We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Culture

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is the Swiss Guard?

Mary McMahon
By
Updated: Feb 02, 2024
Views: 11,805
Share

The term “Swiss Guard” is used to refer to a historical organization of elite Swiss mercenaries which were hired out to various European powers. The original Swiss Guard had a number of units, some of which went on to become quite famous, playing critical roles in European history. Today, only one unit of the Swiss Guard survives: the Papal Swiss Guard. This surviving unit is one of the oldest continuously organized military bodies in the world, organized in 1506 on the request of Pope Julius II.

Historically, the Swiss Guard were under the command of the Swiss Cantons, the administrative districts of Switzerland. They used the Swiss Guard as a political tool, backing allegiances and trade agreements by hiring their mercenaries out. Countries which contracted for units of the Swiss Guard would pay in both trade goods and hard currency, and these resources were in turn used by the leaders of the Cantons.

One notable unit of the Swiss Guard was the Hundred Guard, which served in the court of France from the late 1400s to the early 1800s. The Hundred Guard were notably involved in the French Revolution, attempting to defend Tuileries Palace and ultimately being defeated by the revolutionary forces. Numerous other European courts used the Swiss Guard in varying numbers, relying on these extremely skilled soldiers for defense.

The Papal Swiss Guard is often a subject of interest for visitors to the Vatican, thanks to their extremely colorful Renaissance-inspired uniforms. While members of the Swiss Guard on duty in the Vatican may seem rather outlandish, they are in fact very skilled soldiers with military experience, and in addition to performing ceremonial duties, they play an active role in the protection of His Holiness the Pope.

In 2006, the Papal Swiss Guard celebrated its 500 year anniversary with a number of ceremonies and events, commemorating the long history of the Swiss Guards at 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 they are typically very dedicated and talented, as being a bodyguard to the Pope is considered an immense honor.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Mary McMahon
By Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGeek researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Editors' Picks

Related Articles

Discussion Comments
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a...

Learn more
Share
https://www.wise-geek.com/what-is-the-swiss-guard.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.