In 1505 the Swiss bishop (later cardinal) Matthäus Schiner, acting on behalf of Pope Julius II, proposed the creation of a permanent Swiss contingent that would operate under the direct control of the pope, and on January 22, 1506, the first contingent of 150 Swiss guardsmen, led by Captain Kaspar von Silenen, arrived ...
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The Pontifical Swiss Guard, founded by Pope Julius II in 1506, is a military body made up of Swiss citizens, whose main task is to constantly monitor the safety ...
May 6, 2024 · The world's smallest army, the Swiss Guard, founded in 1506 by Pope Julius II, is still recruited from a group of Swiss towns and villages.
Julius led papal armies in a variety of military campaigns earning the name of The Warrior Pope. He proved to be an energetic defender of the Papal States and ...