein Denmark Denmark Denmark Denmark
1658 Royal Life Guards (Denmark) King Frederick III of Denmark Denmark Denmark Denmark Denmark Both a Guard/Ceremonial unit of the Danish Monarch and Infantry Regiment of the Danish Army
1660 Life Guards (United Kingdom) Charles II England England United Kingdom United Kingdom Senior Regiment of the British Army
1664 Royal Marines King James II  England United Kingdom United kingdom Now roughly small brigade size.
1665 Korps Mariniers Premier Johan de Witt Dutch Republic Dutch Republic Netherlands Netherlands Founded as Regiment de Marine. Now roughly small brigade size.
1672
102nd Infantry Regiment (United States) United Kingdom Thirteen Colonies United States United States Part of the Connecticut National Guard
1672
192nd Military Police Battalion Connecticut Connecticut United States United States United States Part of the Connecticut National Guard
1673 113th Infantry Regiment (United States) New Jersey New Jersey United States New Jersey New Jersey United States Taken in Service in 1775; traces orgians back to 1673 Milita; part of the New Jersey National Guard
1756 The Queen's York Rangers (1st American Regiment) (RCAC) Robert Rogers United Kingdom British America Canada York, Canada Founded as Rogers Rangers
1775 Company A, 1st Battalion 69th Infantry Regiment (New York) New York (state) New York City, United States United States New York City, United States Descended from the 8th Company 1st New York Regiment 1775-1777; Part of the New York National Guard
1776
1st Battalion 5th Field Artillery Regiment United States United States United States US Army regulars
1789
1st Battalion, 258th Field Artillery (United States) United States United States United States Part of the New York National Guard

Older military units no longer considered active

Entries in this table predate some of those listed above, but are no longer considered active.

Year Heraldry Name Founder Founding
location
Current
location
Notes
1337 Royal Guernsey Militia King Edward III of England England England United Kingdom United Kingdom Disbanded 1951
1485 Queen's Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard Henry VII of England England Leicestershire, England United Kingdom London, United Kingdom Founded during the Battle of Bosworth Field, the organization is now purely ceremonial.
1485 Yeomen Warders Henry VII of England England England United Kingdom London, United Kingdom The Yeomen Warders of Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress the Tower of London, and Members of the Sovereign's Body Guard of the Yeoman Guard Extraordinary, popularly known as the Beefeaters, are ceremonial guardians of the Tower of London.
1509 Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms Henry VIII of England England England United Kingdom London, United Kingdom Founded as a Bodyguard to the British Monarch
16th Century High Constables and Guard of Honour of the Palace of Holyroodhouse Scotland Scotland United Kingdom United Kingdom The High Constables of Holyroodhouse are a small corps of ceremonial guards at the Sovereign's official residence in the Scottish capital, Edinburgh. Dating from the early sixteenth century, they now parade whenever the Sovereign, or the Lord High Commissioner of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, is in residence. They form part of the Royal Household in Scotland. Also present at the Palace of Holyroodhouse is the Doorward Guard of Partisans, who comprised the personal retainers of the Lord High Constable of Scotland, which was responsible for the Sovereign's safety while in Edinburgh.
17th Century Södermanland Regiment (armoured) Sweden Sweden Sweden Sweden Active 1942-1957; 1963-2005
1602 Army Materiel Command Denmark Denmark Denmark Denmark Active 1602-2007
1636 Svealand Artillery Regiment Sweden Sweden Sweden Sweden Active 1794-1997
1638 Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts Robert Keayne
John Winthrop
United StatesBoston, United States United StatesBoston, United States The Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts is the oldest charted military orgizantion in the United States; now it is Honor Guard for the Governor of Massachusetts
1639 104th Infantry Regiment (United States) United StatesMassachusetts United States United StatesMassachusetts UNited States Last active Battalion transferred to 181st Infantry Regiment
1672 169th Infantry Regiment (United States) United States Connecticut United States United States Connecticut United States Deactivated in 1992
1676 Royal Company of Archers Scotland Scotland Scotland Scotland Ceremonial Unit of United Kingdom's monarch bodyguard in Scotland
1684 Royal Irish Regiment (1684–1922) Earl of Granard Republic of Ireland Ireland Republic of Ireland Ireland Disbanded in 1922
1730 Izmaylovsky Regiment Russian Empire Russian Empire Russian Empire Russian Empire Active until 1917
1771 First Company Governor's Foot Guard Connecticut Connecticut USA Connecticut Connecticut USA Similar units are: 2nd Company Governor's Food Guard {1775}; 1st Company Governors Horse Guard {1788}; 2nd Company Governors Horse Guard (1808). Part of the Connecticut State Militia
1786 102nd Field Artillery Regiment United States Massachusetts, United States United States Massachusetts, United States Last active unit transferred to 101st Field Artillery Regiment
1790 Veteran Corps of Artillery of the State of New York United StatesNew York City, United States United StatesNew York City, United States The Veteran Corps of Artillery of the State of New York; it is Honor Guard for the Governor of New York State

See also

References

Notes

    Citations

    1. Preben Kannik, page 145 "Military Uniforms of the World", SBN 71370482 9
    2. "Régiments de Picardie et du Colonel Général" (PDF).
    3. "Spotlight on the Swiss Guard". news.va. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
    4. VILLATORO, MANUEL P. "El regimiento más antiguo de Europa empezó siendo un tercio español y combatió contra Napoleón". ABC.es. Retrieved 2016-01-28.
    5. Tierra, JEME - Ejercito de. ".:Ejército de tierra:.". www.ejercito.mde.es. Retrieved 2016-01-28.
    This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 12/3/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.