VATICAN CORNER
continued …The Swiss have historically been famous for mercenary soldiers. Switzerland was a poor country and its young men often sought their fortunes in other countries. The Swiss soldier had a reputation for discipline and loyalty, and they were trained in revolutionary battle tactics. They fought with pikes in square formations, but unlike other troops they could move rapidly and effectively with their pikes in order to engage enemies before becoming easy targets for crossbow men. Also they could easily turn to face attacking cavalry. The Swiss were considered the most powerful troops of the 15th century. They served in small units as palace guards, body guards and ceremonial troops at foreign European courts. But the Swiss were also regular line troops in various armies including France, Spain and Naples. The Vatican’s Swiss Guard was formed in 1506 when Pope Julius II asked the Swiss leadership to provide him a constant corps of 200 Swiss mercenaries. The Guard has varied greatly in size over the years and has even been disbanded for a time. The most significant military engagement of the Vatican’s Swiss Guard was in 1527 when 147 of the 189 Guards including their commander, died fighting the troops of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V during the Sack of Rome. Pope Clement VII had given his support to the kingdom of France to try and alter the balance of power in the region and free the Papacy from domination by the Holy Roman Empire. The French were defeated in Italy by the army of the Holy Roman Emperor, mainly German mercenaries, but without their pay, that army mutinied and turned on Rome to sack and pillage the city. The Papal capital was viewed as an easy target and some soldiers who followed the Protestant movement also saw the city as a target for religious reasons. On the steps of St. Peter’s Basilica, almost the entire Swiss Guard was killed. Today the last stand battlefield is located on the left side of the Basilica close to the German Graveyard. Of the 189 Guards, 42 were able to survive to ensure Pope Clement VII escape to safety through the Passetto (small passage). It is a secret covered stone corridor on top of a tall wall which still links the Vatican City to Castel Sant’Angelo, a refuge for popes behind its ramparts. Today a Swiss Guard has his quarters at the top of the stair leading to the Passetto, and he always keeps the keys to the corridor at a ready. The Guard performs many ceremonial duties, but in addition, after the assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II in 1981, a much stronger emphasis has been placed on the guard’s non-ceremonial roles. The Guard receives enhanced training in unarmed combat and small arms.
Sources: news.va, telegraph.co.uk, stpetersbasilica.info, ancient-origins.net 5