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Swiss Guard History of

Posted by admin on November 15th, 2010

Swiss Guard History Of

With the election of Pope Benedict XVI, the world witnessed the pomp and honor of the Swiss Guard, the "Pope’s Army." Now best-selling author and Crisis columnist Robert Royal takes us through the colorful 500-year history of the military guard that has witnessed each major Vatican event for half a millennium. Topics include: origins; five hundred years of fortitude; the Medici Popes; the sack of Rome; siege, dissolution, rebirth and the Napoleonic war; the unification of Italy; the Pope’s imprisonment; two World Wars; the Nazi occupation of Rome.

Most helpful client reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful.
THEY LOOK MEDIEVAL BUT BETTER NOT MESS WITH THEM
By John P. Bertolucci
Yes the Swiss Guard around the Pope seem rather medieval in their uniforms, but their history and their training is far from uninteresting. This short but arousing and attention holding book gives the highlights of their foundation, their history and their present place in the life of the most influential religious leader in the world. Well worth reading and well worth profiting respect for an elite group of young men.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful.
Excellent history of a colourful and very special bodyguard
By Dimitrios
This book is a little treasure for any individual who wants to have a glimpse into the long history of the Papal Swiss Guard. This bodyguard of mercenaries was devised in 1506 and 19 years later suffered it is biggest challenge, when it defended the Pope versus the imperial troops of Charles V and lost 147 of it is 189 members. The dreadfull sack of Rome was not sufficient though for the Papal Swiss Guard to eclipse from history and a few years later it was again on duty. Robert Royal presents this long journeying through time in an eloquent way, embellishing it with some little known sequences and painting unforgettable portraits of the respective commanders of that little but committed mercenary group (it has traditionally the status of a regiment in spite of it is company size). Also useful, is the description of the present day Swiss Guard, the criteria for any individual wishing to become a fellow member and the a good deal of changes that innovative times have fetch to it is training, armament and duties. The book includes a section of 12 color photographs. Highly commended to any person fascinated in this colourful subject!

13 of 16 persons found the following review helpful.
Could have been better
By Amy
How I wish I could write a positive review of this book. Unfortuately, I cannot. This book starts out great and then becomes so bogged down with names, battles, and other details that it loses sight of it is topic--the Papal Swiss Guard. There are no pictures, maps, timelines or other visual aids that would aid the engaged in a struggle reader, other than a little color disseminate of photos in the center of the book. I take delight in reading non-fiction books and I love studying the history of the Catholic Church, but this is the kind of book that causes people to hate reading history. Dry, boring with no sense of narrative. It was a struggle to get through it and I only did because I am very mesmerized in the subject. The only section worth reading was the amount of time when it comes to the Vatican for the duration of World War II. Maybe one of these days a writer will write a book regarding the Swiss Guard that is pleasurable as well as informative. This one "ain't it."