Page "Swiss Guard" Paragraph 1

Swiss Guards or Schweizergarde are the Swiss soldiers who have served as bodyguards, ceremonial guards, and palace guards at foreign European courts since the late 15th century.

Apart from household and guard units, regular Swiss mercenary regiments have served as line troops in various armies ; notably those of France, Spain and Naples up to the 19th century ( see Swiss Mercenaries ).

In contemporary usage, the name Swiss Guards generally refers to the Pontifical Swiss Guard of Holy See.