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 anyone interested in military history and the armed forces of the countries of the world, the Vatican is known not only as holy capital 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 power over the entire Catholic world, but also secular power over large territory 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 quite large territory and the unconditional spiritual authority of the popes in the Catholic world, in the political and economically has never been particularly strong. 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. 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, devoid of own strength defense 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 on the territory of Rome, but also for constant conflicts with neighbors, and then with Italian revolutionaries, who saw in the existence of the Papal States a direct brake on the development of modern Italian statehood. The armed forces of the Papal States are one of the most interesting phenomena 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 unrivaled 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 like the Papal Zouaves. Their formation dates back to the early 1860s, when the movement began in Italy national revival and the Vatican, fearing for the safety of 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 volunteer army became 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 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. to the Catholic world a cry was raised to recruit young people who professed Catholicism and were unmarried to defend the Holy See from the “militant atheists” - the Italian Rissorgimento (national revival). By analogy with the well-known French corps colonial troops - 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 Lamorisière was born in 1806 in Nantes, France and for a long time spent 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 at that time a member of the French Chamber of Deputies, was appointed commander National Guard France. For suppression June uprising that same year, Lamorissiere was appointed France's Minister of War. It is noteworthy that for some time he served as Ambassador Extraordinary to 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 - out of duty in North Africa the French general often encountered the Zouaves and was inspired by their valor and high fighting qualities.
Papal Zouaves wore military uniform, reminiscent of the uniform of 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. Total number 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 last battles The Papal State with the troops of an 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 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 independent state, which was not slow to affect further history 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. One of oldest species Until relatively recently, the Vatican's armed forces remained the Noble Guard. 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. Served in the latter younger sons Italian aristocratic families, given by their fathers to military service 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 what happened in 1870 final unification Italy 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 “ Guard of honor 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 senior clergy 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 including, personnel The Noble Guard was 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. Important role The hereditary standard bearer in charge of the Vatican standard also played.
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 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 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 - Swiss Guard Vatican
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 became the only example participation of the Swiss Guard in real combat operations. 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 did not affect the staffing of this unit political system in Switzerland itself, putting an end to the practice of “selling” the Swiss into mercenary troops, operating throughout Western Europe. 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. For candidates for admission to the unit the following are established: general rules: 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. Change Family status a guard soldier can 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 it medieval form and consists of striped red-blue-yellow camisoles and trousers, a beret or morion with a red plume, armor, 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 have been introduced in the units of the Swiss Guard: military ranks: colonel (commandant), lieutenant colonel (vice-commandant), kaplan (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 being impeccable in morally 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 ensuing investigation did not provide any clear information about the reasons that prompted the corporal to kill two people and commit suicide, and therefore official version The court that 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 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 Corps of Gendarmerie and until the reduction in the size of the Vatican armed forces, it remained in the status military unit. The modern Vatican does not need full-fledged armed forces, but the lack of this dwarf theocratic state own army does not at all mean the absence of full-fledged political influence, in which the Holy See still surpasses many countries with a million people and large armed forces.
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Why do Swiss Guards serve in the Vatican?
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 Holy See. Julius II different ways tried 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 beginning of the XIV c., 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
The Swiss Guard, which protects the Pope, was founded in 1506 by Pope Julius II (pontificate from October 31, 1503 to February 21, 1513). It consists of this 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 army unit 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 took over 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 pass 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 specialized 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. Largest quantity The guardsmen were “placed” in the Vatican by the Catholic canton of Wallis, located in southwestern Switzerland. Since 1825, 693 residents of Wallis were recruited from this canton to serve in the Swiss Guard.
Oath-taking ceremony
- 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 church state. The successful experience he gained in hiring Swiss soldiers, his distrust of his compatriots due to high probability treacherous intrigues, as well as the proverbial loyalty of the Swiss, prompted Julius II to hire a number of these warriors 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 has entered Italian history called "Sacco di Roma" (Sack of Rome). Despite the fact that the Swiss had orders Great Council from Zurich to return home, they remained in their positions in the Vatican. Only 42 people remained alive, who underground passage They took the pontiff 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. Swiss Confederation abolished mercenary military service outside the country, and in 1970 Pope Paul VI, trying to maintain the peacekeeping character Roman Catholic Church, announced the dissolution of the Vatican's military units.
Both Stendhal and Moliere, who is already the creator of bestsellers today, wrote about them in their works Dan Brown. Their courage, endurance and fanatical devotion to their patron have been admired by rulers, kings, dukes and emperors for five centuries. different countries and peoples. 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- 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, the Swiss Guard in gray field uniform 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 fighting and will fight until the last bullet. The Germans did not dare to engage in battle. During World War II, not a single one German soldier did not cross 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; official language Guard - 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. Minimum term service - two years, maximum - 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 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 modern army Switzerland. The guards also conduct reconnaissance and carry out preventive action for the protection of 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.
Editor's responseThe Swiss Guard was founded on January 22, 1506 Pope Julius II, one of the most militant popes. Currently, the Vatican Guard consists of 110 people. The main purpose of the guard is to protect the pontiff.
The Swiss Guard (full name - lat. Cohors pedestris Helvetiorum a sacra custodia Pontificis - Infantry cohort of the Swiss sacred guard of the Pope) is not just armed forces Vatican, and one of the oldest armies in the world that has survived to this day, and the smallest army on the planet. They are the famous Swiss Guards of the Vatican, who were immortalized in their works by Moliere and Stendhal.
Dad's faithful army
Pope Julius II was an excellent leader who established peace and order in the church state. However, he went down in history as one of the most militant popes - he waged constant wars throughout his pontificate (1503-1513). 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. Julius II did not trust his compatriots because of the high probability of intrigue. And so he ordered 150 Swiss soldiers to serve as his guard.
Swiss Guards in full dress uniform. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org
Raphael's costumes
Costumes for the Swiss Guard were designed by a tailor Jules Repon commissioned by Benedict XV in 1914. He was inspired by one of Raphael's images, which contained similar elements. The tailor created a costume in the Renaissance style, removing the frilly hats, and chose a black beret as the main headdress. Each Swiss Guard has a casual and dress uniform.
The dress uniform is called “gala” and exists in two versions: gala and grand gala - “large dress uniform”. Grand gala is worn during special ceremonies. She represents dress uniform, complemented by a cuirass and a morion helmet white metal with a red plume, made up of 154 pieces and weighing over 8 pounds - not the lightest dress garment.
There is also a legend that the uniform of the guards was sewn according to the drawings of Michelangelo. However, there is no historical evidence of this.
Strict selection
Only Swiss citizens can become Swiss Guards; they must all be Catholics, have a secondary education, have completed four months of military service, which is mandatory for all Swiss men, and have positive recommendations from secular and spiritual authorities. To enlist, a Swiss Guard must be between 18 and 25 years old and about 180 centimeters tall. The minimum service life is two years, the maximum is 25 years. They are not allowed to have a beard or mustache. Only bachelors are accepted into the guard. They can only marry Catholic women and only with a special permit, which is issued to those who have served for more than three years and have the rank of corporal.
Guardsmen do not carry weapons
The Swiss Guard does not carry firearms while patrolling the Vatican. This ban was introduced Pope Paul VI in 1970. To guard the capital of all the apostles, only halabards are used. The storage of rifles in barracks was prohibited by the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965). But after the assassination attempt John Paul II On May 13, 1981, access to weapons was again simplified.
Participation in hostilities
The Vatican Swiss Guard took part in hostilities only once, in 1527, during the capture and sack of Rome by the troops of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. Pope Clement VII owes his salvation to the guards. In 1527, 147 guardsmen died defending the pope. On May 6, in memory of this event, guard recruits take the oath.
Decent salary
In addition to an honorable profession and a very prestigious entry in the work book, guardsmen receive a salary of about 1,300 euros, but it is not subject to taxes.
Swiss Guardsman in casual uniform. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org
Moreover, in the first year of service, an ordinary guardsman, in addition to his salary, is provided with free housing, uniforms and food. After 20 years of service, they are entitled to a pension in the amount of their final salary.
Shift service
The Swiss Guards live according to their own special routine: the corps is divided into three teams. One is on watch, the second is supporting her, the third is resting. Teams change every 24 hours. On special occasions (papal audiences, major holidays or consistories - meetings of bishops), three teams are on duty at the same time.
Vatican visiting card
Today the guards are one of the business cards Vatican. And although many people believe that they are just a folklore division, this is not so. Of course, not a single solemn and diplomatic ceremony is complete without them, but this is only a small part of their service. The main purpose of the guard - protecting the pontiff - remained unchanged. As stated in the charter, they serve “to ensure the security of the sacred person of the pope and his residence.” Guardsmen guard the entrances to the Vatican, the chambers of the Pope and the Secretary of State, control access to the city-state, issue background information pilgrims During public appearances of the Pope, they provide his personal security, always being nearby. Moreover, since the assassination attempt on John Paul II in 1981, they have been supported by members of the Italian intelligence services. When there are no services in the square and, accordingly, the Pope is not present either, the guards do not appear and Italian carabinieri keep order in front of the cathedral.