The Swiss Guard was a group of elite Swiss mercenaries hired by European powers. Today, only the Pontifical Swiss Guard survives, established in 1506 to protect the Pope. The Swiss Guard was historically used as a political tool by Swiss cantons, and one notable unit served in the French court. The Pontifical Swiss Guard is known for their colorful uniforms and skilled soldiers who protect the Pope. They celebrated their 500th anniversary in 2006 and only accept Catholic men with military experience and good character.
The term “Swiss Guard” is used to refer to a historic organization of elite Swiss mercenaries who were hired by various European powers. The original Swiss Guard had a number of units, some of which became quite famous, playing critical roles in European history. Today, only one unit of the Swiss Guard survives: the Pontifical Swiss Guard. This surviving unit is one of the oldest continuously organized military corps in the world, organized in 1506 at the request of Pope Julius II.
Historically, the Swiss Guard was under the command of the Swiss cantons, the administrative districts of Switzerland. They used the Swiss Guard as a political tool, supporting alliances and trade deals by hiring their own mercenaries. Countries contracting for Swiss Guard units paid in both commercial goods and hard currency, and these resources were in turn used by the heads of the cantons.
One notable unit of the Swiss Guard was the Hundred Guards, which served in the French court from the late 1400s to the early 1800s. The Hundred Guards were particularly involved in the French Revolution, attempting to defend the Tuileries Palace and eventually were defeated by the revolutionary forces. Numerous other European courts used the Swiss Guard in varying numbers, relying on these extremely skilled soldiers for defence.
The Pontifical Swiss Guard is often an object of interest to visitors to the Vatican, thanks to their colorful Renaissance-inspired uniforms. While members of the Swiss Guard serving in the Vatican may seem quite extravagant, they are actually very skilled soldiers with military experience and, in addition to performing ceremonial duties, play an active role in protecting His Holiness the Pope.
In 2006, the Pontifical Swiss Guard celebrated its 500th anniversary with a series of ceremonies and events, commemorating the long history of the Swiss Guards in the Vatican. Men who are accepted into the Swiss Guard at the Vatican must be Catholic, with military experience and of good character. They are also, by tradition, Swiss citizens, and are typically very dedicated and talented, as being a bodyguard to the Pope is considered an immense honor.
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