Table of Contents

Earl of Leven’s Regiment of Horse

Active1640 to 1641
1642 to 1650
CountryScotland
AllegianceCovenanter
ConflictsSecond Bishops' War
Irish Confederate War
First Civil War
Second Civil War
Third Civil War
TypeHorse
ColonelEarl of Leven
Lord Balgonie
Duke of Hamilton
Area RaisedVarious
Flag ColourBlue (1648)
Flag DesignCrown & motto
Field ArmiesLeslie 1640-41
Monro 1642-3
Leven 1643-6
Hamilton 1648
Leslie 1650

Later the Duke of Hamilton's Horse Guard

Covenanter Regiment of Horse raised for the Bishops' Wars then for service in England, forming part of Leven’s army then serving in the Scots New Model Army, Hamilton's Engager army and re-raised prior to Dunbar

Service History

1640

1641

1642

1643

1644

1645

1646

1647

1648

1649

1650

Notes

A history of the unit is shown in Edward M. Furgol’s A Regimental History of the Covenanting Armies 1639-1651 Edinburgh, 1990. ISBN 0 85976 194 0

Leven's regiment eventually included two troops of Life Guards. The first was raised for service in Ulster, returning to join the regiment at the end of 1643, the second was raised in Scotland in December 1643 and led by Lt Col Bannatyne. Either Lifeguard troop might have been equipped with cuirassier armour. In the First Civil War the regiment were referred to as being led by Lord Balgonie.

Flags & Equipment

At Preston under Hamilton, a blue cornet from the regiment was captured with a gold fringe, gold crown and motto DATE . CAESARI, ie render unto Caesar

One squadron of the regiment was armed with lances at Marston Moor.

In 1649 Leven's troop included a kettledrummer.

Notable Officers

Lists of the regiment's officers are shown in Stuart Reid's Scots Armies of the 17th Century 1. The Army of the Covenant 1639-1651 Partizan Press 1998 ISBN 094652550 and in Stuart Reid's Scots Armies of the 17th Century 2: Scots Colours Partizan Press 1988 ISBN 094652550 1

Earl of Leven

Alexander Leslie, Earl of Leven

James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Hamilton

James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Hamilton

Lord Balgonie

Leven's son, often referred to as commanding the unit despite not appearing to have been an officer of the regiment.

James Ballantyne

Led Leven's Lifeguard as a Major from 1642 and led the regiment at Corbridge

Lieutenant Elliot

Took Colonel Robert Brandling prisoner at Corbridge.

Strength

See Also