Case file · File · Prove All Things
The Day the Swiss Guard Held
“But prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:21, Douay-Rheims
The case
New Swiss Guards take their oath at the Vatican, and by tradition they take it on May 6. The date isn't random. In 1527, an army of the emperor Charles the Fifth marched on Rome. Many of the soldiers hadn't been paid. They were out of control.
The evidence
Every quotation below is printed in the words of the edition named under it. Nothing is paraphrased.
“traditionsgemäss am 6. Mai”Pontifical Swiss Guard, home page, schweizergarde.ch, German — read it at the source
Our English: by tradition on May 6.
“had really got completely out of hand”Catholic Encyclopedia, article "Pope Clement VII", public domain, on the emperor's Landsknechte — read it at the source
“Am 6. Mai 1527 fielen 147 Schweizergardisten bei der Verteidigung des Papstes”Pontifical Swiss Guard, history page, schweizergarde.ch, German — read it at the source
“Von den 189 Schweizern überlebten nur die 42 Gardisten”Pontifical Swiss Guard, history page, schweizergarde.ch, German — read it at the source
“still held on May 6th”Vatican Radio, 6 May 2011, on the swearing-in — read it at the source
“commemorating the 500th anniversary throughout 2027”Vatican News, republished by America, 8 October 2026 — read it at the source
What’s established, and what isn’t
What the sources support, claim by claim — each one checked against the sources listed at the foot of this page:
- 6 May 1527: troops of the emperor Charles V, largely unpaid and mutinous, broke into Rome (Wikipedia); CE 'Pope Clement VII': the Landsknechte 'had really got completely out of hand' and reached the walls on 5 May
- The Swiss Guard numbered 189; 147 fell; 42 survived and accompanied Clement VII to Castel Sant'Angelo (Swiss Guard's own history page; Vatican Radio 2011 gives the same 147 and 42)
- Where they fell differs by source (steps of St Peter's - Vatican Radio; before the high altar of St Peter's with 200 refugees - Guard site; Teutonic Cemetery then the steps - Wikipedia), so the script says only 'at St. Peter's'
- The commander, Kaspar Röist, was wounded and later killed (Guard site; Wikipedia)
- Clement VII escaped along the Passetto di Borgo, a passage of about 800 m on the old Vatican wall, to Castel Sant'Angelo (stpetersbasilica.info; Wikipedia)
- Length of the sack differs by source (eight days - CE; occupation until February 1528 - Wikipedia), so the script says 'more than a week'
- New recruits are sworn in on 6 May (Vatican Radio 2011: 'still held on May 6th'; Guard site: the 2026 ceremony 'traditionsgemäss am 6. Mai 2026')
- 500th anniversary commemorations run through 2027, culminating at the Vatican on 5-7 May 2027 (Vatican News, republished by America, 2026-10-08)
Where the record stops short:
- Where the guards fell differs by source: the steps of St. Peter's, before the high altar, or the Teutonic Cemetery and then the steps. The file says only that they made their stand at St. Peter's.
- How long the sack lasted differs by source: eight days in the Catholic Encyclopedia, an occupation lasting into February 1528 elsewhere.
- The oath is taken on 6 May by tradition, not by an unbroken rule. The Guard's own word is traditionally, and the ceremony has been moved.
For your men’s group
- 147 of 189 died so one man could get out. Who is behind you that you would stand in front of?
- The Guard still swears in on the day those men fell. What does your family remember on purpose?
- Most of us will never hold a door against an army. What is the ordinary version of that for you this week?
Get the next case file every Sunday
One letter, free. The sources, every week, before anyone asks for them.
No card. Unsubscribe any time.
Every source
- Pontifical Swiss Guard, history page: 147 fell on 6 May 1527; of 189, only 42 survived and accompanied Clement VII to the Engelsburg (Castel Sant'Angelo); commander Röist wounded and later killed; the Passetto; 2027 memorial year
- Pontifical Swiss Guard, home page: 'die 189 Gardisten'; the 2026 swearing-in 'traditionsgemäss am 6. Mai 2026'
- Vatican Radio, 6 May 2011: 147 killed, 42 survived, steps of St Peter's, mercenaries of Charles V, swearing-in 'still held on May 6th'
- Catholic Encyclopedia, 'Pope Clement VII': Landsknechte out of hand, reached the walls 5 May, Clement took refuge in Castel Sant'Angelo, eight days of sack
- Passetto: about 800 m atop the old Vatican wall; Clement VII used it to escape to Castel Sant'Angelo in 1527
- Passetto di Borgo: Clement VII escaped through it in 1527
- Stand of the Swiss Guard: 189 / 147 / 42; troops largely unpaid and mutinied; 6 May
- Vatican News, republished by America (2026-10-08): 500th anniversary throughout 2027, culmination at the Vatican May 5-7, new plaque
- Image: 'Capture of Rome, 1527', Triumphs of Charles V, Rijksmuseum, CC0
- Image: Sebastiano del Piombo, Pope Clement VII, Getty Museum, PD
- Image: Piranesi, Veduta del Ponte e Castello Sant'Angelo, Rijksmuseum RP-P-OB-39.325, CC0
Found an error? [email protected] — errata corrected the day they’re found.
Drafted with AI assistance, founder-directed, and checked against the sources linked here. Our editorial standards.
← All case files · The Library · Next case: Why the Church Stops at 3 Angel Names