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To: opinionator

For some history of the Swiss Guard see:http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/swiss_guard/swissguard/storia_en.htm
What you see are the uniforms designed by Michaelangelo IIRC.

In an era when there were no standing armies, much less well trained ones, they were the best. Available at high cost. As one king said, "No money, no Swiss"


5 posted on 05/08/2006 4:10:58 AM PDT by Covenantor
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To: Covenantor

They were not designed by Michelangelo. Guard commander Jules Repond designed them in 1914.


6 posted on 05/08/2006 4:44:27 AM PDT by varg
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To: Covenantor
The Swiss Guard has also played it's part in the history of the Netherlands. The old Republic made extensive use of the Swiss Guards.

The Royal Netherlands Marine Corps is the marine corps of the Netherlands. It was founded on 10 December 1665 by the unofficial leader of the republic Johan de Witt and Admiral Michiel de Ruyter.

It is claimed that the Netherlands Marine Corps is the second oldest military unit in the world that is still in existence (after the Vatican's Swiss Guard).

The Royal Netherlands Marine Corps motto still is Qua Patet Orbis (Wherever the World Extends).

The cooperation between the RNLMC and the British Royal Marines within NATO is seen as the prime example of what can be achieved in military integration.

The RNLMC and Royal Marines have a long history of cooperation. During combined actions by the British and Dutch navies during the War of the Spanish Succession (1702-1713), amphibious operations were carried out, the most notable being the Siege of Gibraltar in 1704. During this action, a successful attack was carried out against the fortress of Gibraltar by an 1800-strong brigade of Dutch and British Marines under the command of Prince George of Hesse-Darmstadt. Both corps share this battle honour.

7 posted on 05/08/2006 4:53:47 AM PDT by Palpatine (The lesson of modern politics is that no class is less fit to govern than that which governs us now)
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