Palatine Guard
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Palatine Guard (Guardia Palatina d'Onore) was a unit of the military of the Vatican City. It was formed in 1850 by Pope Pius IX, who ordered that the two militia units of the Papal States be amalgamated. The corps was formed as an infantry unit, and took part in watch-keeping in Rome as well as various battles, including the defence of Rome against soldiers from Piedmont. After 1870 and the unification of Italy, the corps was confined to the Vatican. The Palatine Guard were usually seen either when the Pope was in St Peter's Square, or when a Head of State visited the Vatican. Members of the corps were volunteers, who were not paid for their service (though they received an allowance for replacement or repair of their uniforms). The corps was also the only one in the service of the Vatican to have a full band.
It was abolished in 1970 by Pope Paul VI as part of the reforms of the Church following Vatican II.
[edit] See also
 |
This Roman Catholicism-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
