SWISS GUARDS’ STORMY LIFE.

Northland Age, Volume 3, Issue 21, 2 January 1907, Page 5

SWISS GUARDS’ STORMY LIFE.

STORY OF 400 YEARS’ SERVICE OF SOLDIERY TOLD IN PICTRUES. -

A series of remarkable historical tableaux has been presented at the Vatican, says the "New York American" commemorating the four hundred years’ .service of the famous Swiss Guard; Every visitor to the precincts of St. Peter’s is familiar with the picturesque corps which forms such a characteristic feature of the Vatican life of to-day, but not all of the visitors know the stirring records which the tableaux referred to were arranged to illustrate. It was in the late winter of 1506 that a band of 150 Swiss soldiers, who wore at that time the great fighting mercenaries of the world, came to Rome and entered the service of Julius 11., as the Pontiff's body guard. Those were troublous times and they culminated in the terrible day, May. 6. 1527, which is written large in history. FOUGIiT TO SAVE ST. PETER’S. On that date the Constable of Bourbon began the sack of Rome. Clement VII, the then Pope, with a picked dozen of the guard took refuge in the castle fortress of St. 'Angelo, leaving the rest of the guard, 250 in number, to guard St. Peter’s. They took a stand outside the great door of the fane and were cut down to the very last man by the Bourbon's troops.

There was no more Swiss guard for twenty years after that fatal day, but in 1548 the corps was again established, 250 strong, and has remained at that force until today. In 1798, when the French revolutionary troops held Rome, there was the promise of another slaughter but Pope Pius VI. ordered them to lay down their arms and the French soldiers penetrated into the Apostaflie Palace of the Quirinal.

In. the early pontificate of Pius IX. the Roman howled for the disbandment of the Swiss guard, but the corps lived out the crisis and has lived on to celebrate its four hundred years of service. The celebration of this quadricentenary has been marked with solemnity and spectacular display. The ancient weapons, armour and costume —which by the way, was not designed by Michael Angelo—were either drawn from the barracks armoury or carefully reproduced, and the tableau showed in stirring form the great exciting incidents of the guards’ career. The Popo and his entourage were interested spectators of the Cardinal Merry del Val unveiled a commemorative tablet in the great courtyard of the guard.