The Noble Guard (Guardia Nobile) was the most senior guard unit of the Vatican City. It was formed by Pope Pius VII in 1801 as a regiment of light cavalry. Initially, the regiment was tasked with providing escort for the Pope and other senior Princes of the Church, and missions within the Papal States at the behest of the Pope. One of their first major duties was to escort Pius VII to Paris for the coronation of Napoleon I. With the unification of Italy and the confiscation of the Papal States in 1870, the Noble Guard became a corps of foot guards. Pope Pius VII, O.S.B., born Giorgio Barnaba Luigi Chiaramonti (August 14, 1740 - August 20, 1823), was Pope from March 14, 1800 to August 20, 1823. ... 1801 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... The Pope is the Catholic Bishop and patriarch of Rome, and head of the Roman Catholic Church. ... A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official in the Roman Catholic Church, ranking just below the Pope and appointed by him as a member of the College of Cardinals during a consistory. ... The Papal States (Gli Stati della Chiesa or Stati Pontificii, States of the Church) was one of the historical states of Italy before the peninsula was unified under the crown of Savoy. ... The Eiffel Tower has become a symbol of Paris throughout the world. ... Bonaparte as general Napoleon Bonaparte ( 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821) was a general of the French Revolution and was the ruler of France as First Consul (Premier Consul) of the French Republic from November 11, 1799 to May 18, 1804, then as Emperor of the French (Empereur des Français... 1870 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ...

The corps was volunteer - its members were not paid for their service, and had to pay for their own equipment. The commander of the corps was called the Captain, which was the equivilent of a General in the Italian Army. One of the subordinate positions within the corps was that of Hereditary Standard-Bearer, who was responsible for carrying the standard of the Catholic Church. General is a military rank used by nearly every country in the world. ... Ariete Tanks of the Italian Ariete Tank Brigade on exercise Three Bersaglieri ride in a Dardo The Italian Army has recently become a professional all-volunteer force of some 112,000 active duty personnel, around 70% male, 30% female. ... The Roman Catholic Church believes its founding was based on Jesus appointment of Saint Peter as the primary church leader, later Bishop of Rome. ...

The Noble Guard made its appearance in public only when the pope took part in a public function; when the pope withdrew, he was followed by the Noble Guard. During a vacancy of the Holy See, the corps stood at the service of the College of Cardinals. The Sacred College of Cardinals is the body of all Cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church. ...

The guard was abolished in 1970 as part of the reforms of the Church following Vatican II. 1970 was a common year starting on Thursday. ... The Second Vatican Council, or Vatican II, was an Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church opened under Pope John XXIII in 1962 and closed under Pope Paul VI in 1965. ...