The Swiss Guard: In The Service Of Heaven

We travel back to a time where somehow, Switzerland had one of the most powerful militaries ON THE PLANET. The crazy part is, they didn’t even use it themselves. They sent them off to the highest bidder for a while until The Pope struck a long term deal, the longest term deal in military history; over 500 years with the Swiss. They sent their best and most brutal fighters to The Vatican to protect the Throne of Christianity. They swore an oath to The Pope. Not to protect and serve; but to die in his service if it required. This was a deal paid for in the blood of Swiss Guardsman on the stairs of St. Peter’s Basilica in one of the bravest last stands in human history. 189 men stood tall against a force of at least 20,000 armed and desperate mercenaries. 106 to 1 odds. And that’s not even all of the history… IF you’re over on Patreon you’ll get an extended version of the show with a tie in bonus episode that I was lucky enough to be as guest for with my friend Levi from The Remedial Scholar Podcast where we talked about The Munster Rebellion which ties in pretty well. If not you’ll get that as a standalone bonus when this one drops!