A Short History of the Swiss GuardThe Oath of the Swiss Guard I swear to faithfully, honestly, and honorably serve the supreme pontiff and his legitimate successors, and to dedicate myself to them with all my strength, ready to sacrifice, should it become necessary, even my own life for them. After the death of the Borgia pope, Alexander VI (1492 - 1503), and upon the death of Pius III who reigned in 1503 for less than a month, the new pope, Julius II, pursued military solutions to a host of problems left to him by Alexander's attempt to create a Borgia dynasty. Julius led papal armies in a variety of military campaigns earning the name of The Warrior Pope. He proved to be an energetic defender of the Papal States and led his military campaigns in full battle dress. His nickname was Julius the Terrible. It was Pope Julius who first established a permanent corps of the Pontifical Swiss Guard at the Vatican, and granted them the title of Defenders of the Church's Freedom. The Swiss Guard has varied in size over the years. Its most significant, hostile engagement was on May 6, 1527 when 147 of the 189 Guards lost their lives during the Sack of Rome in order to allow Clement VII to escape escorted by the other forty guards. They have served popes since the 16th century, operating mostly as a ceremonial escort to the pope. Swiss guardsmen must be Catholic males between the ages of nineteen and thirty years of age and at least 5' 9" tall. They must have the recommendation of their local parish and have served in a basic military school in Switzerland. They serve for a period of two years. The uniform of the Swiss Guard, of which there are two styles in the Collection, is a Renaissance style weighing eight pounds. Its colors are those of the Medici coat of arms in honor of Clement VII. It is often thought that Michelangelo designed the uniform. He did not. Service includes physical training, drills and instruction in combat. Enrollment into the Swiss Guard takes place on May 6th each year in honor of the day in 1527 when their forebears died defending Pope Clement VII. The Papal Artifacts Collection has a variety of items and several wonderful stories concerning their procurement for you to enjoy. |
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Results for Swiss Guard items 1 - 15 of 15. |
Image |
Pope/Saint/Individual |
Item Title | Era
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Blessed John Paul II |
This replica flag was a gift from the Swiss Guard to Father Kunst in honor of The Vatican Comes to Duluth in 2004. Initially Father Kunst asked them if they could produce a flag for this event and they responded by produc... read more » |
1978-2005 |
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Blessed John Paul II |
Father Kunst has a very close connection with the Swiss Guard. When The Vatican Comes to Duluth exhibit was presented in Duluth, Minnesota in October 2004, Father Kunst requested a flag of the Swiss Guard for this event. ... read more » |
1978-2005 |
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n/a |
A police hat from the 1970s Vatican police. On the front of the hat it has the cross-keys and tiara. read more » |
1970-1980 |
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Venerable Pius XII |
This is a letter signed as Cardinal Secretary of State in regard to the Swiss Guard. It is dated May 17th, 1938 and it is signed E. Cardinal Pacelli as Cardinal Secretary of State. read more » |
1939-1958 |
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Pius XI |
Pius XI: A Thirty-Piece Lead Toy Set of a Papal Procession, Dating From His Pontificate The artifact presented here is a complete, thirty-piece set of a papal procession dating from the pontificate of Pius XI who reigned from 1922-1939. The pope is seated on what is known as the sedia gestatoria, which liter... read more » |
1922-1939 |
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n/a |
A Vatican Police Uniform From the 1920s This is an original two-piece uniform: a black jacket with gold epaulets and silver buttons and white trousers. Vatican police were called gendarmeries and were as visible as the Swiss Guard today. They were phased out of... read more » |
1920-1930 |
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St. Pius X |
St. Pius X: A Swiss Guard Uniform From His Pontificate This uniform is significant for several reasons. Up until 1914 Swiss Guard uniforms evolved with each pontificate. Primarily the piping on the jacket bearing the coat of arms of the reigning pope is what changed. After the de... read more » |
1903-1914 |
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Leo XIII |
Leo XIII: A Swiss Guard Uniform Dating From His Pontificate Oftentimes, Father Kunst’s story of the purchase of an item is as interesting as the purchase itself. The Swiss Guard uniform dating to Pope Leo XIII’s pontificate is one of them. This is an extremely rare item an... read more » |
1878-1903 |
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n/a |
Two Swiss Guardsmen Posing For a Fight This is a very old photo from the 1870s or earlier of two Swiss Guardsmen posing for a fight over a card table. They are in their uniforms and wearing various pieces of armor as well. It is a very unique piece in a pose not o... read more » |
1870-1879 |
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n/a |
A Breast Plate of the Swiss Guard The breast plate bears no markings but came with a Swiss Guard helmet leading to the assumption that it is part of the uniform. read more » |
1850-1900 |
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Blessed Pius IX |
Blessed Pius IX: A Swiss Guard Sword From His Pontificate The blade has his coat of arms and the handle is made in the image of a lion’s head reminiscent of the two lions in the pope’s coat of arms. The sword also has a sheath and both are in perfect condition. After 187... read more » |
1846-1878 |
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Blessed Pius IX |
Blessed Pius IX: A Hand-Painted Photo of a Swiss Guardsman A hand-painted photo of a Swiss Guardsman possibly from the pontificate of Blessed Pius IX. read more » |
1846-1878 |
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n/a |
An Early 19th Century Helmet of the Swiss Guard The helmet is a mid-to-early 19th century example with an ornate leather exterior and the GSP. The emblem contains the cross keys and tiara, the symbol of the pope. The chinstrap has two lions’ faces with their mouths h... read more » |
1800-1850 |
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n/a |
Swiss Guard: Three Bottles of Wine Commissioned For Their 500th Anniversary, Dated 2006 This wine was commissioned strictly for the Swiss Guard in 2006, their 500th anniversary. Beer was also commissioned and brewed for them with a label similar to the wine bottles. Over the years Father Kunst has befriended th... read more » |
1506-2006 |
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n/a |
A Swiss Guard Watch in the Original Box Commemorating Their 500th Anniversary A Swiss Guard watch in the original box that was made to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Guard. The face contains a small image of a Guardsman and the date 1506. The Swiss Guard has their own store in the Vatican onl... read more » |
1506-2006 |
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