Common knowledge says that they must fulfill certain conditions to be accepted into this force. This is true. Recruits must be single, between 19 and 30 years of age and at least 174 cm tall, Catholic and of Swiss citizenship. A requirement is also a degree and completed basic training with the Swiss military.
The Swiss Guard, known as the Pontifical Swiss Guard, is a unique and longstanding military unit that has served as the official protectors of the Pope and the Vatican City since the early 16th century. Established in 1506 by Pope Julius II, the Swiss Guard has maintained its distinctive role for over five centuries. The Swiss Guard is a well-trained and professional military force. In addition to their ceremonial duties, such as guarding the entrances to the Vatican and participating in papal events, they are also responsible for ensuring the security of the Pope and the Apostolic Palace.
The Swiss Guard’s loyalty and commitment to their duty were notably demonstrated in 1527 during the Sack of Rome when they protected Pope Clement VII during a violent attack on the Vatican. Their bravery and sacrifice solidified their reputation as dedicated guardians of the Pope. Over the centuries, the Swiss Guard has evolved to adapt to modern security challenges while maintaining its historical traditions. Today, they play a crucial role in the security and ceremonial life of the Vatican, embodying a fascinating blend of history, tradition, and service.
Key features of the Swiss Guard include their colorful and distinctive uniform. The uniform consists of blue, red, orange, and yellow vertical stripes, a prominent ruff collar, and a plumed helmet. The design is both symbolic and practical, making the guards easily recognizable. It is en told the basic design of the colorful official uniforms, Renaissance style, is of Michelangelo. The latter is, however, not true. According to the official Vatican website, the designer is Jules Repond, one of the previous Papal Swiss Guard commanders (early XX century). He is sometimes told to be inspired by the picture of men carrying the litter of Pope Julius II on one of Raphael’s fresco on a wall in the Vatican complex. As is located in the Musei Vaticani area, I tried to find it on the photos I did inside. Indeed, the men carrying the litter wear robes with white collars and sleeves that are slight of a comparable design. But only slightly. The colors are however not a match. As it is stated on the Vatican website, there are similarities because this is the Renaissance like the design.
As to the facts, the colors of the official uniform are the Medici colors. Medicis was a noble later royal family, with roots in Florence, Italy, whose coat of arms were six red balls, known as palle, arranged in a triangular pattern on a yellow background. This distinctive design symbolized the family’s wealth and prominence in the field of banking. In the mid-15th century, the Medici family’s status was elevated when Cosimo de’ Medici received the title of Duke of Florence from Pope Eugene IV. Later, in the 16th century, another branch of the family became rulers of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. As the Medici influence extended beyond Florence and into the realm of European royalty, the French connection came into play.
When Catherine de’ Medici, a member of the Medici family, married Henry II of France in 1533, their union further solidified the family’s ties to the French monarchy. As a result, the Medici coat of arms underwent a modification to incorporate the French royal symbols. The uppermost red ball was replaced with a blue field featuring three gold fleurs-de-lis, the emblem of the French kings. This alteration reflected the Medici family’s integration into French royalty and the power they held in both Italy and France. This is why yellow/gold/orange, red and blue are told to be Medici colors.