The story of the 189 brave soldiers in the Swiss Guard during the sacking of Rome in 1527. Since Charles V, ruler of the Holy Roman Empire, couldn't pay his troops they mutinied and forced their commander to lead them towards Rome where plunder was plentiful. When the invading force entered the Vatican, pope Clement VII escaped to Castel Sant'Angelo via Passeto di Borgo. The few remaining guardsmen gave their lives on the steps to St. Peters Basilica.
@lycanthropian To be strictly correct. Charles V sent troops from France and mercenaries from Germany to capture the Pope. The day before the attack the German leader had a stroke and had to return home, leaving the mercenaries in the French leader's control (without enough currency to pay their wages). Rome was well protected, albeit with only 5000 militiamen. The French leader wore a regalia of white to seperate himself from his men, so they knew who was giving them orders. However, this also singled him out to the defenders who took advantage and mortally wounded him. Left without a...
@lycanthropian To be strictly correct. Charles V sent troops from France and mercenaries from Germany to capture the Pope. The day before the attack the German leader had a stroke and had to return home, leaving the mercenaries in the French leader's control (without enough currency to pay their wages). Rome was well protected, albeit with only 5000 militiamen. The French leader wore a regalia of white to seperate himself from his men, so they knew who was giving them orders. However, this also singled him out to the defenders who took advantage and mortally wounded him. Left without a leader, the attacking force was under no controls and literally decimated the population of Rome from 50,000 to about 20,000. Witnesses literally said the streets ran with blood there was so much killing. But the Swiss Guard did distinguish themselves in their sacrifice to save the Pope. Their sacrifice is celebrated every May 6th, as the new recruits to the Swiss Guard are accepted into the force.
The story of the 189 brave soldiers in the Swiss Guard during the sacking of Rome in 1527. Since Charles V, ruler of the Holy Roman Empire, couldn't pay his troops they mutinied and forced their commander to lead them towards Rome where plunder was plentiful. When the invading force entered the Vatican, pope Clement VII escaped to Castel Sant'Angelo via Passeto di Borgo. The few remaining guardsmen gave their lives on the steps to St. Peters Basilica.
@lycanthropian To be strictly correct. Charles V sent troops from France and mercenaries from Germany to capture the Pope. The day before the attack the German leader had a stroke and had to return home, leaving the mercenaries in the French leader's control (without enough currency to pay their wages). Rome was well protected, albeit with only 5000 militiamen. The French leader wore a regalia of white to seperate himself from his men, so they knew who was giving them orders. However, this also singled him out to the defenders who took advantage and mortally wounded him. Left without a...
@lycanthropian To be strictly correct. Charles V sent troops from France and mercenaries from Germany to capture the Pope. The day before the attack the German leader had a stroke and had to return home, leaving the mercenaries in the French leader's control (without enough currency to pay their wages). Rome was well protected, albeit with only 5000 militiamen. The French leader wore a regalia of white to seperate himself from his men, so they knew who was giving them orders. However, this also singled him out to the defenders who took advantage and mortally wounded him. Left without a leader, the attacking force was under no controls and literally decimated the population of Rome from 50,000 to about 20,000. Witnesses literally said the streets ran with blood there was so much killing. But the Swiss Guard did distinguish themselves in their sacrifice to save the Pope. Their sacrifice is celebrated every May 6th, as the new recruits to the Swiss Guard are accepted into the force.