List of commanders of the Swiss Guard

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Commander of the Pontifical Swiss Guard
German: Kommandant der Päpstlichen Schweizergarde
French: Commandant de la Garde Suisse Pontificale
Italian: Comandante della Guardia Svizzera Pontificia
Latin: Praefecti Pontificalis Custodiae Helveticae
Flag of the Pontifical Swiss Guard with commander Christoph Graf's emblem
Incumbent
Christoph Graf
since 7 February 2015
Member ofThe Pontifical Swiss Guard
Reports toThe Pope
ResidenceVatican City
Formation22 January 1506 (518 years ago)
First holderKaspar von Silenen
DeputyPhilippe Morard

The Commander of the Pontifical Swiss Guard is the head of the Pontifical Swiss Guard. In total, there have been 35 commanders of the Swiss Guard serving 51 popes, with interruptions during 1527–1548 following the Sack of Rome, in 1564/5, in 1704–1712 and in 1798/9 following the French invasion. 24 out of 35 commanders were citizens of the city of Lucerne (not counting the incumbent, Christoph Graf, who is from Pfaffnau in the canton of Lucerne). During 1652–1847 the office became quasi-heritable, with ten commanders members of the Pfyffer von Altishofen family of Lucerne. Two commanders were from Zürich, serving during the years of the Swiss Reformation; in modern times, three commanders were from St. Gallen, two from Fribourg, and one each from Solothurn, Grisons and Valais.

List of Commanders[edit]

List:[1]

No. Portrait Commander of the Pontifical Swiss Guard Took office Left office Time in office Place of origin Pope
1
Kaspar von Silenen
von Silenen, KasparKaspar von Silenen
(1467–1517)
15065 August 1517 †10–11 yearsSilenen, Uri; LuzernJulius II
Leo X
2
Marx Röist
Röist, MarxMarx Röist
(1454–1524)
151715 June 1524 †6–7 yearsZürichLeo X
Adrian VI
Clement VII
3
Caspar Röist
Röist, CasparCaspar Röist
(1478–1527)
15246 May 1527 †2–3 yearsZürichClement VII
Guard disbanded
(1527–1548)
4
Jost von Meggen [it]
von Meggen, JostJost von Meggen [it]
(1509–1559)
154817 March 1559 †10–11 yearsLuzernPaul III
Julius III
Marcellus II
Paul IV
5
Kaspar Leo von Silenen
von Silenen, Kaspar LeoKaspar Leo von Silenen155915644–5 yearsLuzernPius IV
Guard disbanded
(1564–1566)
6
Jost Segesser von Brunegg [it]
von Brunegg, Jost SegesserJost Segesser von Brunegg [it]
(1529–1592)
15661592 †25–26 yearsLuzernPius V
Gregory XIII
Sixtus V
Paul IV
Urban VII
Gregory XIV
Innocent IX
Clement VIII
7
Stephan Alexander Segesser von Brunegg [it]
von Brunegg, Stephan Alexander SegesserStephan Alexander Segesser von Brunegg [it]
(1570–1629)
159216 August 1629 †36–37 yearsLuzernClement VIII
Leo XI
Paul V
Gregory XV
Urban VIII
8
Nikolaus Fleckenstein [it]
Fleckenstein, NikolausNikolaus Fleckenstein [it]
(1580–1645)
1629164010–11 yearsLuzernUrban VIII
9
Jost Fleckenstein [it]
Fleckenstein, JostJost Fleckenstein [it]
(1588–1652)
164026 June 1652 †11–12 yearsLuzernUrban VIII
Innocent X
10
Johann Rudolf Pfyffer von Altishofen
Pfyffer von Altishofen, Johann RudolfJohann Rudolf Pfyffer von Altishofen
(1615–1657)
165217 May 1657 †4–5 yearsLuzernInnocent X
Alexander VII
11
Ludwig Pfyffer von Altishofen
Pfyffer von Altishofen, LudwigLudwig Pfyffer von Altishofen
(?–1686)
16581686 †27–28 yearsLuzernAlexander VII
Clement IX
Clement X
Innocent XI
12
Franz Pfyffer von Altishofen
Pfyffer von Altishofen, FranzFranz Pfyffer von Altishofen
(?–1696)
16861696 †9–10 yearsLuzernInnocent XI
Alexander VIII
Innocent XII
13
Johann Kaspar Mayr von Baldegg [it]
von Baldegg, Johann Kaspar MayrJohann Kaspar Mayr von Baldegg [it]
(?–1704)
16961704 †7–8 yearsLuzernInnocent XII
Clement XI
-
Johann Rudolf Pfyffer von Altishofen
Pfyffer von Altishofen, Johann RudolfJohann Rudolf Pfyffer von Altishofen
Acting
170417127–8 yearsLuzernClement XI
14
Johann Konrad Pfyffer von Altishofen
Pfyffer von Altishofen, Johann KonradJohann Konrad Pfyffer von Altishofen
(?–1727)
17121727 †14–15 yearsLuzernClement XI
Innocent XIII
Benedict XIII
15
Franz Ludwig Pfyffer von Altishofen
Pfyffer von Altishofen, Franz LudwigFranz Ludwig Pfyffer von Altishofen
(?–1772)
1727175426–27 yearsLuzernBenedict XIII
Clement XII
Benedict XIV
16
Jost Ignaz Pfyffer von Altishofen
Pfyffer von Altishofen, Jost IgnazJost Ignaz Pfyffer von Altishofen1754178223–24 yearsLuzernBenedict XIV
Clement XIII
Clement XIV
Pius VI
17
Franz Alois Pfyffer von Altishofen
Pfyffer von Altishofen, Franz AloisFranz Alois Pfyffer von Altishofen1783179814–15 yearsLuzernPius VI
Post vacant
(1798–1800)
18
Karl Leodegar Pfyffer von Altishofen
Pfyffer von Altishofen, Karl LeodegarKarl Leodegar Pfyffer von Altishofen1800183433–34 yearsLuzernPius VII
Gregory XVI
Leo XII
Pius VIII
19
Martin Pfyffer von Altishofen
Pfyffer von Altishofen, MartinMartin Pfyffer von Altishofen1835184711–12 yearsLuzernGregory XVI
Pius IX
20
Franz Xaver Leopold Meyer von Schauensee
Meyer von Schauensee, Franz Xaver LeopoldFranz Xaver Leopold Meyer von Schauensee
(1803–1860)
18471860 †12–13 yearsLuzernPius IX
21
Alfred von Sonnenberge
von Sonnenberge, AlfredAlfred von Sonnenberge1860187817–18 yearsLuzernPius IX
22
Louis-Martin de Courten [it]
de Courten, Louis-MartinLouis-Martin de Courten [it]
(1835–1937)
1878190122–23 yearsSierre, ValaisLeo XIII
23
Leopold Meyer von Schauensee
Meyer von Schauensee, LeopoldLeopold Meyer von Schauensee
(1852–1910)
19011910 †8–9 yearsLuzernLeo XIII
Pius X
24
Jules Repond
Repond, JulesJules Repond
(1853–1933)
1910192110–11 yearsFreiburgPius X
Benedict XV
25
Alois Hirschbühl
Hirschbühl, AloisAlois Hirschbühl1921193513–14 yearsBrusio, GraubündenBenedict XV
Pius XI
26
Georg von Sury d'Aspremont
d'Aspremont, Georg von SuryGeorg von Sury d'Aspremont193519426–7 yearsSolothurnPius XI
Pius XII
27
Heinrich Pfyffer von Altishofen
Pfyffer von Altishofen, HeinrichHeinrich Pfyffer von Altishofen1942195714–15 yearsLuzernPius XII
28
Robert Nünlist [it]
Nünlist, RobertRobert Nünlist [it]
(1911–1991)
1957197214–15 yearsLuzernPius XII
John XXIII
Paul VI
29
Franz Pfyffer von Altishofen
Pfyffer von Altishofen, FranzFranz Pfyffer von Altishofen
(1917–1995)
197219829–10 yearsLuzernPaul VI
John Paul I
John Paul II
30
Roland Buchs [de]
Buchs, RolandRoland Buchs [de]
(born 1941)
25 November 198229 November 199715 years, 4 daysFreiburgJohn Paul II
-
Alois Estermann
Estermann, AloisAlois Estermann
(1954–1998)
Acting
29 November 19974 May 1998156 daysLuzernJohn Paul II
31
Alois Estermann
Estermann, AloisAlois Estermann
(1954–1998)
4 May 19984 May 1998 †0 daysLuzernJohn Paul II
(30)
Roland Buchs [de]
Buchs, RolandRoland Buchs [de]
(born 1941)
Acting
6 May 199816 August 199841 daysFreiburgJohn Paul II
32
Pius Segmüller
Segmüller, PiusPius Segmüller
(born 1952)
199820023–4 yearsSt. GallenJohn Paul II
33
Elmar Theodor Mäder
Mäder, Elmar TheodorElmar Theodor Mäder
(born 1963)
200220085–6 yearsWuppenau, Thurgau / St. GallenJohn Paul II
Benedict XVI
34
Daniel Rudolf Anrig
Anrig, Daniel RudolfDaniel Rudolf Anrig
(born 1972)
19 August 200831 January 20156 years, 165 daysSargans, St. GallenBenedict XVI
Francis
35
Christoph Graf
Graf, ChristophChristoph Graf
(born 1961)
7 February 2015Incumbent9 years, 49 daysPfaffnau, LuzernFrancis

References[edit]

  1. ^ Guardia Svizzera Pontificia (2013). "Comandanti" (in Italian). Retrieved 19 February 2018.