Who guards the Vatican? Swiss Guard of the Pope

The Swiss Guard was created 510 years ago by order of Pope Julius II. He is known as one of the most militant Popes: his pontificate (1503-1513) was a series of continuous wars, as a result of which the territory of the Papal State was significantly expanded. Julius II, who himself took part in military campaigns, needed a strong and loyal army. It was no coincidence that his choice fell on the Swiss mercenaries. At that time, they served in many European countries, protecting kings and emperors. Swiss soldiers were valued for their courage, fearlessness, courage and, above all, boundless loyalty to their patron. That is why Pope Julius II asked the residents of the Swiss canton of Uri to send soldiers to serve in his personal guard. Already on January 22, 1506, 150 guards arrived at the Vatican. A reception was held in their honor, and the soldiers received a papal blessing. This is how the Vatican Swiss Guard was created.

1. Who invented the uniform of the Swiss Guards?

Perhaps the most mysteries are associated with who came up with the bright uniform of the papal guards. There are no surviving sources describing the appearance of the soldiers who entered the service of the Pope. It is only known that they dressed at the expense of the papal treasury, which means that although the concept of uniform did not exist in the 16th century, we can assume some uniformity in their clothing.

Already in the 17th century, the uniform itself appeared, which included stockings, boots with buckles, hats; wide trousers with ribbons, wide printed sleeves and fitted jackets, which eventually fell out of fashion and were dropped from the uniform.

When it comes to the modern uniform of guardsmen, Michelangelo Buonarroti is usually remembered as its creator. However, there is no evidence to support this assumption, so most likely it is just a beautiful legend.

Modern costumes for Swiss soldiers were invented in 1914 by the commander of the guard, Jules Repon. He was inspired by the frescoes of Raphael Santi. Jules Repon created a costume in the style of the Renaissance, but simplified it, removing unnecessary pretentiousness and replacing hats with berets.

1. What does the uniform look like today?

The uniform is divided into dress, casual and work. The front door, in turn, comes in two types: gala and grand gala. The gala costume includes: striped red-blue-yellow camisoles and trousers picked up at the knees, a beret or morion with a red plume on special occasions, a carapace, a halberd and a sword. The Grand Gala is complemented by a cuirass and hirace and a white metal morion helmet with a red plume. The large dress uniform consists of 154 pieces and weighs more than 8 pounds, which is why it is worn only for especially important and ceremonial ceremonies.

The casual uniform is blue, consists of a camisole with wide sleeves and a white turn-down collar, wide trousers below the knee, which are tucked into dark blue leggings, and black boots. Headdress - black beret. Soldiers wear this uniform for drill training or for service in the internal premises of the guard.

Work clothes have lost the elements of the Renaissance - this is a gray overalls with belts on which weapons can be attached.

1. Do the guards carry weapons?

The traditional weapons of the Vatican guards were pierced spears (or halberds) and swords; it was Jules Repon who introduced the Mauser rifle and Dreyse pistol into the soldiers’ weapons.

However, in 1970, Pope Paul VI banned the carrying of firearms while on patrol in the Vatican (in the same year he announced the disbandment of the remaining Vatican military units). The storage of rifles in barracks was prohibited by the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965). But after the assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II in 1981, the guards were again armed with rifles and pistols.

Today, guardsmen are armed with modern pistols and machine guns. However, you will not see soldiers with firearms on the streets of the Vatican. It is worn hidden if it is necessary to accompany or protect the Pope or in case of battle. The guards of the Papal Palace mainly use traditional protazans (or halberds).

1. Did the guards take part in the fighting?

The only and last battle of the Vatican Swiss Guard took place in May 1527, during the sack of Rome by the troops of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. There were only 189 guardsmen in the Vatican at that time, who, despite the fact that an order came from Zurich to return to Switzerland, remained to guard Pope Clement VII. In an unequal battle, most of the guard - 147 people - fell, but the survivors fulfilled their duty and led Pope Clement VII through a secret underground passage to the Castel Sant'Angelo. The rescue took place on May 5, 1527, and since then May 6 has become one of the main holidays of the Vatican Swiss Guard. It is on this day that guard recruits take the oath.

1. How did Swiss soldiers stop Hitler's troops?

One more time the Swiss Guards had to take up arms in 1944, when fascist troops entered Rome. The faithful soldiers of the pontiff took up a perimeter defense and declared that they would not surrender the city and would fight to the last drop of blood. The Wehrmacht command ordered the troops not to occupy the Vatican. During the war, not a single German soldier set foot on the territory of the city-state.

1. What are the duties of the Vatican Swiss Guards today?

Today, the Swiss Guard is often called the “calling card” of the Vatican, but the duties of soldiers are much broader than participation in ceremonies. Their main task remains to protect the pontiff. Guardsmen serve at the entrances to the Vatican, on all floors of the Apostolic Palace, and at the chambers of the Pope. Without their participation, not a single solemn mass takes place in St. Peter's Cathedral; not a single audience or diplomatic reception takes place without them.

The corps is divided into three teams that live according to a special schedule: one is on watch, the second is on backup, and the third is resting. Teams replace each other every 24 hours. During papal audiences or major holidays, all three teams are on duty simultaneously.

In addition, soldiers of the Swiss Guard provide background information to tourists and ensure order in the city, because, oddly enough, the small Vatican has a very high crime rate. This is due to the large flow of tourists.

Today, guardsmen also conduct reconnaissance and anti-terrorism activities.

1. Who is recruited into the Swiss Guard?

In order to join the Swiss Guard, you need to meet a number of requirements. Firstly, just like 510 years ago, soldiers are recruited only from those born in Switzerland. Although today this provision can be considered a tribute to tradition, during the entire existence of the guard, no violations were noticed. Secondly, and quite naturally, the recruit must be a Catholic. Thirdly, have good health. The future guardsman must be at least 174 centimeters tall, and also successfully pass a medical examination, which includes a psychological test. Fourth, according to Vatican requirements, “those responsible for the security of the Pope must have an impeccable reputation.” The reason for the resignation of the commander of the guards in 2014 was that he established too strict, almost dictatorial, discipline and settled his family in luxurious apartments. Fifth, recruits must undergo military training in Switzerland. The minimum period for signing a contract is 2 years, and the maximum is 20. Sixth, guardsmen must have a specialized secondary education. Seventh, before entering the guard, men must remain celibate. In order to get married, a guardsman must be at least 25 years old and have served for at least three years. In addition, you need to obtain special permission from the Pope, and the soldier's chosen one must be a Catholic. Eighth, there is also an age limit. Men under 19 and over 30 years old are not accepted into the guard. Women are not allowed to serve.

1. What do the Swiss Guards live on?

The salary of the guards is about 1,300 euros and is not subject to taxes. During the first year of service, soldiers are also provided with housing, uniforms and food. After serving 20 years, a guardsman receives a pension equal to his last salary.

1. What is the flag of the Swiss Guard?

The official flag appeared among the guards in 1914, at the same time that the modern uniform was invented and weapons were improved. The banner panel measures 2.2 by 2.2 meters and is divided into four quarters by a white Swiss cross. In the first quarter, on a red background, is the coat of arms of the living Pope. Accordingly, it changes with each new Pope. In the second quarter there are horizontal stripes of blue, yellow, red, yellow and blue. In the third quarter there are horizontal stripes of red, yellow, blue, yellow, red. In the fourth quarter, on a red background, is the coat of arms of Pope Julius II, the founder of the Swiss Guard. In the center of the banner, in a wreath of leaves, is the coat of arms of the current commander of the guard against the background of the colors of his native canton of Switzerland .

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Their courage, endurance and fanatical devotion to their patron have been admired by rulers, kings, dukes and emperors of different countries and peoples for five centuries. They are the smallest army in the world. They are .Switzerland of the Middle Ages - a poor and overpopulated country. At that time, the most reliable banks in the world, the most accurate watches, and the most delicious cheese did not yet exist. But already at that time this Alpine state was famous for the bravery of its sons. Even the ancient Roman historian Tacitus characterized the inhabitants of Switzerland this way: “They are a people of warriors, famous for the courage of their soldiers.” Unemployed soldiers of fortune went to war in the summer and returned home with booty in the winter. The Swiss served many European sovereigns. There were units of Swiss mercenaries in France, Austria, and some Italian states.
Their main feature is boundless devotion to the overlord. Often they preferred to die rather than retreat. This is despite the fact that they fought not for their country, but for the money that foreign sovereigns paid them. That is why Swiss units very often performed the functions of the Life Guard, that is, the personal protection of monarchs and rulers.

In 1494, the French king Charles VIII undertook a large military campaign against Naples. The French army included several thousand Swiss mercenaries. Among the participants in the campaign was the future head of the Roman Catholic Church, Giuliano della Rovere. During the campaign, the Swiss showed themselves to be courageous, professional, devoted soldiers, which could not go unnoticed by the future pontiff.
In 1503 Giuliano della Rovere became Pope Julius II. He was an excellent leader who again established peace and order in the church state. The successful experience he gained in hiring Swiss soldiers, the distrust of his compatriots due to the high likelihood of treacherous intrigues, as well as the proverbial loyalty of the Swiss, prompted Julius II to hire a number of these soldiers as his personal guard.

The official date of the creation of the Vatican Swiss Guard is considered to be January 22 - on this day in 1506, 150 young mercenaries from the Swiss cantons of Zurich and Lucerne, under the leadership of Captain Caspar von Seelenen, first set foot on St. Peter's Square in the Vatican, where they were met and blessed by Pope Julius II. That same evening they were changed and sent to the barracks - the beginning of the service was prosaic.

The Swiss Guard at first outraged the proud Romans, who never tired of making fun of the rude and drunken foreign louts. However, this did not worry the pontiff too much, who felt confident and safe and knew which military professionals were guarding his chambers. How correctly Julius II acted in hiring these particular bodyguards was realized a quarter of a century later by one of his successors.

The Swiss Guard received its baptism of fire on May 6, 1527. This day went down in Italian history under the name “Sacco di Roma” (the sack of Rome). The Holy Roman Emperor, King Charles V of Spain, attacked Rome and wanted to kill Pope Clement VII. Even though the Swiss had orders from the Grand Council from Zurich to return home, they remained in their positions in the Vatican. In battles with German and Spanish landsknechts, 147 guardsmen were killed, including their commandant Kaspar Roist. Only 42 people remained alive, who led the pontiff through an underground passage to the Castle of Angels, thereby saving his life. It was truly a bloody test of loyalty to the Holy See.

A month after the Pope's capitulation, the Swiss Guard was disbanded, but his successor Paul III recreated it in 1548. In 1848, Switzerland adopted a new constitution that prohibited citizens of the country from military service abroad, the only exception being made for the papal guard.

When Nazi troops entered Rome in 1943, the Swiss Guard in gray field uniforms took up a perimeter defense around the Vatican. And the Swiss were far from armed with medieval halberds. The command of the Swiss Guard told the German parliamentarians that if the Germans tried to violate the border of the city-state, the guard would begin hostilities and fight to the last bullet. The Germans did not dare to engage in battle. During World War II, not a single German soldier crossed the borders of the Vatican.

The next turning point in the history of the Swiss Guard can be considered September 15, 1970. On this day, Pope Paul VI disbanded the entire military corps of the church state - the noble guard and the gendarmerie. An exception was made only for “the oldest and most venerable Swiss Guard, who will have to form new units and continue to carry out the honorable service of protecting the Vatican.”

Since 1970, the Swiss have remained the last and only Vatican military formation that reports directly to the Pope, who issues orders through the Secretary of State. Many people believe that today the Swiss Guards are one of the hallmarks of the Vatican, forming a guard of honor during official receptions and thus representing the Pope and the Vatican. However, there is nothing more erroneous than the view of the guard as a ceremonial folklore unit.

Of course, not a single solemn ceremony is complete without a guard of guards. But this is only a small component of their service. The main purpose of the guard - protecting the pontiff - remained unchanged. The Swiss Guard is a completely modern military corps with appropriate tasks, training and equipment. The organization of service, weapons, principles of military discipline and etiquette in the guard are exactly the same as in the modern army of Switzerland. The Guards also conduct reconnaissance and carry out preventive measures to protect public order and security in the Vatican. Today, the guard has also adopted methods of combating terrorism.

Guardsmen guard the four entrances to the Vatican, control access to the city-state, and issue reference information to pilgrims. During public appearances of the Pope, they, dressed in civilian clothes, are always in close proximity to his person and provide his personal security. A guardsman's service can last from 8 to 11 hours a day, depending on his duties. It requires psychological stability, physical endurance, steel endurance and is performed in any weather and temperature.

The most stringent requirements are imposed on applicants for the title of guardsman. A precondition is that the young man has Swiss citizenship, otherwise the Guard will not have the moral right to be called Swiss. The requirements for the candidate are quite strict: height not lower than 174 centimeters, no family, age from 19 to 30 years. According to the guard command, it is more difficult for an older person to adapt to a new team and establish normal relationships with colleagues. The applicant must also undergo two years of training at the Swiss Army recruit school and have a secondary specialized education or a high school diploma. The young man must confirm his firmness in the Catholic faith by presenting a special document signed by the parish priest. For this reason, although recruits are recruited throughout Switzerland, most of them come from cantons with a strong Catholic tradition. Persons with dual citizenship can also apply. Any newfangled trends such as allowing women into the service are categorically rejected.

Recruitment is carried out in Switzerland, where the Vatican Guard has an information office and a recruiting station. The information service is headed by former guardsman Karl-Heinz Früh and is involved in recruiting recruits. According to him, every year he considers about a hundred applications from those wishing to become guardsmen, while the number of available places is only 25-30. Many are eliminated at the medical commission or after passing psychological tests. The final selection of future guards is carried out by the commandant of the guard in Rome.

The contract with a recruit is concluded for at least 2 years, and the guardsman has the opportunity to serve the rank of non-commissioned officer and even officer. A guardsman cannot marry before the age of 25, and then only on condition that he has served for at least three years and has the rank of corporal.

A young guardsman is allowed to perform guard duty only after a two-month course of initial training. The main emphasis during training is on the methods of protecting people, proficiency in hand-to-hand combat techniques, speed of reaction, the ability to navigate in extreme situations with large crowds of people, as well as on the use of small arms and special equipment. Learning Italian is mandatory for all guardsmen.

By tradition, the guards are armed with a halberd, pike and sword. However, while on duty, they are given additional means of self-defense, in particular, grenades and canisters of tear or pepper gas, and firearms.

We can only guess what the Swiss soldiers who entered the Pope's service in 1506 looked like, since no documents from that time convey to us descriptions of clothing. So most likely, in those days the Swiss looked about the same as other soldiers of the Renaissance, when, strictly speaking, there was no such thing as a uniform at all. However, the available evidence that the Swiss Guards were dressed from head to toe at the expense of the papal treasury suggests the possibility of some uniformity in their uniform. Probably their costumes, characteristic of the 16th century, were a doublet or a fitted jacket without a collar, sometimes with multi-layered sleeves and trouser legs with slits. Perhaps they also had some distinctive signs, for example the white Swiss cross, known to us from the costumes of modern Swiss soldiers. Or maybe it was the Vatican coat of arms with two crossed keys? In the Vatican vaults there are collections of miniatures from the time of Julius II, which demonstrate various cuts of costumes, but do not give completely unambiguous answers to the question of the unity and type of uniform of the Swiss Guards.

In the drawings of the 17th and 18th centuries, we can already observe the uniformity of costumes, that is, by all indications, a uniform that combines both contemporary elements of clothing of that period - stockings, boots with buckles, hats, and archaic wide trousers, which had gone out of fashion by that time with ribbons, wide printed sleeves and fitted jackets. Throughout history, the colors and shades of the Swiss uniforms changed, but remained mainly combinations of yellow, blue or black and red. This last color is traditionally associated with the color of the coat of arms of the Medici family, specifically attributing this innovation to Pope Leo X.

The uniform of the Papal Guard is divided into casual and ceremonial.

The casual uniform is blue with a white turn-down collar, wide sleeves without turn-down cuffs. Fastens with several hidden buttons or hooks. Wide-leg trousers below the knee are tucked into dark blue leggings. Shoes – black boots. Headdress – black beret. Insignia - stripes on the left side of the beret. This form wears a light brown leather belt with a rectangular buckle with one peg. This uniform is worn during drills, for service in the internal premises of the Guard, for example in the telemetry surveillance center, traffic control on the streets of the Vatican.

The ceremonial uniform, called “gala”, exists in two versions: gala and grand gala - that is, “large ceremonial uniform”. The Grand Gala is worn during special ceremonies, such as the swearing-in ceremony. It is a ceremonial uniform, complemented by a cuirass and a white metal morion helmet with a plume. The Guardsman's uniform consists of 154 pieces and weighs 8 pounds. One must think that this is the heaviest parade in the modern world. Traditionally, it is made from woolen fabrics in red, blue and bright yellow.

The gala uniform is also worn with a light brown leather belt with a rectangular badge decorated with a monogram of the letters G S P (Guardia Svizzera Pontificia), white gloves and a beret. At some ceremonies we see a black morion helmet instead of a beret. It differs from white morion in that it does not have embossing on the side surfaces.

The Vatican City State - the residence of the Pope on the territory of Rome - is the only thing left of the once very extensive Papal State, which occupied a fairly significant territory in the center of Italy. To everyone interested in military history and the armed forces of the countries of the world, the Vatican is known not only as the holy capital of all Catholics, but also as a state that, to this day, retains unique relic troops - the Swiss Guard. Soldiers of the Swiss Guard today not only perform ceremonial service, entertaining numerous tourists, but also provide real protection for the Pope. Few people know that until the middle of the twentieth century. There were other armed units in the Vatican, whose history goes back to the period of the Papal State.

For more than a millennium, the popes held not only spiritual authority over the entire Catholic world, but also temporal authority over a large area in the center of the Apennine peninsula. As early as 752 AD. the Frankish king Pepin donated the lands of the former Ravenna Exarchate to the Pope, and in 756 the Papal States arose. With intervening periods, the dominion of the pontiffs over the Papal States continued until 1870, when, as a result of the unification of Italy, the temporal power of the pope over the territories of the central part of the peninsula was eliminated.

The papal state, despite its fairly large territory and the unconditional spiritual authority of the popes in the Catholic world, has never been particularly strong politically and economically. The strengthening of the Papal States was hampered by constant feudal strife between the Italian aristocrats, who dominated in its individual parts and competed for influence under the Holy See. Moreover, since popes were celibate and could not pass on temporal power by inheritance, Italian aristocrats also competed for the position of pontiff. The death of the next pope entailed fierce competition between representatives of noble families who had the rank of cardinal and could lay claim to the throne of the Vatican.

The entire first half of the 19th century, which was the period of decline of the Papal States as a sovereign state, was a period of socio-economic and political crisis for the possessions of the pontiff. The pope's secular administration was characterized by an extremely low degree of efficiency. The country did not actually develop - rural areas were given over to secular and spiritual feudal lords for exploitation, constant peasant unrest occurred, and revolutionary ideas spread. In response, the pope not only intensified police persecution of dissidents and strengthened the armed forces, but also relied on cooperation with gangs of bandits operating in the countryside. Most of all, the pope during this period feared the threat of absorption of his state from neighboring Piedmont, which was gaining political and military strength. At the same time, the pope was unable to oppose the Piedmontese policy of expanding territory on his own and preferred to rely on the help of France, which had a combat-ready army and acted as a guarantor of the security of the Holy See.

However, one should not think that the Papal States was a purely harmless state, deprived of its own defense forces. Until the unification of Italy and the cessation of the existence of the Papal States, the latter had its own armed forces, which were used not only to protect the papal residence and maintain public order in Rome, but also for constant conflicts with its neighbors, and then with the Italian revolutionaries, who saw in the existence The Papal States were a direct brake on the development of modern Italian statehood. The armed forces of the Papal States are one of the most interesting phenomena of Italian and European military history in general. As a rule, their recruitment was carried out by hiring mercenaries from neighboring European countries, primarily the Swiss, who were famous throughout Europe as unsurpassed warriors.

Papal Zouaves - international volunteers in the service of the Vatican

However, before moving on to the story of the Swiss Guard and two other, now defunct, Vatican Guards, we should dwell in more detail on such a unique military formation as the Papal Zouaves. Their formation dates back to the early 1860s, when the national revival movement began in Italy and the Vatican, fearing for the safety of its possessions in the center of the peninsula and political influence in the region as a whole, decided to create a volunteer corps, staffing it with volunteers from all parts of the world.

The initiator of the formation of the volunteer army was the then Minister of War of the Holy See, Xavier de Merode, a former Belgian officer who graduated from the military academy in Brussels and served for some time in the Belgian army, after which he studied to become a priest and made a good church career. Under the Holy See, Merode was responsible for the activities of Roman prisons, then was appointed Minister of War. Throughout the Catholic world, a cry was raised to recruit young men who professed Catholicism and were not married to defend the Holy See from the “militant atheists” - the Italian Rissorgimento (national revival ). By analogy with the famous French corps of colonial troops - the Algerian Zouaves - the volunteer unit being formed was called the "Papal Zouaves".

Zouav means member of a zawiya, a Sufi order. Obviously, this name was given to the papal volunteers by the French general Louis de Lamorissiere, who was appointed commander of the troops of the Papal States. Christophe Louis Leon Juchaud de Lamoricière was born in 1806 in Nantes, France, and spent a long time in French military service, having taken part in the colonial wars in Algeria and Morocco. From 1845 to 1847 General Lamorissiere acted as Governor-General of Algeria. In 1847, it was Lamorissiere who captured the leader of the Algerian national liberation movement Abd al-Qadir, thereby completely demoralizing the Algerian resistance and contributing to the complete conquest of this North African country by the French. In 1848, Lamorissiere, who was then a member of the French Chamber of Deputies, was appointed commander of the French National Guard. For the suppression of the June uprising in the same year, Lamorissiere was appointed Minister of War of France. It is noteworthy that for some time he served as Ambassador Extraordinary to the Russian Empire.

In 1860, Lamorissiere accepted the offer of the Minister of War Xavier de Merode to lead the papal troops defending the Papal State from the neighboring Kingdom of Sardinia. The Kingdom attacked the Papal States after the population of Bologna, Ferrara and Ancona, where a powerful popular movement was growing, held a popular vote in 1860, at which an absolute majority decided to annex the papal possessions to the territory of the Sardinian Kingdom. The frightened pontiff began to accelerate the reform and consolidation of his armed forces. Minister of War Merode turned for help to Lamorissiere, whom he knew as an excellent military specialist. Most likely, it was Lamorissiere's Algerian experience that the papal volunteers owed their name to - during his service in North Africa, the French general often encountered Zouaves and was inspired by their valor and high fighting qualities.

The Papal Zouaves wore military uniforms that were reminiscent of the uniforms worn by the French colonial riflemen, the Zouaves, who were recruited in North Africa. Differences in uniform included the gray color of the papal zouaves' uniform (the French zouaves wore blue uniforms), as well as the use of a North African fez instead of a cap. By May 1868, the Papal Zouave regiment numbered 4,592 soldiers and officers. The unit was completely international - volunteers were actually recruited from almost all countries of the world. In particular, 1910 Dutch, 1301 French, 686 Belgians, 157 citizens of the Papal States, 135 Canadians, 101 Irish, 87 Prussians, 50 English, 32 Spaniards, 22 Germans from countries other than Prussia, 19 Swiss, 14 Americans, 14 Neapolitans, 12 citizens of the Duchy of Modena (Italy), 12 Poles, 10 Scots, 7 Austrians, 6 Portuguese, 6 citizens of the Duchy of Tuscany (Italy), 3 Maltese, 2 Russians, 1 volunteer each from India, Africa, Mexico, Peru and Circassia. According to the Englishman Joseph Powell, in addition to the listed volunteers, at least three Africans and one Chinese served in the Papal Zouave regiment. Between February 1868 and September 1870, the number of volunteers from French-speaking and Catholic Quebec, one of the provinces of Canada, increased many times over. The total number of Canadians in the Papal Zouave regiment reached 500 people.

The Papal Zouaves took part in many battles with Piedmontese troops and with the Garibaldis, including the Battle of Mentana on November 3, 1867, where Papal troops and their French allies faced Garibaldi's volunteers. In this battle, the Papal Zouaves lost 24 soldiers killed and 57 wounded. The youngest casualty of the battle was seventeen-year-old English Zouave Julian Watt-Russell. In September 1870, the Zouaves took part in the last battles of the Papal State with the troops of the already united Italy. After the defeat of the Vatican, several Zouaves, including a Belgian officer who refused to surrender, were executed.

The remnants of the papal zouaves, primarily French by nationality, went over to the side of France, being renamed the “Western Volunteers” while maintaining the gray-red papal uniform. They took part in repelling attacks by the Prussian army, including near Orleans, where 15 Zouaves died. In the battle on December 2, 1870, 1,800 former papal zouaves took part, the losses amounted to 216 volunteers. After the defeat of France and the entry of Prussian troops into Paris, the Volunteers of the West were disbanded. Thus ended the history of the “international brigades” in the service of the Roman Pontiff.

After the French contingent in Rome was withdrawn due to the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 and sent to defend France from Prussian troops, Italian troops laid siege to Rome. The Pontiff ordered detachments of the Palatine and Swiss Guards to resist the Italian troops, after which he moved to Vatican Hill and declared himself a “Vatican prisoner.” The city of Rome, with the exception of the Vatican, came completely under the control of Italian troops. The Quirinal Palace, which previously housed the pope's residence, became the residence of the Italian king. The Papal States ceased to exist as an independent state, which immediately affected the further history of the armed forces of the Holy See.

The noble guard of the popes is the Noble Guard.

In addition to the “internationalist warriors”, or rather mercenaries and Catholic fanatics from all over Europe, America and even Asia and Africa, other armed units were subordinate to the popes, which can be considered as the historical armed forces of the Papal State. Until relatively recently, the Noble Guard remained one of the oldest types of the Vatican's armed forces. Its history began on May 11, 1801, when Pope Pius VII created a regiment of heavy cavalry on the basis of the regiment that existed from 1527 to 1798. Lance Spezzate case. In addition to the military personnel of the corps, the Noble Guard also included papal guards from the Order of the Knights of Light, which existed since 1485.

The Noble Guard was divided into two units - a heavy cavalry regiment and a light cavalry regiment. The latter was served by the younger sons of Italian aristocratic families, given by their fathers to military service to the papal throne. The first task of the formed unit was to accompany Pius VII to Paris, where the French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte was crowned. During the Napoleonic invasion of the Papal States, the Noble Guard was temporarily disbanded, and in 1816 it was revived again. After the final unification of Italy took place in 1870 and the Papal States ceased to exist as a sovereign state, the Noble Guard became the corps of the Vatican Court Guard. In this form, it existed for exactly a century, until in 1968 it was renamed the “Honor Guard of His Holiness”, and two years later - in 1970 - it was disbanded.

During its existence, the Noble Guard served as the palace guard of the Vatican throne and therefore never participated, unlike the papal zouaves, in real hostilities. The heavy cavalry regiment performed only escort tasks for the pontiff and other representatives of the highest clergy of the Catholic Church. During the pontiff's daily walks around the Vatican, he was closely followed by two members of the Noble Guard, who served as papal bodyguards.

For a hundred years - from 1870 to 1970. – The Noble Guard actually existed only as a ceremonial unit, although its fighters were still responsible for the personal safety of the Pope. The total number of the Noble Guard in the period after 1870 was no more than 70 military personnel. It is significant that in 1904 the cavalry functions of the unit were finally abolished - in the Vatican in its modern form their implementation was not possible.

The period of World War II was perhaps the most intense in the history of the Noble Guard since 1870 - since the unification of Italy and the collapse of the Papal State. Given the unstable political situation in the world and in Italy as well, the personnel of the Noble Guard were issued firearms. Initially, the Noble Guard was armed with pistols, carbines and sabers, but after the defeat of the Papal State in 1870, the only acceptable type of weapon remained the cavalry saber, to which the guards returned immediately after the end of World War II.

After the war, the Noble Guard retained ceremonial functions for another two and a half decades. The guards accompanied the pope during trips, stood guard during papal audiences, and guarded the pope during solemn services. The command of the guard was exercised by a captain, whose rank was equivalent to that of a general in the Italian armed forces. The hereditary standard bearer, who was responsible for the Vatican standard, also played an important role.

If the papal zouaves, who actually fought during the ten-year resistance of the Papal States to the Garibaldists, were volunteers from all over the world, then the Noble Guard, considered an elite unit, was staffed almost exclusively from among the Italian aristocrats who were surrounded by the Holy See. Aristocrats entered the Noble Guard voluntarily, did not receive remuneration for their service and, moreover, paid for the purchase of uniforms and weapons exclusively from their own funds.

As for uniforms, the Noble Guard used two types of uniforms. The ceremonial equipment consisted of a cuirassier helmet with a black and white plume, a red uniform with white cuffs and gold epaulettes, a white belt, white trousers and black riding boots.

Thus, the dress uniform of the Noble Guard reproduced the classic cuirassier uniform and was intended to recall the history of the unit as a heavy cavalry regiment. The daily uniform of the guards consisted of a cuirassier helmet with the papal emblem, a double-breasted blue uniform with red trim, a black and red belt with a gold buckle, and dark blue trousers with red stripes. Until the beginning of the twentieth century. Only aristocrats born in Rome could serve in the Noble Guard, then the rules for admitting recruits to the Guard were somewhat liberalized and the opportunity to serve was provided to people from noble families from all over Italy.

Keeping order - the Palatine Guard

In 1851, Pope Pius IX decided to create the Palatine Guard, combining the city militia of the people of Rome and the Palatine company. The strength of the new unit was determined to be 500 people, and the organizational structure consisted of two battalions. A lieutenant colonel was placed at the head of the Palatine Guard, subordinate to the Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church - the cardinal responsible for secular administration in the Vatican territory. Since 1859, the Palatine Guard received the title of Honorary Palatine Guard, was assigned its own orchestra and was given a white and yellow banner with the coat of arms of Pius IX and a golden Michael the Archangel at the top of the staff.

The Palatine Guard, unlike the Noble Guard, took a direct part in the fighting against the rebels and Garibaldists during the defense of the Papal State. Soldiers of the Palatine Guard served as guards for the quartermaster's cargo. The number of guards during the war with the Garibaldists reached 748 soldiers and officers, concentrated in eight companies. In 1867-1870 the guards also served to protect the residence of the pontiff and himself.

In 1870-1929. The Palatine Guard served only on the territory of the papal residence. During this time, it was significantly reduced in number. Thus, on October 17, 1892, the strength of the Palatine Guard was determined at 341 people, consolidated into one battalion, consisting of four companies. In 1970, the Palatine Guard, like the Noble Guard, was liquidated by decree of Pope Paul VI.

Legendary Swiss - Vatican Swiss Guard

The only unit of the Vatican's armed forces that remains in service to this day is the renowned Swiss Guard. This is the oldest military unit in the world, preserved unchanged until the 21st century and consistently following the traditions that developed back in the Middle Ages - during the formation of the Swiss Guard in 1506.

The history of the Swiss Guard of the Holy See began in 1506, according to the decision of Pope Julius II. During his ten-year pontificate, Julius established himself as a very warlike ruler, constantly fighting with neighboring feudal lords. It was Julius, who was preoccupied with the issue of strengthening the papal army, who drew attention to the inhabitants of mountainous Switzerland, who were considered the best mercenary soldiers in Europe in the Middle Ages.
On January 22, 1506, the first 150 Swiss soldiers were received in Rome. And 21 years later, in 1527, Swiss soldiers took part in the defense of Rome from the troops of the Holy Roman Empire. In memory of the salvation of the then Pope Clement VII, for whom 147 Swiss soldiers gave their lives, the oath of office in the Swiss Guard is taken on May 6 - on the next anniversary of distant events. The defense of Rome in 1527 was the only example of the participation of the Swiss Guard in real hostilities. Perhaps the ceremonial nature of the Guard and its wide popularity outside the Vatican, which turned it into a real landmark of the city-state, served as a reason for this particular unit to remain in service after the dissolution of most of the Vatican's armed units in 1970.

The reform of the political system in Switzerland itself, which put an end to the practice of “selling” the Swiss into mercenary troops operating throughout Western Europe, did not affect the recruitment of this unit. Until 1859, the Swiss were in the service of the Kingdom of Naples, in 1852 they began to be hired en masse to serve the Holy See, and after 1870, when the Papal States became part of Italy, the use of Swiss mercenaries in the country was stopped and the only reminder What was once the largest mercenary force in Europe remained the Swiss Guard, stationed in the Vatican City State.

The strength of the Swiss Guard today is determined at 110 people. It is staffed exclusively by Swiss citizens who undergo training in the Swiss armed forces and are then sent to serve the Holy See in the Vatican. The soldiers and officers of the Guard come from the German cantons of Switzerland, so German is considered the official language of command and official communication in the Swiss Guard. The following general rules are established for candidates for admission to the unit: Swiss citizenship, Catholic religion, complete secondary education, four months of service in the Swiss armed forces, recommendations from the clergy and secular administration. The age of candidates for admission to the Swiss Guard must range from 19-30 years, height must be at least 174 cm. Only bachelors are accepted into the Guard. A guard soldier can change his marital status only with special permission from the command - and then after three years of service and receiving the rank of corporal.

The Swiss Guard guards the entrance to the Vatican, all floors of the Apostolic Palace, the chambers of the Pope and the Vatican Secretary of State, and is present at all solemn services, audiences and receptions organized by the Holy See. The uniform of the guard reproduces its medieval uniform and consists of striped red-blue-yellow camisoles and trousers, a beret or morion with a red plume, a cuirass, a halberd and a sword. Halberds and swords are ceremonial weapons; as for firearms, they were used in the 1960s. was banned, but then, after the famous assassination attempt on John Paul II in 1981, the Swiss Guard was again armed with firearms.

Swiss Guards are provided with uniforms, food and accommodation. Their salary starts at 1300 euros. After twenty years of service, guardsmen can retire in the amount of their last salary. The duration of contract service in the Swiss Guard ranges from a minimum of two years to a maximum of twenty-five. Guard duty is carried out by three teams - one is on duty, the other serves as an operational reserve, and the third is on vacation. The change of guard teams is carried out every 24 hours. During ceremonies and public events, service is carried out by all three teams of the Swiss Guard.

The following military ranks have been introduced in the units of the Swiss Guard: colonel (commandant), lieutenant colonel (vice-commandant), chaplan (chaplain), major, captain, sergeant major, sergeant, corporal, vice-corporal, halberdier (private). The commanders of the Swiss Guard are usually nominated from among Swiss army or police officers who have the appropriate education, experience and are suitable for the performance of duties due to their moral and psychological qualities. Currently, since 2008, the Vatican Swiss Guard is commanded by Colonel Daniel Rudolf Anrig. He is forty-two years old, he served in the guard with the rank of halberdier back in 1992-1994, then graduated from the University of Friborg with a degree in civil and ecclesiastical law, headed the criminal police of the canton of Glarus, and then, from 2006 to 2008. was Commandant General of the Police of the Canton of Glarus.

The Swiss Guards, as befits the guards of the Holy See, have the reputation of morally impeccable warriors. However, their authority was called into question by a high-profile murder that occurred in the Vatican on May 4, 1998. On this day, Alois Estermann was appointed commander of the Swiss Guard, the thirty-first in a row. A few hours later, the body of the new commander and his wife was discovered in the colonel’s office apartment. A forty-four-year-old veteran of the unit (it was he who shielded Pope John Paul II during the assassination attempt in 1981) and his wife were shot dead, next to them lay a third corpse - twenty-three-year-old corporal Cedric Tornay, who apparently shot the commander and his wife , after which he shot himself.

Since this incident cast a shadow not only on the famous Swiss Guard, but also on the Holy See itself, the official version was put forward - Thornay dealt with the colonel without finding his name on the list of guardsmen nominated for the award. However, more “hot” versions spread throughout Rome, and then throughout the world - from the machinations of the mafia or freemasons to the corporal’s jealousy of the colonel due to his connection with his wife, a Venezuelan citizen, from the “recruitment” of the late commander Estermann by East German intelligence, for that he was retaliated against, to possible sodomitic contacts between a forty-four-year-old officer and a twenty-three-year-old corporal. The subsequent investigation did not provide any clear information about the reasons that prompted the corporal to kill two people and commit suicide, and therefore the official version of the court, which closed the case, was a sudden attack of insanity in Cedric Tornay.

Nevertheless, the Swiss Guard remains one of the most prestigious military units in the world, the selection for its ranks is much stricter than for most other elite military units of other states. For the world community, the Swiss Guard has long become one of the symbols of the Holy See. Films and television reports are made about her, articles are written in newspapers, and numerous tourists arriving in Rome and the Vatican like to photograph her.

Finally, concluding the conversation about the armed formations of the Vatican, one cannot help but note the so-called. "Papal Gendarmerie", as the Corps of Gendarmes of the Vatican City State is informally called. He bears full responsibility for the security of the Holy See and ensuring public order in the Vatican. The responsibilities of the Corps include security, public order, border control, road safety, criminal investigation and close protection of the pontiff. There are 130 people serving in the Corps, headed by the Inspector General (since 2006 - Dominico Giani). Selection for the Corps is carried out according to the following criteria: age from 20 to 25 years, Italian citizenship, experience in the Italian police for at least two years, recommendations and an impeccable biography. From 1970 to 1991 The corps was called the Central Security Service. Its history began in 1816 under the name of the Gendarmerie Corps and until the reduction in the size of the Vatican's armed forces, it remained in the status of a military unit. The modern Vatican does not need full-fledged armed forces, but the absence of its own army in this dwarf theocratic state does not mean the absence of full-fledged political influence, in which the Holy See still surpasses many countries with a population of millions and large armed forces.

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- one of the branches of the armed forces - was created by order of Pope Julius II, a famous patron of art. But he also went down in history as one of the most militant popes - Julius II waged continuous wars throughout his pontificate. Needing an army loyal to him, he chose Swiss soldiers, who served at that time in many European countries and were considered the best soldiers in Europe.

In 1503 Giuliano della Rovere became Pope Julius II. He was an excellent leader who again established peace and order in the church state. The successful experience he gained in hiring Swiss soldiers, the distrust of his compatriots due to the high likelihood of treacherous intrigues, as well as the proverbial loyalty of the Swiss, prompted Julius II to hire a number of these soldiers as his personal guard.

The official date of the creation of the guard is considered to be January 22, 1506, when Julius II held a reception in honor of the first 150 Swiss guards.

Pope Clement VII owes his salvation to the guards. Defending it on May 6, 1527, during the capture and sack of Rome by the troops of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, 147 guardsmen died. This day went down in Italian history under the name “Sacco di Roma” (the sack of Rome). Even though the Swiss had orders from the Grand Council from Zurich to return home, they remained in their positions in the Vatican. Only 42 people remained alive, who led the pontiff through an underground passage to the Castle of Angels, thereby saving his life. Since then, in memory of this event, guard recruits take the oath on May 6 - Swiss Guard Day.

There were moments in the history of the Guard when the necessity of its existence was questioned. At the beginning of the 19th century. The Swiss Confederation abolished mercenary military service outside the country, and in 1970, Pope Paul VI, seeking to maintain the peacekeeping character of the Roman Catholic Church, announced the dissolution of the military units of the Vatican.

Both Stendhal and Moliere wrote about them in their works, and even today the author of best-selling books, Dan Brown. Their courage, endurance and fanatical devotion to their patron have been admired by rulers, kings, dukes and emperors of different countries and peoples for five centuries. They are the smallest army in the world. They are the Vatican's Swiss Guards.

There were units of Swiss mercenaries in France, Austria, and some Italian states. Their main feature is boundless devotion to the overlord. Often they preferred to die rather than retreat. This is despite the fact that they fought not for their country, but for the money that foreign sovereigns paid them. That is why Swiss units very often performed the functions of the Life Guard, that is, the personal protection of monarchs and rulers.

In 1943, Nazi troops entered Rome, and the Swiss Guard in gray field uniforms took up a perimeter defense around the Vatican. The command of the Swiss Guard told the German parliamentarians that if the Germans tried to violate the border of the city-state, the guard would begin hostilities and fight to the last bullet. The Germans did not dare to engage in battle. During World War II, not a single German soldier crossed the borders of the Vatican.

Today, its soldiers, as written in the charter, serve “to ensure the security of the sacred person of the pope and his residence.”

Currently, the Vatican Guard consists of 110 people. By tradition, it consists of only Swiss citizens; The official language of the Guard is German. They must all be Catholics, have a high school education, and have completed four months of military service, which is mandatory for all Swiss men. The age of the recruits is from 19 to 30 years. The minimum service life is two years, the maximum is 20 years. All guards must be at least 174 cm tall and are prohibited from wearing a mustache, beard or long hair. In addition, only bachelors are accepted into the guard. They can marry only with a special permit, which is issued to those who have served for more than three years and have the rank of corporal, and their chosen ones must adhere to the Catholic religion. The monthly allowance is small - about 1000 euros.

Guardsmen serve at the entrance to the Vatican, on all floors of the Apostolic Palace, at the chambers of the pope and the secretary of state. Not a single solemn mass in St. Peter's Cathedral, not a single audience or diplomatic reception is complete without their participation.

Of course, not a single solemn ceremony is complete without a guard of guards. But this is only a small component of their service. The main purpose of the guard - protecting the pontiff - remained unchanged. The Swiss Guard is a completely modern military corps with appropriate tasks, training and equipment. The organization of service, weapons, principles of military discipline and etiquette in the guard are exactly the same as in the modern army of Switzerland. The guards also conduct reconnaissance and carry out preventive measures to protect public order and security in the Vatican. Today, the guard has also adopted methods of combating terrorism.

The festive uniform of the guards is distinguished by its picturesqueness - a metal helmet with an ostrich feather, striped breeches and caftans, white gloves and collars. Colors are yellow, blue and red. These are the traditional colors of the Medici family. For 500 years, the festive uniform of the Swiss Guards has undergone virtually no changes.

There is a legend that claims that helmets with plumes and striped caftans of the guards were invented by Michelangelo, and puffs on the sleeves by Raphael. Of course, both geniuses did a lot to glorify the Vatican, but they had no direct connection with the uniform for the guard. Guard sergeant Christian Ronald Marcel Richard, who has been in service for 12 years, speaks about this in his book “The Swiss Guard through the Centuries.”

One of the commandants of the guard, Jules Repond, who had extraordinary artistic taste, also worked on the uniform project at one time. In particular, he replaced hats with berets, which indicated the rank of the guardsman, introduced a white collar, and developed a bib based on ancient drawings.

Until 2008, the 33rd commander of the Swiss Guard was Colonel Elmar Theodor Maeder. He was to be replaced by deputy commander Lieutenant Colonel Jean Daniel Pattelou, the first in the history of the guard to come from the French canton of Switzerland. On August 19, 2008, Daniel Rudolf Anrig became the new commander of the Swiss Guard.

Why do the Swiss guard the Vatican?

The Swiss Guard is, today, one of the types of armed forces that are in the service of the Pope. The full name of the guard is the Swiss Infantry Cohort of the Holy Guard of the Pope. It is rightfully one of the oldest armies in the world that has survived to this day.

The Swiss Guard was created by order of one of the most militant popes of the Holy Roman throne - Julius II. Throughout his reign, that is, almost 10 years, he waged continuous wars, and used the Swiss as the main military force. The fact is that soldiers from this country then served in a variety of European countries, and were considered the best soldiers in Europe. Julius II highly appreciated the services that the Swiss provided him, and on January 22, 1506, he gave an official reception in honor of 150 guardsmen. This date is now considered the day the Swiss Guard was created.

However, the guards loyally served not only Julius II. Thus, Pope Clement VII owes his salvation to them. When the troops of the Roman Emperor Charles V attacked the Vatican on May 6, 1572, the guards came to the defense of the Pope. 147 of the best guardsmen died that day, and now it is on May 6 that guard recruits take the oath. This day is also known as Swiss Guard Day.

At the same time, the need for its own guard was at some points called into question. For example, at the beginning of the 19th century, by decision of the official authorities of the Swiss Confederation, mercenary military service outside the cantons was abolished. The next time the Vatican's military units were disbanded occurred relatively recently - in 1970. The decision was made by Pope Paul VI.

But today the guard continues its service. According to its charter, soldiers perform a service that is aimed at ensuring the security of not only the Pope himself, but also his residence. The guards staff consists of 110 people, and only Swiss citizens are accepted into it, necessarily Catholics with at least a secondary education. Before joining the guard, you must serve four months in the army. Men between the ages of 19 and 30 are accepted into the guard, and their service life can vary from 2 to 20 years. There are also certain restrictions. The height of a guardsman must not be lower than 174 cm, he must not wear a beard, mustache or long hair, and a candidate for the guard must be single. Active guardsmen can marry, but to do this they must serve for at least three years and be at least at the rank of corporal. The chosen one of the guardsman must be a Catholic. The monthly salary that the guards receive can be called quite modest - about 1,000 euros.

While on duty, the guards guard the entrance to the Vatican, all floors of the Apostolic Palace, and also stand near the chambers of the Pope himself and his secretary. They take obligatory part in solemn masses, are present at audiences and at diplomatic receptions. The uniform of the guards was created according to medieval sketches; according to legend, it was based on the drawings of Michelangelo, but direct evidence of this has not been found. The uniform is as follows - yellow-red-blue camisoles, trousers picked up under the knees, and also a beret with a red plume. The ceremonial version is distinguished by the presence of a shell, sword and halberd. The main difference between people who serve in the guard is their boundless devotion to the Pope.

I submitted the post and accepted the post! :-)

The 216th Roman Pontiff, Julius II (in the world - the Genoese Giulliano della Rivere), apparently took the words of Jesus too literally: “I came to bring peace to earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword” (Matthew 10:34). His entire pontificate is an unceasing series of wars and conflicts, in which the pope himself sometimes took a direct part (the siege of Mirandola alone is worth it, in which Pope Julius II was in the forefront (!) with a saber on his belt (!!!) leading the troops to storm a breach in the castle wall along a frozen moat). The territory of the papal state was significantly expanded, and the pope acquired serious enemies, primarily in the person of France and the Venetian Republic.

Pope Julius II

The pontiff was always dissatisfied with the army of the papal state (it was based mainly on the condottieri of Spain and southern Italy) and decided to hire his personal guard elsewhere. He contacted the Swiss Confederation (a union of 10 cantons), and from there arrived a detachment of 150 fighters led by Commandant Gaspar von Silenen from the canton of Uri. They appeared at the very beginning of the new year, 1506, and already on January 22 they received the blessing of the pope and took the oath. This day is considered the official date of the creation of the Papal Guard.
The question arises: why the Swiss? The fact is that even after the Battle of Morgarten in 1315, the Swiss infantry was considered practically invincible - so the choice was completely justified.

Gaspard von Silenus

Since then, the Swiss have faithfully served the Roman pontiffs. During this time, 49 popes have changed (the current one is the 50th), but the guards continue to serve. Only once did they have to fight and defend dad at the cost of their lives. This happened in 1527 during the pontificate of Clement VII (in the world of Giulio Medici). This “servant of the servants of God” (one of the official titles of the pope) was one of the weakest and most unsuccessful rulers on the holy throne. With his short-sighted policies and rash decisions, he allowed the unprecedented: on May 6, 1527, the imperial troops of Charles V “speared” and completely plundered Rome. The Pope would not have fared well if his guards had not taken the fight on the steps of St. Peter's Basilica, giving Clement the opportunity to escape through a hidden passage (passetto) to the Castle of the Holy Angel. 146 of the 189 Swiss died that day. And now it is on May 6 that the guard takes the oath of office in Piazza San Damasco in the Vatican. If you are in the indicated place these days, you will not miss an interesting spectacle.

Sack of Rome 1527

In our time, the Swiss infantry cohort in the Vatican consists of 110 people. By tradition, it consists exclusively of Swiss citizens, the official language is German. But this does not mean at all that only natives of the cantons where they speak German serve there. Everyone takes the oath in their native language, be it German, French or Italian.
All guards must be Catholics, lead a pious lifestyle, have a secondary education or specialty, and undergo four months of military service, which is mandatory for all Swiss men. The age of the recruits is from 19 to 30 years. The minimum service life is two years, the maximum is 20 years. All guards must be at least 174 cm tall and are prohibited from wearing a mustache, beard or long hair. In addition, only bachelors are accepted into the guard. They can marry only with a special permit, which is issued to those who have served for more than three years and have a secondary education or specialty, as well as the rank of corporal. Their chosen ones are required to profess Catholicism.

The current standard of the cohort (it is constantly changing)

I especially draw attention to the status of the Swiss cohort. These are not at all the troops of the Vatican City State (police and partly military affairs are handled by the Vatican Corps of Gendarmes - serious guys, by the way). The Swiss are the Pope's personal guard. They serve at the entrance to the Vatican, on all floors of the Apostolic Palace, at the chambers of the Pope and the Secretary of State. They always accompany the pontiff at solemn masses, audiences and diplomatic receptions.


Commander of the Vatican Gendarme Corps Domenico Giani

As in any other military units of Western Europe, all military personnel are divided into privates, non-commissioned officers and officers. A private in a Swiss cohort is called a halberdier, a tribute to tradition. Non-commissioned officers (from junior to senior) bear the ranks of Hauptmann, Major, Oberst-Leutnant (Vice-Commandant) and Oberst (Commandant). There is a separate chaplain - priest; His status is at the level of Oberst-lieutenant, second assistant to the Oberst.


Halberdiers and officer

The cohort is currently led by Daniel Rudolf Anrig, the 34th commander of the Papal Guard. His position is not easy, and sometimes dangerous: just remember the mysterious murder of Oberst Alois Estermann in 1998. But Anrig copes. The unit is especially proud that he began his career as a simple halberdier, and this is a good example to follow.
It is necessary to talk about the uniform of the Swiss cohort. Some attribute its authorship to Michelangelo, some to Raphael, but this is not so important. Most likely, neither one nor the other has anything to do with the Swiss uniform. I would rather agree that its creator was Jules Repon, Oberst of the Guard in 1910-1921.
Officially, there are two forms of clothing - formal and casual.

Oberst D.R. Anrig

Casual - blue with a white turn-down collar, wide sleeves without cuffs. Fastens with hidden buttons or hooks. Wide-leg trousers below the knee are tucked into dark blue leggings. Shoes - black boots. Headdress - black beret. Insignia - stripes on the left side of the beret. This uniform is worn with a light brown leather belt with a rectangular buckle and one peg. This is a uniform for drill training, service in the internal premises of the guard and traffic control on the streets of the Vatican.

Everyday clothing of guardsmen

A variation of the blue uniform is the blue-gray zip-up jumpsuit. On the shoulders there are stripes with yellow inscription on a black background: Guardia Svizzera Pontificia.
There are two types of ceremonial uniform: grand ceremonial and standard ceremonial. The first is worn on especially solemn occasions and on the day of taking the oath. It is distinguished by armor (cuirass with shoulder pads) over the dress uniform and Morion- a helmet with a high crest and strongly curved front and back brims, as well as a red, white, blue-yellow, burgundy or white plume (depending on rank and status).
We can talk about the dress uniform itself for a long time, but it’s better to just see it:

I have always wondered why the colors of dress clothes are yellow, blue and red? I didn’t find an exact answer, but most likely it is connected with the Medici coat of arms - after all, Pope Clement VII was a Medici!
Of course, sometimes the soldiers and officers of the cohort wear civilian clothes, but even then they look impressive (I ran into them in the Vatican - I took a slightly wrong turn).
The weapons of the guards can be divided into ceremonial and everyday weapons - a sword, protazan, halberd and even a flamberge (flaming sword) and modern - pistols "Glock 19" and "Sig Sauer" P220, assault rifles SIG SG 552, submachine guns "Heckler" and " Koch MP7.

Medici coat of arms

I’ll also say about the awards of the guardsmen. They have their own commemorative and award signs, and they can also receive Vatican awards, which I already wrote about here: