The Swiss Guard, the world's smallest army, celebrated its 500th anniversary as protectors of the world's smallest state today with a Vatican City celebration blessed by the Pope.
Pope Benedict, peering down at the world's oldest mercenary force from his window on St. Peter's Square, thanked the guards for their dedication over the past half-millennium.
It was on January 22nd, 1506, when 150 Swiss mercenaries marched to Rome to serve under Pope Julius II.
"This was the birth of the Swiss Guard, which we now see in all of its beauty gathered here before us in St. Peter's Square," the Pope said.
"Thanks for your service of 500 years," he said, triggering applause from the thousands of onlookers gathered in the heart of Vatican City.
Today, the guard numbers 110 men - all Catholics who hail from the Swiss Army. They have to be at least 5 foot, 9 inches tall (174 cm) to apply for the job.
Sunday's celebrations were the first during a six-month series of events and were kicked off with special mass at the Sistine Chapel.
Guards wearing Renaissance-style blue, gold and red uniforms knelt under the frescoed ceiling painted by Michelangelo. Their uniforms are also often described as his handiwork, but in reality they were crafted by a former commander of the Guard in 1914.
Complete with a brass band, the guards then marched onto St Peter's Square to be greeted by the Pontiff.
One highlight of the celebrations, which run from January to July, will be a 723 km (450 mile), 27-day march from Bellinzona, Switzerland to re-enact the Guards' entry to Rome when Pope Julius II hired them to protect him.
A ceremony on May 6th will commemorate the day in 1527 when 147 Guards were killed in St Peter's Square defending Pope Clement VII during the Sack of Rome.
They were also involved in minor skirmishes in 1870 when the Church lost the Papal States in the Unification of Italy.