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The Pontifical Swiss Guard, [note 1] also known as the Papal Swiss Guard or simply Swiss Guard, [4] is an armed force and honour guard unit maintained by the Holy See that protects the Pope and the Apostolic Palace within the territory of the Vatican City State.
The earliest Swiss Guard unit to be established on a permanent basis was the Hundred Swiss (Cent-Suisses), which served at the French court from 1490 to 1817. This small force was complemented in 1616 by a Swiss Guards regiment. In the 18th and early 19th centuries several other Swiss Guard units existed for periods in various European courts.
The Commander of the Pontifical Swiss Guard is the head of the Pontifical Swiss Guard.In total, there have been 35 commanders of the Swiss Guard serving 51 popes, with interruptions during 1527–1548 following the Sack of Rome, in 1564/5, in 1704–1712 and in 1798/9 following the French invasion.
Kaspar von Silenen (c. 1467 – 5 August 1517) was the first commander or commandant of the Papal Swiss Guard.Born in Lucerne as the son of Ritter Albin of Silenen (canton of Uri), the commander of the Lucerne troops in the battles of Murten and Nancy and of Verena Netstaler.
In the event known as the Stand of the Swiss Guard, the Swiss, alongside the garrison's remaining soldiers, made their last stand in the Teutonic Cemetery within the Vatican. Their captain, Kaspar Röist, was wounded and later sought refuge in his house, where Spanish soldiers killed him in front of his wife. [7]
On 10 August, the National Guard of the Paris Commune and fédérés from Marseille and Brittany stormed the King's residence in the Tuileries Palace in Paris, which was defended by the Swiss Guards. Hundreds of Swiss guardsmen and 400 revolutionaries were killed in the battle, [1] and Louis and the royal family took shelter with the ...
After 14 July 1789, Victor von Gibelin transferred to the Company de Besenval of the Swiss Guards in the same military rank, but in the function of an Officier-Major. On 10 August 1792, as Sous-Aide-Major, he commanded a battalion of the Swiss Guards during the Storming of the Palais des Tuileries, where he narrowly escaped death. [6] [1] [7] [8]
Bachmann was in direct charge of the 900 Swiss Guards present during the Insurrection of 10 August 1792, when French revolutionaries stormed the Tuileries Palace.The nominal commander of the Guard, the elderly Colonel Louis-Auguste-Augustin d'Affry, was in poor health and had delegated Bachmann to bring the regiment into central Paris during the evening of 9 August. [2]