Yonderian Guard: Difference between revisions

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The '''Pontifical Yonderian Guard''' (also '''Papal Yonderian Guard''' or simply '''Yonderian Guard'''; [[Latin language|Latin]]: ''Pontificia Cohors Joanusterra'', [[Burgoignesc language|Burgoignesc]]: ''Garde Yonderresc pontificale'', [[East Gothic language|Gothic]]: ''Päpstliche Yondersche Garde'') is an armed force and honour guard unit maintained by the Holy See that protects [[Pope|the Pope]] and the Apostolic Palace within the territory of the [[Papal State]]. Established in 1494 under Pope Alexander VI as a stipulation of the ''[[Treaty for the guarantee of Joanus' Land]]'', the Pontifical Yonderian Guard is among the oldest military units in continuous operation.  
The '''Pontifical Yonderian Guard''' (also '''Papal Yonderian Guard''' or simply '''Yonderian Guard'''; [[Latin language|Latin]]: ''Pontificia Cohors Joanusterra'', [[Burgoignesc language|Burgoignesc]]: ''Garde Yonderresc pontificale'', [[East Gothic language|Gothic]]: ''Päpstliche Yondersche Garde'') is an armed force and honour guard unit maintained by the Holy See that protects [[Pope|the Pope]] and the Apostolic Palace within the territory of the [[Papal State]]. Established in 1494 under Pope Alexander VI as a stipulation of the ''[[Treaty for the guarantee of Joanus' Land]]'', the Pontifical Yonderian Guard is among the oldest military units in continuous operation.  


Recruits to the guards must be unmarried [[Yonderre|Yonderian]] Catholic males between 18 and 30 years of age who have completed basic training with the [[Yonderian Defence Force]]. The dress uniform is of blue, red and black with a distinctly musketeer-like Renaissance appearance. The Yonderian Guard are equipped with traditional weapons, such as the sabre and halberd, as well as with modern firearms. Since the assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II in 1981, a much stronger emphasis has been placed on the Guard's non-ceremonial roles, and has seen enhanced training in unarmed combat and small arms.
Recruits to the guards must be unmarried [[Yonderre|Yonderian]] Catholic males between 18 and 30 years of age who have completed basic training with the [[Yonderian Defence Force]]. The dress uniform is of blue, red and black with a distinctly musketeer-like Early Enlightment-era appearance. The Yonderian Guard are equipped with traditional weapons, such as the sabre and halberd, as well as with modern firearms. Since the assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II in 1981, a much stronger emphasis has been placed on the Guard's non-ceremonial roles, and has seen enhanced training in unarmed combat and small arms.


At 489 strong, the Yonderian Guard is among the smallest active national military forces in the world, but its soldiers are nevertheless rated highly for their individual skill as soldiers and bodyguards for [[Papal State]] officials.  
At 489 strong, the Yonderian Guard is among the smallest active national military forces in the world, but its soldiers are nevertheless rated highly for their individual skill as soldiers and bodyguards for [[Papal State]] officials.  
==Uniform and equipment==
==Uniform and equipment==
The guard uniform of the Yonderian Guard is traditionally blue, red and black. The current design of the Yonderian Guard is of a distinctly musketeer-like Renaissance look, designed by [[Yonderre|Yonderian]] Dieter Wieghorst in 1888 during the [[Yonderian Golden Age]]. The 1888 uniform was designed to invoke the look of historic Yonderian Guardsmen, while prior to 1888, the Yonderian Guard had gradually updated its uniforms to follow modern trends. The uniform consists of a black cavalier hat with red trim and red and black ostrich feathers (historically, brightly colored pheasant or heron feathers were used), a dark blue cassock cape with embroidered crosses on the left chest and back, long dark blue frock coat with silver trim, dark blue jodhpurs and highly polished black hobnailed jackboots with elaborate detailing. An exercise uniform also exists, a much simpler uniform in dark blue material worn with a large black beret. Except for ceremonial guard and exercises, officers of the guard wear civilian dress when on duty.
The guard uniform of the Yonderian Guard is traditionally blue, red and black. The current design of the Yonderian Guard is of a distinctly musketeer-like Early Enlightment-era look, designed by [[Yonderre|Yonderian]] Dieter Wieghorst in 1888 during the [[Yonderian Golden Age]]. The 1888 uniform was designed to invoke the look of historic Yonderian Guardsmen, while prior to 1888, the Yonderian Guard had gradually updated its uniforms to follow modern trends. The uniform consists of a black cavalier hat with red trim and red and black ostrich feathers (historically, brightly colored pheasant or heron feathers were used), a dark blue cassock cape with embroidered crosses on the left chest and back, long dark blue frock coat with silver trim, dark blue jodhpurs and highly polished black hobnailed jackboots with elaborate detailing. An exercise uniform also exists, a much simpler uniform in dark blue material worn with a large black beret. Except for ceremonial guard and exercises, officers of the guard wear civilian dress when on duty.


Today, Yonderian Guardsmen wear extremely low-profile bullet-resistant vests underneath their frocks. The standard service pistol of the Yonderian Guard is the [[MAG-17]] which is worn discreetly underneath the frock in such a way that it can be drawn quickly. 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. [[FAMAG]] rifles and [[FP-2000]] precision rifles are employed by Yonderian Guardsmen in their function as bodyguards; as Yonderian Guardsmen are drawn from volunteers from the [[Yonderian Defence Force]], they are equipped similarly to the YDF so that they are already familiar with these weapons when they begin their service.  
Today, Yonderian Guardsmen wear extremely low-profile bullet-resistant vests underneath their frocks. The standard service pistol of the Yonderian Guard is the [[MAG-17]] which is worn discreetly underneath the frock in such a way that it can be drawn quickly. 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. [[FAMAG]] rifles and [[FP-2000]] precision rifles are employed by Yonderian Guardsmen in their function as bodyguards; as Yonderian Guardsmen are drawn from volunteers from the [[Yonderian Defence Force]], they are equipped similarly to the YDF so that they are already familiar with these weapons when they begin their service.  
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