Rotegång

Rotegång, in a historical Swedish context, refers to a system of military conscription and land allocation. It was a key component of the Swedish allotment system (Indelningsverket) that provided the Swedish army with a standing force.

The system functioned by dividing rural areas into "rotar" (districts or groups of farms). Each rote was obligated to provide and equip a soldier (knekt) or a sailor (båtsman) for the army or navy respectively. The rote provided the soldier with a cottage, a small plot of land (usually uncultivated), and often some financial support. This land and cottage were known as the soldier's croft or "soldattorp".

The soldiers were recruited from the local population within the rote. While the initial system often relied on volunteers, mandatory conscription was implemented to ensure sufficient manpower. The soldiers were under the command of officers who were also allotted land, often larger estates known as "säterier", as part of the Indelningsverket system.

The Rotegång system was crucial for maintaining a standing Swedish army without the expense of large-scale state-funded barracks and provisioning. It allowed Sweden to project its military power throughout the Baltic region during the 17th and 18th centuries. The system also had a significant social and economic impact on rural communities, shaping land ownership patterns and the lives of soldiers and their families. It persisted in various forms until the early 20th century.