Guardians of Saint Peter's Throne
| Guardians of Saint Peter's Throne Guardiani del Trono di San Pietro | |
|---|---|
| File:GTSPbanner.png Banner of the Guardians | |
| Active | 1315 AD 702 years ago |
| Country |  Ecclesiastical State |
| Allegiance | Papacy |
| Role | Personal protection of the Pope of the Fabrian Catholic Church, Cardinals and special operations |
| Size | 800-1,200 |
| Garrison/HQ | San Gerolamo Barracks |
| Nickname(s) | "Pope's Own" |
| Motto(s) | "Acriter et Fideliter" "Fiercely and Faithfully" |
| Engagements | War of Fabrian Unification Fabrian-Hellenic conflict 2008 Fabria Attack |
| Commanders | |
| Commander-in-chief | Julius IV |
| Captain-General of the Guardians of Saint Peter's Throne | Alessandro Eugenio Altieri |
The Guardians of Saint Peter's Throne (also Papal Guard, or Guards Cathedra; Latin: Cathedrae San Petri Ap Custodes; Fabrian: Guardiani del Trono di San Pietro; Hellenic: Kidemónes tou Thrónou tou Agíou Pétrou) is the smallest branch of the Ecclesiastical Army of Christ, charged with the personal protection of the Pope, Cardinals of the Catholic Church (while in residence in Fabria), the Vatican District and a limited scope of special operations.
The dress uniform is of blue, red, orange and yellow with a distinctly Renaissance appearance. The modern guard has the role of bodyguard of the Pope and Cardinals in residence in the Vatican. The Guardians are equipped with traditional weapons, such as the halberd, as well as with modern firearms. The Guardians also operate a smaller internal unit, known as the Guardians of Saint Paul (Guardiani di San Paolo), also known as the "Sciarii", who conduct special operations such as; covert reconnaissance, counter-terrorism, direct action and hostage rescue. As seen during the 2008 Fabria Attack.
Recruits to the guards must be unmarried Catholic males between 19 and 30 years of age who have completed basic training with the militaries of select countries, making the force intrinsically international.
History
Recruitment and service
Recruits to the guards must be Catholic, single males with citizenship and who have completed basic training with the armed forces of their respective nations and can obtain certificates of good conduct. Recruits must have a professional degree or high school diploma and must be between 19 and 30 years of age and at least 174 cm (5 ft 8.5 in) tall. All recruits are drawn from an exclusive list of nations (see below).
Qualified candidates must apply to serve, or are offered by their nations' governments through agreements with the Papacy. If accepted, new guards are sworn on 6 May every year in the San Benedetto Courtyard (Fabrian: Cortile di San Benedetto) in the Vatican. The chaplain of the guard reads aloud the oath in the language of the guard:
Selected nations for recruitment
The Guardians operate an international recruitment scheme from a select number of nations, that have "contributed greatly to the security of the Holy Father and Holy Mother Church." Since service with the Guardians is seen as a "huge universal honour for martial Catholic men", a nation being place on the list is seen as a great compliment. As such there are five countries currently on the list:
Arcadia: Added in 1860, the Arcadian contingent has played a prominent role in the Guardians' history since. Six Captain-Generals have been Arcadian, while the Arcadian government also provides funds directly to the Guardians. During the Arcadian-Belfrasian War, the two contingents were split and avoided contact until the war's end, however the Church played a significant role in bringing the two contingents together. 10% of personnel are Arcadian as of 2016.
Belfras: Added in 1860, the Belfrasian contingent has always been a sizeable one, with the Belfrasian armed forces celebrating its commitment to offering volunteers. During Operation Red Herring in 2000, twenty of the sixty Guardians deployed were Belfrasian and the unit was commanded by Col. Leonidas Anthridis, marking the first time the Guardians had been deployed in-field under the command of a non-Fabrian officer. 20% of personnel are Belfrasian as of 2016.
Latium: The first nation to draw recruits, Latium has been a major source of Guardians since late 16th century, with many of its noble families sending their youngest or middle sons in reverence to the Catholic Church, but also in the hope of drawing favor from the Papacy. The Latins form 26% of the personnel currently in service, making them the largest foreign contingent of soldiers.
Lyncanestria: Added in 1680, after Vannois, Lyncanestrian volunteers have been granted as gifts by the monarch, though the smallest contingent continuously, they have been firm in their service and their language, Lyonnois has become an integral cultural addition to the Guardians. 4% of personnel are Lyncanestrian as of 2016.
Vannois: Added in 1590, Vannois was the second country to be used for recruitment after Latium. Thirteen Captain-Generals have been Vannoisian, so long has Vannois provided guardsmen, that Lyonnois has become the second language of the Guardians. 10% of personnel are Vannoisian as of 2016.
The vast majority of Guardians however, have been drawn locally from the Ecclesiastical State itself. The Ecclesiastical Army of Christ provides its most highly qualified and decorated soldiers to the Guardians, who usually assume leadership roles, yet also the ranks.
Guardians of Saint Paul
The Guardians of Saint Paul (Guardiani di San Paolo), also commonly known as the "Sicarii", is a smaller subordinate unit of the Guardians, that forms the premier special forces of the Ecclesiastical Army of Christ; alongside the Blessed Arditi. Not much is known of the Sicarii, due to the highly classified nature of their existence. It is estimated however, that they number between 200 and 250, forming four distinct groups; the Maritime Sicarii, the Air Sicarii, the Mobile Sicarii and the Alpine Sicarii, each specialising in their respective terrain.
The Sicarii drew notoriety and a following during the 2008 Fabria Attack, when they were deployed to several office buildings located near the Vatican, to conduct hostage rescue missions after Hellenic separatists had taken over 800 civil servants hostage and launched two car bomb attacks in the capital. The operation was a success, with 787 hostages freed (though 13 were killed) and 26 separatists killed or captured.
Like the Guardians as a whole, the Sicarii is international in make-up. As of 2016, it was revealed that the Sicarii are comprised near exclusively of Fabrian, Latin and Belfrasian guardsmen, yet is commanded by an Arcadian.
Uniforms
Equipment
The eponymous main weapon of the halbardiers is the halberd; corporals and vice-corporals are equipped with a partisan polearm. Ranks above corporal do not have polearms, but on certain ceremonial occasions carry command batons. The banner is escorted by two flamberge great swords carried by corporals or vice-corporals. A dress sword is carried by all ranks, swords with a simple S-shaped crossguard by the lower ranks, and elaborate basket-hilt rapiers in the early baroque style by officers.
Arms and armour used by the Guardians are kept in the Santuario (sanctum). The Santuario also contains a collection of historical weapons no longer in use. The sanctum preserves a collection of historical plate armour (cuirasses or half-armour). The oldest specimens date to c. 1580, while the majority originates in the 18th century. Historical armour was worn on the occasion of canonizations until 1970, since 1970 their use has been limited to the oath ceremony on 6 May. The cuirasses are handmade, and the production of a single piece takes about 120 hours. The replicas are financed both by the Vatican and private donations through the Society of the Traditional.
The Guardians in their function as bodyguards are equipped with the VI.9P pistol and the VI.70 rifle. As recruits to the Guardians must have passed basic military training in their respective homelands, they are already familiar with these weapons when they begin their service. The pepper spray used by the Ecclesiastical Army (RSG-2000) is also in use. The VI.9P pistol and VI.11 submachine gun are reportedly also carried by Guardsmen in their function as plainclothes bodyguards.
Equipment for the Sicarii is unknown, though it is widely accepted that have access to the same range of weaponry as the rest of the Ecclesiastical Army of Christ.