Danish Military Levying Rolls (Lægdsruller)

Denmark Military Levying Rolls

Danish Lægdsruller.png

Lægdsruller are records of the males who could be enlisted for service in the army or navy. These rolls have many different uses. For genealogical purposes they are used mainly to follow the registered individual's movements, identify a birthplace, find which military unit they were assigned to, and when they completed their obligation.

You Can Use this Record to Find...
Birth Information Marriage Information Death Information

Background

In 1788, adscription was repealed and the foundation was laid for a civilian service. This was done by regulation on June 20, 1788. Previously the private landowners had the obligation to provide personnel for the army. After adscription's repeal this responsibility was shifted to the king and the state. There was thus created a direct relationship between the state and the conscripts.

In subsequent years there was an agency created by the government known as a lægdsvæsen to watch over its conscripts. It was important for the government to know how large a force it possessed in case of war. Therefore, it became the state's responsibility to keep detailed records of the male population in lægdsruller.

Articles

Strategy

How to find someone in the levying rolls

Before you can search the rolls, you need to know the Lægt number of your ancestor's parish. For a list of Lægt numbers, see 1. Go to the Danish National Archives website at www.Arkivalieronline.dk.

On the main page, click on Find lægdsruller her.
2.For 1789-1864, click on Lægdsruller (landruller) 1789-1864. Clilck on Læs scannet udgave af arkivserien her.
3. For 1864 1931- These rolls are orgainzed by Kreds, not by county. There were seven Kreds. You need know the Kreds in which your county was located. Click on Kom godt i gang med at bruge lægdsruller to see map and Kreds number.
4. Go back to the previous page and click on the Kreds number (1-7), then on Læs scannet udgave af arkivserien her. Proceed as with the earlier Lægdsruller, choosing your desired Hovedrulle or Tilgangsrulle (Omskrevet means "Rewritten"). Then choose your desired year and find your desired lægt number in that year.

How to follow someone in the same county.

How to follow someone to a different county.