Swiss Guard facts

While investigating facts about Swiss Guard Vatican and Swiss Guard Uniform, I found out little known, but curios details like:

Vatican City is the only nation in the world that can lock its own gates at night. It has its own phone company, radio, T.V. stations, money, and stamps. It even has its own army, the historic Swiss Guard.

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The Swiss Guard, known now as the guys in the vibrant clown-like costumes that stand around the Vatican holding halberds, once stood against an army as it sacked Rome. 189 Guard stood against 20,000 invaders at the Vatican long enough for Pope Clement VII to escape the city.

Why is there a swiss guard at the vatican?

In my opinion, it is useful to put together a list of the most interesting details from trusted sources that I've come across answering who designed the swiss guard uniforms at the vatican. Here are 16 of the best facts about Swiss Guard 1527 and Swiss Guard Salary I managed to collect.

why the swiss guard at the vatican?

1. The Vatican actually has a national football team. Vatican's national football team has played against 7 international football teams, which they have either lost or tied with the other team. The team consists only by Swiss guards and museum guards.

2. The Lion Monument is a sculpture in Switzerland commemorating the Swiss Guards who were massacred in 1792 during the French Revolution. Mark Twain praised the sculpture of a mortally-wounded lion as "the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world."

3. The military force of Vatican City is the Pontifical Swiss Guard. It was established by Pope Julius II in 1506, originally serving as the Pope's bodyguards.

4. The Vatican in Vatican City is protected by the Swiss Guards. They are the only citizens of Switzerland allowed to serve in foreign militaries.

5. There is a Vatican football championship, with teams including the Swiss Guard's FC Guardia and police and museum guard teams.

6. Since 1506 the Swiss army is the security for the Pope and the Vatican "The Swiss Guard serves as the de facto military of Vatican City."

7. The Stand of the Swiss Guard. On May 6, 1527 189 of the Pope's guards stood against 20,000 invaders at the Vatican long enough for Pope Clement VII to escape the city

8. Out of the 800 people living in Vatican City, 450 are Vatican citizens, which can only be given by administrative decision and to children/spouses of those given citizenship, including the Swiss Guard

9. Vatican City has only one restaurant and Vatican cuisine is very similar to Italian. A famous dish is "Eggplant with Parmesan of the Swiss Guards" which is a mixture containing eggplant, parmesan and spice

10. The Swiss Guards renaissance-style uniforms were only implemented in 1914.

Why swiss guards at vatican city?

You can easily fact check why swiss guards for pope by examining the linked well-known sources.

The Vatican City (pop. 900) has a national soccer team that consists of police officers, postal workers, government officials and members of the Swiss Guard, and it was once coached by Giovanni Trappatoni, the former head coach of Juventus, Bayern Munich, and Italy. - source

Stand of the Swiss Guard' took place during the sacking of Rome(1527). After the Pope ordered the people to take up arms only 500 obeyed, so 189 Swiss made a stand at St.Peter's to ensure the Pope's escape. Almost annihilated, the remaining 40 at the Basilica steps delayed the army long enough. - source

Pope Francis has not watched television since 1990 and relies on the Swiss Guards of the Vatican Army to find out whether his beloved Argentinian football team won or lost