";s:4:"text";s:4690:" As with the Queen’s Guard in London, the Swiss Guard’s daily function is, for the most part, ceremonial. There the uniform for each guardsman is tailor-made individually.In 2019, after more than 500 years, the Swiss Guard will receive new and modernized helmets. Axes, clubs, and various poled-weapons also filled some space.It’s highly unusual indeed to see an armory filled with early-Renaissance plate armor and 20th Century submachine guns and assault rifles alike, but the Swiss Guard is far from an ordinary unit. (English translation) I swear to diligently and faithfully abide by all that has just been read out to me, so help me God and his Saints. Thanks to the effort of a guest poster for WeaponsMan.com, Internet arms and armor enthusiasts now have a rare look inside the armory of the famous Pontifical Swiss Guard, a five-hundred-year-old military unit tasked with guarding the Holy See in the Vatican. The result of his studies was published as On the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the Swiss Guard, in April–May 2006, 80 former guardsmen marched from Qualified candidates must apply to serve. Often called the “Swiss Voulge”, the medieval weapon packs the manoeuvring capabilities of a spear with the power of an axe.
The eponymous main weapon of the halbardiers is the halberd; corporals and vice-corporals are equipped with a partisan polearm.
The banner is escorted by two flamberge great swords carried by corporals or vice-corporals. When Cardinal della Rovere became Pope Julius II in 1503, he asked the In September 1505, the first contingent of 150 soldiers started their march towards Rome, under the command of "The Swiss see the sad situation of the Church of God, Mother of Christianity, and realize how grave and dangerous it is that any tyrant, avid for wealth, can assault with impunity, the common Mother of Christianity," declared The force has varied greatly in size over the years and has even been disbanded. The old metal helmet has been replaced by a 21st century high-tech, 3D-printed version, made of UV-resistant Arms and armour used by the Swiss Guard are kept in the The Swiss Guard in their function as bodyguards are equipped with the In the 19th century (prior to 1870), the Swiss Guard along with the The design of the banner of the Pontifical Swiss Guard banner has been changed several times.
Being a Marine with a similar duty, I had a special interest in seeing the barracks of my counterparts in the Vatican — so when my brother-in-law said he could get us and a tour of the armory of the world’s oldest continuously operating army — I jumped at the chance.The army of Vatican City is perhaps best known for their ceremonial duties, but they also perform body-guard duties comparable to our U.S. Secret Service (they perform a blend of both uniform and special agent division duties). The full post is available over at WeaponsMan.com, but I have sample some of the most relevant bits for our readers. These armor suits are still worn daily. Personal security of the pope is split between the Vatican Police and Swiss Guard.I was surprised that we were led into the armory, and without all the usual tell-tale signs of a leatherneck’s iteration.
In the hands of a highly trained Swiss Guard, it becomes deadly.
Ranks above corporal do not have polearms, but on certain ceremonial occasions carry command batons. Given the unit’s age, it is no small collection.The armory had halberds, swords, bayonets the length of swords, two-handed swords, a blunderbuss that must have weighted 40 lbs, and bolt-, semi-, and automatic weapons used throughout their history.
I later learned it was a SIG MKPO, with a unique folding magazine.
If accepted, new guards are sworn on 6 May every year in the San Damaso Courtyard ((English translation) I swear that I will faithfully, loyally and honourably serve the Supreme Pontiff (When his name is called, each new guard approaches the Pontifical Swiss Guard's (German version) Ich schwöre, alles das, was mir soeben vorgelesen wurde, gewissenhaft und treu zu halten, so wahr mir Gott und seine Heiligen helfen.