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Everything you need to know about the Swiss Guard: Marriage, guns, language, history, uniforms…
The famous guards of the papcy have a long and proud tradition dating from the Italian wars in the early 16th century.
With a lot of media focus on the Papacy at present you may have noticed soldiers with spears and bright yellow and blue uniforms. This is the Swiss Guard. They have been an important contingent in the defence the head of the Catholic faith for more than 500 years.
While their garb looks traditional it was actually created in 1914 by then-commander Jules Respond. In an aim to reproffessionalise the force he instituted a number of reforms with the outfit designed in Le costume de la Garde suisse pontificale et la Renaissance italienne. Another reform was to insist on the hiring of Swiss soldiers.
How was the guard formed?
During the 16th century the pope was not just the ruler of the Vatican. He controlled a territory called the ‘Papal States’ which controlled roughly half of central Italy. With the land came plenty of wars as the Italian peninsular was one of the richest lands of Europe. He needed a force to defend this so hired mercenaries, the best of which came from Switzerland.
The official date for the forming of the guard is 22 January 1506. Perhaps their most famous engagement took place in 1527 when more than 75% of the 189-man strong contingent were killed defending Rome from the encoaching army of the Holy Roman Empire. The other guards escorted Pope Clement VII to safety.
By the end of the wars in Italy the unit had become a personal bodyguard of the pope rather than a true fighting force.
What is their role today?
The Swiss Guard provide a ceremonial role as the Gendarmerie Corps provide security in the Vatican State. That is not to saw the guard are not trained, however, as they are equipped with small arms and trained in the Swiss Army.