Reorganisation of the armyBecause of the increased costs in maintaining an army of mercenaries, King Karl XI started the reorganisation of the Swedish army in 1680. The so called "indelningsverket" was introduced. This was a system for recruitment and for supporting the soldiers in the infantry, cavalry and navy. This meant that most personnel were recruited in Sweden. The farmers of a county were, in peacetime, responsible to give support to a certain number of soldiers. The soldiers were each given a cottage to live in and a small piece of land to farm. They were regularly called up for military service where they had to take part in manoeuvres. This system gave Sweden a comparatively efficient national army. But the system had negative consequences as well. For instance, when King Karl XII, who had prohibited the recruitment of foreign mercenaries, needed more soldiers for the army, this meant heavily increased burdens for the Swedish farmers, of whom many were drafted.
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