A royal guard is a group of military bodyguards, soldiers or armed retainers responsible for the protection of a royal family member, such as a king or queen, or prince or princess. They often are an elite unit of the regular armed forces, or are designated as such, and may maintain special rights or privileges.
Royal guards have historically comprised both purely ceremonial units serving in close proximity to the monarch, as well as regiments from all arms, forming a designated substantial elite and intended for active service as part of the army. An example of the first category would include the Tropas de la Casa Real of the Spanish monarchy prior to 1930, comprising halberderos and a mounted escort. Examples of the second would include the Imperial Guards of the Russian and German Empires prior to 1917–18.[1]
Monarchs frequently modeled their royal guards upon those of fellow rulers. Thus, Napoleon I's Garde Imperiale was imitated by his opponent Alexander I of Russia, his Bourbon successor Louis XVIII, and his nephew Napoleon III. The modern Garderegiment Grenadiers en Jagers regiment of the Netherlands and the Escorte Royale of Belgium retain features of uniform and other distinctions that can be traced back to Napoleonic influences.[2]
Political importanceedit
Because of their location, status, role and nature, royal guards have frequently been able to play a political role beyond their intended military and social ones. In times of revolution, the continued loyalty or defection of such units has often played a key part in the outcome of wider unrest. Historical examples were England in 1688, Spain in 1808, Sweden in 1809, France in 1789 and again in 1814-15, Russia in 1917 and Persia in 1906 and again in 1953.[3]
Media related to Royal guards at Wikimedia Commons
February 15, 2024
royal, guard, royal, guardsmen, royal, soldier, redirect, here, band, royal, guardsmen, other, uses, royal, soldier, royal, guard, group, military, bodyguards, soldiers, armed, retainers, responsible, protection, royal, family, member, such, king, queen, princ. Royal Guardsmen and Royal soldier redirect here For the band see The Royal Guardsmen For other uses see Royal soldier A royal guard is a group of military bodyguards soldiers or armed retainers responsible for the protection of a royal family member such as a king or queen or prince or princess They often are an elite unit of the regular armed forces or are designated as such and may maintain special rights or privileges King s Guards at Buckingham Palace Contents 1 Institution and tasks 2 Political importance 3 List of royal guards 3 1 Past 3 2 Present 4 Similar units 5 Related units 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksInstitution and tasks edit nbsp The Palace Guard by Ernst Rudolf Royal guards have historically comprised both purely ceremonial units serving in close proximity to the monarch as well as regiments from all arms forming a designated substantial elite and intended for active service as part of the army An example of the first category would include the Tropas de la Casa Real of the Spanish monarchy prior to 1930 comprising halberderos and a mounted escort Examples of the second would include the Imperial Guards of the Russian and German Empires prior to 1917 18 1 Monarchs frequently modeled their royal guards upon those of fellow rulers Thus Napoleon I s Garde Imperiale was imitated by his opponent Alexander I of Russia his Bourbon successor Louis XVIII and his nephew Napoleon III The modern Garderegiment Grenadiers en Jagers regiment of the Netherlands and the Escorte Royale of Belgium retain features of uniform and other distinctions that can be traced back to Napoleonic influences 2 Political importance editBecause of their location status role and nature royal guards have frequently been able to play a political role beyond their intended military and social ones In times of revolution the continued loyalty or defection of such units has often played a key part in the outcome of wider unrest Historical examples were England in 1688 Spain in 1808 Sweden in 1809 France in 1789 and again in 1814 15 Russia in 1917 and Persia in 1906 and again in 1953 3 List of royal guards editSee also List of protective service agencies Past edit nbsp Royal Guards in Baroda nbsp The French Guards at Fontenoy in 1745 Mesedi in the Hittite Empire Medjay since the old kingdom of Egypt until the Ptolemaic dynasty Somatophylakes in the ancient Kingdom of Macedonia Royal Palace Guards in Burma Hangu Beykalun the Royal Bodyguards of Maldivian Sultan the unit was formed by Muhammad Thakurufaanu al Auzam 1573 1585 decommissioned in early 1930s at the end of the reign Sultan Muhammad Shamsuddeen III Royal Foreign Units Guards King s Royal Guards such as the Scottish Guard Swiss Guards such as the Hundred Swiss Guards of the French Royal Army which served the European monarchies such as the Kingdom of France the Ancien Regime part of the Maison militaire du roi de France Monaspa in the Kingdom of Georgia Tobang in the Goryeo dynasty of Korea Naegeumwi in the Joseon dynasty of Korea Athapattuva in the Kingdom of Kandy Monteros de Espinosa in the Kingdom amp Crown of Castille now part of the Guardia Real of Spain Walloon Guards in Spain recruited from the Spanish Netherlands Spanish Guards Gardes Espagnoles an infantry regiment brigaded with the Walloon Guards but recruited within Spain itself Maison militaire du roi de France to which belonged the Garde du Corps the Swiss Guards and the French Guards in the Kingdom of France Royal Foot Guard in the Kingdom of Poland and the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth Leibgarde der Hartschier in the Kingdom of Bavaria Guards Corps in the Kingdom of Prussia and later in the German Empire Noble Guard and Palatine Guard in the Holy See until 1970 Corazzieri and Granatieri di Sardegna in the Kingdom of Sardinia and later the Kingdom of Italy Personal Cavalry Convoy in the Principality of Bulgaria and Kingdom of Bulgaria Konigliche Ungarische adelige Leibgarde Royal Hungarian Noble Bodyguard Royal Hungarian Crown Guard In existence under both the Austro Hungarian Empire and the subsequent Kingdom of Hungary Royal Guard of the Halberdiers in the Kingdom of Portugal Royal Palace Guard in Belgium Royal Guard in Greece now the Presidential Guard Romanian Royal Guards in RomaniaPresent edit Royal Guard in Bahrain Royal Escort in Belgium Gurkha Reserve Unit in Brunei Ceremonial Guard in Canada Den Kongelige Livgarde and Guard Hussar Regiment Mounted Squadron in Denmark Royal Guard in Jordan Royal Johor Military Force in Malaysia Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince in Monaco Royal Guard in Morocco Grenadiers and Rifles Guard Regiment Garderegiment Fuseliers Prinses Irene and the Royal Marechaussee in the Netherlands Hans Majestet Kongens Garde in Norway Royal Guard in Oman Royal Guard Regiment in Saudi Arabia Guardia Real in Spain Livgardet and Livregementets husarer in Sweden King s Guard and the Royal Security Command in Thailand King s Guard Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms High Constables and Guard of Honour of the Palace of Holyroodhouse Royal Company of Archers and Yeomen of the Guard in the United Kingdom Pontifical Swiss Guard in Vatican CitySimilar units editFoot guards Household Division Imperial guard Lifeguard Presidential guardRelated units editColour guard Guard of honour Sovereign s BodyguardSee also editUnited States Secret Service Republican guard National guard Imperial guard Swiss GuardsReferences edit Jose M Bueno El Ejercito de Alfonso XIII Tropas de la Casa Real ISBN 84 86071 01 1 Philip Mason Pillars of Monarchy ISBN 0 7043 2424 5 Philip Mason page 167 Pillars of Monarchy ISBN 0 7043 2424 5External links edit nbsp Media related to Royal guards at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Royal guard amp oldid 1192348311, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
