The Swiss Guard’s Last Stand Was Far More Horrifying Than You Were Taught

On May 6, 1527, mutinous imperial troops stormed Rome. Between Pope Clement VII and an attacking force numbering in the tens of thousands stood just 189 members of the Swiss Guard. As Rome descended into violence and looting, 147 guards were killed. The surviving 42 helped protect the Pope’s escape through the Passetto di Borgo to Castel Sant’Angelo. This documentary reconstructs the events surrounding the Sack of Rome, explains why the imperial army turned on the city, and examines how the Swiss Guard’s desperate defense became one of the most famous last stands in European history. This is the story behind the battle, the sacrifice, and the destruction that permanently changed Renaissance Rome. #History #SwissGuard #SackOfRome