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Friday, August 5, 2011

Swiss Mercenaries in Rome

Portrait of Gentleman, aka Cesare Borgia.Image via Wikipedia

Author: Daniele

On January 22, 1506 is the official birthday of the Pontifical Swiss Guard, because on this day, at twilight, a group of one hundred and fifty Swiss, commanded by Captain Kaspar von Silenen, the canton of Uri, entered through Porta del Popolo to first time in the Vatican, where they were blessed by Pope Julius II. The prelate John Burchard of Strasbourg, the papal master of ceremonies and lead author of a famous chronicle of his time, noted the event in his diary. Indeed, even before, Sixtus IV had concluded an alliance with the Confederates 14 79, by means of a treaty which provided the opportunity to recruit mercenaries. He built housing for them near the church of S. Pelle-grin, the present Via del Pellegrino. Innocent VIII (1484-1492) under the old treaty renewed, wanted to use them against the Duke of Milan. Even Alexander VI will use the Confederate soldiers during the alliance of the Borgias with the King of France. At the time of the powerful Borgia family originated in Italy the great wars that saw the Swiss in the foreground, sometimes allies of France and sometimes supporters of the Holy See or the Holy Roman Empire of the Germanic nation.

When the Swiss mercenaries heard that Charles VIII, King of France, was preparing a great expedition against Naples, rushed en masse to be enrolled. At the end of 1494 in Rome, there are thousands of step with the French army in February next occupy Naples. Among the participants in this expedition against Naples, was also Cardinal Giuliano della Rovere, the future Julius II, who under Alexander VI had left Italy and had gone to France. He was well acquainted with the Swiss, also because some twenty years earlier he had received as a benefit, among others, the bishop of Lausanne. A few months later, however, Charles VIII was forced to leave in a hurry from Naples and could hardly break the blockade and return to France. In fact, Pope Alexander VI had linked Milan, Venice, Germanic Empire and Ferdinand the Catholic of Spain according to anti-French.
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Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/destinations-articles/swiss-mercenaries-in-rome-5096212.html
About the Author

Daniele Davide, manager of Tredy Sas.
When You book an apartment in Rome Apartment in Rome , with us You'll realize how beautiful and magic this city is.


Book Rome apartments , and You'll enjoy the unique atmosphere of this beautiful city