Swiss Guard - Swiss Guards in France

Swiss Guards in France

There were two different corps of Swiss mercenaries performing guard duties for the Kings of France: the Hundred Swiss (Cent Suisses), serving within the Palace as essentially bodyguards and ceremonial troops, and the Swiss Guards (Gardes Suisses), guarding the entrances and outer perimeter. In addition the Gardes suisses served in the field as a fighting regiment in times of war.

Read more about this topic:  Swiss Guard

Famous quotes containing the words swiss, guards and/or france:

    Nothing sets a person up more than having something turn out just the way it’s supposed to be, like falling into a Swiss snowdrift and seeing a big dog come up with a little cask of brandy round its neck.
    Claud Cockburn (1904–1981)

    For every man that Bolingbroke hath pressed
    To lift shrewd steel against our golden crown,
    God for his Richard hath in heavenly pay
    A glorious angel. Then if angels fight,
    Weak men must fall; for heaven still guards the right.
    William Shakespeare (1564–1616)

    The law, in its majestic equality, forbids rich and poor alike to sleep under bridges, beg in the streets or steal bread.
    —Anatole France (1844–1924)