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Swiss GuardSwiss Guards have been Swiss who fought for various European powers from the 15th century until the 19th century, called up from the separate Swiss cantons and placed at the disposal of various foreign powers by treaties (the "capitulations"), in return for money payments. Today, they serve only Vatican City. Swiss Guards in France As a result of the Everlasting Peace between Switzerland and France declared in 1516, Swiss mercenaries have played their most important roles in the military history of France. Francis I of France used some 120,000 Swiss levies in his wars, and in the battle of Pavia (1525) his personal guard, the Hundred Swiss ("Cent Suisses"), were slain before Francis was captured by the Spanish. Under Louis XIV, the Swiss troops were organized in two categories, with the king's military household separate from the ordinary Swiss regiments. The most famous episode in the history of the Swiss Guards of the royal household was their defense of the Tuileries Palace in Paris during the French Revolution, when several hundred of the Guard were massacred by the invading mob that stormed the Palace, August 10, 1792. Their heroic stand, which permitted the royal family to escape across the gardens, is commemorated by Bertel Thorvaldsen's monument in Lucerne, the Lion of Lucerne, dedicated in 1821. The French Revolution abolished mercenary troops in its citizen army, but Napoleon I and the Restoration Monarchy both used them. When the Tuileries were stormed again, in the July Revolution (July 29, 1830), the Swiss Guards melted into the crowd. They were not used again. The Swiss constitution, as amended in 1874, forbade all military capitulations and recruitment of Swiss by foreign powers, although volunteering in foreign armies continued until prohibited outright, in 1927. Vatican Swiss Guard The Swiss Guard is an exception to the Swiss rulings of 1874 and 1927. It is a small force responsible for the security of the Apostolic Palace, the entrances to the Vatican City and the safety of the Pope. left The Swiss Guard is not considered to belong to any larger force, but is instead the army of the sovereign state of the Vatican. The force is specifically limited to a hundred soldiers only and currently consists of 4 officers, 23 NCOs, 70 halberdiers, 2 drummers, and a chaplain, all with an equivalent Italian army rank. Although the guards are fully trained and equipped in modern weaponry and tactics, they also receive instructions in using the sword and halberd. The guards must be Roman Catholic males of Swiss nationality who have completed basic training with the Swiss military and can obtain certificates of good conduct. Recruits must be between 19 and 30 and at least 174 cm (5ft 9in) tall. Qualified candidates must apply to serve. If accepted, new guards are sworn in every May 6 in the San Damaso Courtyard (Italian: Cortile di San Damaso) in the Vatican. (May 6 is the anniversary of the Sack of Rome.) The chaplain of the guard reads aloud the oath in German, the guard's official language (translation below): - "Ich schwre, treu, redlich und ehrenhaft zu dienen dem regierenden Papst des Papstes und seinen rechtmigen Nachfolgern, und mich mit ganzer Kraft fr sie einzusetzen, bereit, wenn es erheischt sein sollte, selbst mein Leben fr sie hinzugeben. Ich bernehme dieselbe Verpflichtung gegenber dem Heiligen Kollegium der Kardinle whrend der Sedis-Vakanz des Apostolischen Stuhls. Ich verspreche berdies dem Herrn Kommandanten und meinen brigen Vorgesetzten Achtung, Treue und Gehorsam. Ich schwre, alles das zu beobachten, was die Ehre meines Standes von mir verlangt."
- "I swear to faithfully, honestly and honorably serve the Sovereign Pontiff, his Holiness Pope [name of the reigning Pope], and his legitimate successors, as well as to dedicate myself to them with all my strength, ready to sacrifice, should it become necessary, even my own life in their defense. I likewise assume this promise toward the members of the Sacred College during the period of the Sede Vacante. Furthermore, I pledge to the Commandant and to my other superiors respect, fidelity, and obedience. I swear to abide by all the requirements attendant to the dignity of my rank."
When his name is called, each new guard approaches the Swiss Guard's flag, grasping the banner in his left hand. He raises his right hand with his thumb, index, and middle finger extended, a gesture that symbolizes the Holy Trinity and speaks: - "Ich, [Name des Rekruten], schwre, alles das, was mir soeben vorgelesen wurde, gewissenhaft und treu zu halten, so wahr mir Gott und seine Heiligen helfen."
- "I, [name of the new guard], swear to diligently and faithfully abide by all this which has just been read to me; may The Almighty and His Saints be my witnesses."
The term of service is between two and 25 years. Their official dress uniform was altered in 1915. It is a jumpsuit which has a distinctly Renaissance appearance. It is colored in blue, red, orange, and yellow. A popular misconception is that these dress uniforms were designed by Michelangelo, but in fact this is untrue. Their working uniform is more functional, consisting of blue coveralls with a black beret. Both the dress and working uniforms are worn by the Guardsmen when on duty in Vatican City and are readily identifiable. After the May 13, 1981 assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II by Mehmet Ali Ağca, a much stronger emphasis has been made of the Swiss Guards' functional, non-ceremonial roles. This has included extended training in unarmed combat and with issue SIG pistols and Heckler und Koch submachine-guns. Pope Julius II founded the Guard in 1505 to provide a constant core of soldiers to protect the Pope; the Swiss mercenaries were an obvious choice. The official founding date is given as January 21, 1506. The force has varied greatly in size and has even been disbanded. The soldiers' most significant action was on May 6, 1527 when 147 Guards, including their commander, died fighting the forces of Charles V. Since 1859 they have been the only mercenary group permitted under Swiss law. Estermann killing On May 6, 1998, Swiss Guard Cedrich Tornay killed Colonel Alois Estermann, commander of the Swiss Guard, and his Venezuelan wife Gladys Meza Romero, and afterwards, himself, in the commander's home. Just ten hours before the killings, Pope John Paul II had appointed Estermann as the 31st "captain commander". "It's an honor," Estermann had told the Swiss newspaper Le Matin. "These are big responsibilities. But behind this choice, I see the will of God, who will help me accomplish my service well." Estermann had joined the Swiss Guard in 1980. During the 1981 assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II, Estermann jumped onto the moving Popemobile and shielded him with his own body. Tornay's motive was probably being upset about a reprimand from Estermann for not having returned to barracks on time, and not being one of the guardsmen who were to be honored by the pope in a ceremony. As a result of the murder, some changes have taken place within the Swiss Guard, including new methods of candidate screening, a reform of the training and promotion procedures, and new recruiting campaigns. Pius Segmuller was appointed the new commander. External link
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