The Sack
of Rome and the Papal Swiss Guard
Today marks the anniversary of the Sack
of Rome in 1527 by troops of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor.
Since the late 15th Century Italy (or
at least the region we today identify as Italy – the notion of the region as a
nation was long in the future) had been repeatedly invaded by forces from
Northern Europe, each seeking to claim dominion over one area or another. Rival
claimants to the crown of Naples caused as much trouble as did anything, but economic
rivalry between for example Genoa and Venice did nothing to calm the
waters. Pope Alexander VI gave command
of the papal army to his son/nephew (which is a matter of dispute) Cesare in
order to bring some order, and Pope Julius II would actually don armor and lead
his army into battle, again in an effort to bring some stability to the
situation. While Erasmus would condemn
Julius for doing so, he did ignore the fact that the targeted cities
surrendered to Julius.
But back to the Sack of Rome. Charles’ forces were at this point battling
the League of Cognac, it being comprised of France, Milan, Venice, Florence and
the Papal States. Keeping track of the
various Leagues through the Italian Wars is a troubling task; the League of
Cambrai was initially formed against Venice by the Papacy, France, Spain and
the Holy Roman Empire. Later the initial members would be allied against France
with Venice as an ally. Later Venice and France would be against the Papacy,
Spain and the Holy Roman Empire. These wars would include the Battle of Pavia (1525)
at which King Francis (France) would be captured by the forces of Charles V.
After a significant victory over the French army Charles’ troops
were restive in that they had not been paid – most were mercenary. Pillaging
Rome would be a way of paying the troops. The city was not well defended,
although its formidable walls did need to be and were breached. Their commander having fallen in the course
of the attack, discipline immediately broke down among the troops, and a sack
of over three days began.
The Pontifical Swiss Guard, created
only in 1506 under Pope Julius II, rose to the occasion. Of its then number of
189 members, 147 would fall defending Pope Clement VII, affording him time to
take refuge in the Castel Sant’Angelo (Hadrian’s Mausoleum). In recognition of
this event, new members of the Pontifical Swiss Guard are sworn in on May
6. Well, in normal times that is the
rule. Today, in the midst of the
Covid-19 pandemic, the swearing in of the new members of the Guard has been
postponed to October 4. Still, Pope Francis will say Mass in commemoration of
the Swiss Guard.
There was in 2013 an event unique to
the Guard, namely the recognition of a Pope’s retirement. Benedict XVI left the
Vatican as Pope, flying to the Castle Gandolfo. The Swiss Guard accompanied him
to the castle and there stood guard. Upon the moment his resignation became
effective, and Benedict became not Pope but Pope Emeritus, the Guards left
their station at the castle and returned to Rome. While the Vatican has its
security forces, and they no doubt continued to provide protection for
Benedict, the Swiss Guard serve the Pope.
Of course this was not the only sack of
Rome – it had fallen many times in its long history. It fell to the Normans in
1084, in 546 to the Ostrogoths, in 455 to the Vandals, in 410 to the Visigoths
and in 387 BC to the Gauls.
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