Pontifical Guard of the Vatican. This was our last and only fight. Some interesting facts about the Pope's guard
Swiss Guard, guarding the Pope, was founded in 1506 by Pope Julius II (pontificate from October 31, 1503 to February 21, 1513). It consists of at the moment of only 110 guardsmen. The Swiss Guard is rightfully considered one of the oldest armies existing today. The birthday of the Swiss Papal Guard is celebrated on January 22. On this day in 1506, the first 150 Swiss Guards arrived in Rome under the command of Captain Caspar von Silenen (1467 - 1517) from the canton of Uri.
At the moment, the Guard is the only armed military unit of the Vatican. Its full name is “Infantry Cohort of the Swiss of the Holy Guard of the Pope” (Latin: Cohors pedestris Helvetiorum a sacra custodia Pontificis). The Guard is bilingual, its official languages being German and Italian. The name of this small Vatican army is German- "Die Papstliche Schweizergarde", in Italian - "Guardia Svizzera Pontificia".
The task of the guards is to protect the Apostolic Palace and all entrances to the Vatican. They serve at the papal chambers and guard the papal summer residence of Castel Gandolfo. The Guards are present at all ceremonial events of the Vatican and are responsible for the personal safety of the pope both in the Vatican and during all his trips.
21 years after its founding, in May 1527, the Pope's Swiss Guard received its baptism of fire. May 6, 1527 went down in history as the “Sack of Rome” (Sacco di Roma): King Charles V of Spain attacked Rome. The life of Pope Clement VII was in serious danger. Rome was captured and sacked by the Spanish and by German troops. The Swiss remained faithful to the pope. On this day, 147 of the 189 Swiss Guards were killed in fierce fighting. Commandant Kaspar Roeist, who fought in the front ranks, died along with them. The surviving 42 guardsmen, continuing to fight, were able to ensure the retreat of Pope Clement VII along with the cardinals to the Castel Sant'Angelo, where he managed to wait out the siege.
May 6 has since been considered the day of remembrance of the Swiss Papal Guard. On this day, new guardsmen take the oath. “I swear to faithfully, honestly and conscientiously serve the reigning pope and his legitimate successors, using all my strength, and - if necessary - even give my life.” So the new guardsman swears, paying tribute to the long traditions of his predecessors.
Those wishing to enlist in the Swiss Guard must fulfill nine conditions.
First: the future guardsman must be a citizen of Switzerland.
Second: he must be a practicing Catholic. After all, he will serve in the heart of the Roman Catholic Church and be a kind of calling card of the Vatican.
Third: a candidate for guardsman must be absolutely healthy, play sports and be at least 1.74 m tall. Fourth: an impeccable reputation.
Fifth: the candidate must undergo military training in the Swiss army, serving from 18 to 21 weeks (depending on the branch of service) in the so-called “recruit school” (Rekrutenschule).
The sixth condition concerns education: the future guardsman must have at least a certificate of secondary education or secondary special education.
The seventh condition may upset advocates of gender equality: only men are accepted for service. The more than 500-year-old tradition of the Swiss Guard has not changed in this regard.
Eighth: only bachelors are accepted for service. However, a Guardsman can marry if he has reached the age of 25, served for at least 3 years, reached the rank of corporal, and committed to serve in the Guard for at least three more years.
The ninth condition relates to the age of the guards: not younger than 19 and not older than 30 years.
The commandant of the Swiss Guard in the Vatican - the 35th in a row - is currently Christoph Graf, originally from the canton of Lucerne. The Count succeeded the 34th Commandant, Daniel Rudolf Anrig, who held this post from 2008 to 2015. The Catholic canton of Wallis, located in southwestern Switzerland, sent the largest number of guards to the Vatican. Since 1825, 693 residents of Wallis were recruited from this canton to serve in the Swiss Guard.
Oath-taking ceremony
Why do they serve in the Vatican? swiss guards?
Why did the Pope need security from the Swiss, and not from the Italians?
There are several reasons. During the Renaissance, Popes were deeply involved in political intrigue. Noble Roman families (primarily the Orsini and Colonna) competed with each other for influence on the papal throne. Julius II tried in various ways to smooth out the constant conflicts arising from such competitions. If he had recruited Italians into his guard, this would have meant a new reason for rivalry among the Roman nobility. It is better to look for your soldiers far away, where there were no direct routes to the Vatican. Then the Pope remembered Switzerland, which was nearby. Switzerland at that time was the main supplier of mercenary soldiers for all European armies, so the Pope also decided to use their services.
In addition, the military reputation of the Swiss developed quite early, evidence of this is the chronicle of the early 14th century, written by the Franciscan John of Winterthur, who speaks with admiration of their halberds. The Swiss fought bravely and stubbornly, never fled or capitulated - they knew perfectly well that the laws of a “good” war with its chivalric code of honor were not applicable to them, ordinary “men,” and they could not expect mercy from the enemy. Naturally, they themselves never gave mercy to the enemy, almost never taking prisoners - even noble ones. All this created for the Swiss the image of fierce, merciless soldiers who did not value their own life, much less the enemy’s. The Swiss were distinguished by the high level of training of both the individual warrior and the unit as a whole, which was uncharacteristic of the European armies of that time. The Swiss's weapon techniques and combat formations were quite simple, but they were practiced both individually and collectively to the point of complete automatism.
The Swiss Guards guard the borders of the Vatican, ensure law and order in the country, and also ensure the safety of the pope. It is the oldest branch of the Vatican armed forces, existing since 1505. By the way, in order for it to continue to exist now, the Vatican had to negotiate with Switzerland, which back in 1874 banned its citizens from serving in foreign armies. An exception was made only for dad.
The Papal Guard was proposed to be formed by Pope Julius II. It consisted of young Swiss recruits. Her birthday is considered to be January 22, 1506, when a military contingent of 150 people arrived in Rome from Lucerne. The brightest page in the history of the Swiss Guard is associated with the defense of Pope Clement VII from the troops of Charles V. May 6, 1527, when Rome was captured and sacked imperial army, 147 guardsmen led by commander Kaspar Reist died, allowing the pontiff and cardinals to hide in the Castel Sant'Angelo. Now the Swiss Guards now take the oath on May 6 - in commemoration of these events. The entire history of the guard is imbued with the centuries-old spirit of medieval nobility and Christian virtue. Numerous heroic episodes over the 500 years of the existence of the papal guard fanned the Defenders of the Pontiff with an aura of valor and a certain mysticism.
For the fighters of this world-famous unit there are a number of necessary requirements. They serve here:
only CATHOLICS
only MALES
Idle only
SWITZERLAND CITIZENS only
ONLY ACTIVE SWISS ARMY OFFICERS
Today we will continue the topic of unusual military units, which we started earlier.
Speaking about such troops, it is difficult to ignore the oldest regular army surviving in Europe - the Swiss Guards of the Vatican or, to be precise, the infantry cohort of the Swiss of the sacred guard of the Pope (Cohors pedestris Helvetiorum a sacra custodia Pontificis).
Those who have been to Rome have probably observed these stern warriors in somewhat parrot-like outfits near St. Peter's Basilica. Archaic weapons and bright uniforms should not confuse us: the Swiss are serious fighters to this day. More than 500 years ago, Swiss infantrymen were considered the best soldiers Western Europe.
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 was an unceasing series of wars and conflicts, in which the pope himself sometimes took part. direct participation(The siege of Mirandola alone is worth something, during which Pope Julius II in the front ranks (!) with a saber on his belt (!!!) led 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 an oath to 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 more than three years and has 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 good example for imitation.
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, military service interior spaces guards 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 formal clothing 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:
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, protected 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.
Who invented the uniform of the Swiss Guards?
Perhaps the most mysteries surround who came up with the bright shape papal guards. There are no surviving sources describing appearance 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 Guard commander 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.
What does the form 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, consisting 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.
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 introduced a ban on the carrying of firearms while patrolling 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 in the arms of the guards modern pistols and machine guns. However, you will not see soldiers with firearms on the streets of the Vatican. It is worn secretly 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).
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.
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 one german soldier did not set foot on the territory of the city-state.
What are the responsibilities 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 tourists and ensure order in the city, because, oddly enough, in the small Vatican there is very high level crime. This is due to the large flow of tourists.
Today, guardsmen also conduct intelligence and anti-terrorism activities.
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 among 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.
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.
What is the flag of the Swiss Guard?
The official flag appeared among the guards in 1914, at the same time when it was invented modern form and improved weapons. 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 - horizontal stripes 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 .
MORE:
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 has entered Italian history called "Sacco di Roma" (Sack of Rome). The Holy Roman Emperor, King Charles V of Spain, attacked Rome and wanted to kill Pope Clement VII. Despite the fact that the Swiss had orders Great 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 in 1943 Nazi troops entered Rome, 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 envoys that if the Germans tried to violate the border of the city-state, the Guard would begin fighting and will fight until 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.
Candidates for the title of guardsman are subject to the most strict requirements. A precondition is that you have young man 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 necessarily confirms his firmness in Catholic faith, 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 small arms And special means. 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 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 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.
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, in early XIX 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 - camisoles of yellow-red-blue color, 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.
