Corsican Guard

The '''Corsican Guard''' ([[Italian language|Italian]] and [[Corsican language|Corsican]]: ''Guardia Corsa'') was a military unit of the [[Papal States]] composed exclusively of [[Corsican people|Corsican]] mercenaries on duty in [[Rome]], having the functions of an urban militia and guard for the [[Pope]].

The '''Corsican Guard''' ([[Italian language|Italian]] and [[Corsican language|Corsican]]: ''Guardia Corsa'') was a military unit of the [[Papal States]] composed exclusively of [[Corsican people|Corsican]] mercenaries on duty in [[Rome]], having the functions of an urban militia and guard for the [[Pope]].

Preceded by several militias composed of Corsicans since the fifteenth century, the Corsican Guard was formally founded in 1603 under [[Pope Clement VIII]]. The unit was disbanded in 1662 upon request of the French king [[Louis XIV of France|Louis XIV]], following [[Corsican Guard Affair|an incident]] between Corsican soldiers and Frenchmen near the French Embassy in Rome at [[Palazzo Farnese]].

Preceded by several militias composed of Corsicans since the fifteenth century, the Corsican Guard was formally founded in 1603 under [[Pope Clement VIII]]. The unit was disbanded in 1662 upon request of the French king [[Louis XIV]], following [[Corsican Guard Affair|an incident]] between Corsican soldiers and Frenchmen near the French Embassy in Rome at [[Palazzo Farnese]].

== History ==

== History ==

The end of the Corsican Guard, triggered by an incident that occurred in Rome on August{{nbsp}}20, 1662, gives an insight into the evolution of the geopolitical situation in [[Europe]] and on the growing [[Kingdom of France|French]] influence in Italy. Toward the middle of the 17th century, the presence in Rome of numerous diplomatic missions of the European states ended up creating a paradoxical situation in which the major powers{{snds}}through over-extension of the concept of [[extraterritoriality]], the so-called "liberty of quarters"{{snds}}had in some cases provided their embassies with real military garrisons (whose soldiers were free to bear weapons throughout the city), leading to the transformation of entire areas of the city center into free zones, where criminals and killers could find refuge, untouchable by the law.Paita (1998) p. 294

The end of the Corsican Guard, triggered by an incident that occurred in Rome on August{{nbsp}}20, 1662, gives an insight into the evolution of the geopolitical situation in [[Europe]] and on the growing [[Kingdom of France|French]] influence in Italy. Toward the middle of the 17th century, the presence in Rome of numerous diplomatic missions of the European states ended up creating a paradoxical situation in which the major powers{{snds}}through over-extension of the concept of [[extraterritoriality]], the so-called "liberty of quarters"{{snds}}had in some cases provided their embassies with real military garrisons (whose soldiers were free to bear weapons throughout the city), leading to the transformation of entire areas of the city center into free zones, where criminals and killers could find refuge, untouchable by the law.Paita (1998) p. 294

[[Pope Alexander VII]] [[House of Chigi|Chigi]] (r.{{nbsp}}1655–67) tried to limit these excesses and was soon satisfied by the actions of both [[Spanish Empire|Spain]] and the [[Holy Roman Empire]]. In contrast, [[Louis XIV of France]] (r. 1643–1715), who was hostile to the Pope, sent to Rome his cousin [[Charles III de Créquy|Charles III, Duke of Créqui]], as Extraordinary Ambassador together with a reinforced military escort, in order to antagonize the Roman court and the Pope's family.{{cite book|last1=Muratori|first1=Ludovico Antonio|title=Annali d'Italia|publisher=Tipografia de' F.lli Ubicini|year=1838|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_AIqiD3XbhQcC|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_AIqiD3XbhQcC/page/n615 605]|language=Italian}}Stumpo (1986) The ambassador's task was apparently to sabotage the pope's effort to create an anti-[[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] alliance. Regarding the liberty of quarters issue, Créqui demanded that the pope extend it well behind the limit of Palazzo Farnese, including [[via Giulia]], which was part of the way along which the Corsican soldiers had to walk each day in order to reach the ''[[Carceri Nuove]]'' (the state prison) from their barracks at the Trinità dei Pellegrini. The commander of the Guard, Don Mario Chigi, reacted to that by ordering 150 soldiers to patrol the streets of Rome.

[[Pope Alexander VII]] [[House of Chigi|Chigi]] (r.{{nbsp}}1655–67) tried to limit these excesses and was soon satisfied by the actions of both [[Spanish Empire|Spain]] and the [[Holy Roman Empire]]. In contrast, [[Louis XIV]] of France (r. 1643–1715), who was hostile to the Pope, sent to Rome his cousin [[Charles III de Créquy|Charles III, Duke of Créqui]], as Extraordinary Ambassador together with a reinforced military escort, in order to antagonize the Roman court and the Pope's family.{{cite book|last1=Muratori|first1=Ludovico Antonio|title=Annali d'Italia|publisher=Tipografia de' F.lli Ubicini|year=1838|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_AIqiD3XbhQcC|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_AIqiD3XbhQcC/page/n615 605]|language=Italian}}Stumpo (1986) The ambassador's task was apparently to sabotage the pope's effort to create an anti-[[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] alliance. Regarding the liberty of quarters issue, Créqui demanded that the pope extend it well behind the limit of Palazzo Farnese, including [[via Giulia]], which was part of the way along which the Corsican soldiers had to walk each day in order to reach the ''[[Carceri Nuove]]'' (the state prison) from their barracks at the Trinità dei Pellegrini. The commander of the Guard, Don Mario Chigi, reacted to that by ordering 150 soldiers to patrol the streets of Rome.

On August{{nbsp}}20, 1662, a serious brawl at the [[Ponte Sisto]] erupted between Corsican soldiers controlling the bridge and Frenchmen belonging to the retinue of the French ambassador. The affront must have been particularly serious (many more such incidents are reported since 1661, but without serious consequences), because even the soldiers at rest in the barracks of the Guard at the Trinità dei Pellegrini near [[Palazzo Spada]] came to besiege the nearby [[Palazzo Farnese]], residence of the French ambassador, demanding the delivery of the Frenchmen responsible for the clash. A shootout followed, triggered by the casual return to Palazzo Farnese, under heavy French military escort, of the wife of the ambassador. A [[page (servant)|page]] of Lady Créqui was mortally wounded, and Louis XIV took advantage of the incident to escalate the confrontation with the [[Holy See]], already started under the government of [[Cardinal Mazarin]].

On August{{nbsp}}20, 1662, a serious brawl at the [[Ponte Sisto]] erupted between Corsican soldiers controlling the bridge and Frenchmen belonging to the retinue of the French ambassador. The affront must have been particularly serious (many more such incidents are reported since 1661, but without serious consequences), because even the soldiers at rest in the barracks of the Guard at the Trinità dei Pellegrini near [[Palazzo Spada]] came to besiege the nearby [[Palazzo Farnese]], residence of the French ambassador, demanding the delivery of the Frenchmen responsible for the clash. A shootout followed, triggered by the casual return to Palazzo Farnese, under heavy French military escort, of the wife of the ambassador. A [[page (servant)|page]] of Lady Créqui was mortally wounded, and Louis XIV took advantage of the incident to escalate the confrontation with the [[Holy See]], already started under the government of [[Cardinal Mazarin]].