Admittedly, this one is a cop-out on a couple of levels. I’ve tried to avoid posting more than one song by an artist I’ve already done a song by. I originally made an exception for The Last Stand by posting on May 6, the anniversary of the events described in the song.
But, also, I’m going to be away this weekend from Thursday night to Sunday evening or so, so I want to ensure I have plenty of posts to schedule to make things as easy as possible for myself.
Ahem.
May 6, 1527: a break-down of leadership among the Imperial army of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, frustrated by a lack of pay on campaign, leads to said army rampaging through the streets of Rome and ransacking the city.
As Pope Clement VII attempts to flee to safety, the vastly-outnumbered 189 Swiss Guards make a stand at the Teutonic Cemetery adjacent to St. Peter’s Basilica. 42 survivors of the Swiss Guard succeed in evacuating the Pope to Castel Sant’Angelo, who is ultimately forced to pay a ransom to the Imperial troops to ensure his own safety.
The Sack of Rome is generally regarded as the end of the cultural flourishing of the Renaissance, was a major blow to the political power of the Papacy, in turn increasing the Holy Roman Empire’s political power in Italy, while also standing as a black mark on the reputation of Charles V (who was ultimately absolved by the Pope).
Because of the valour of the Swiss Guard on May 6, 1527, May 6 is now the date of the annual swearing-in ceremony of new members of the Swiss Guard.
Of note: Swiss Guards must actually be Swiss citizens, Catholic, unmarried, between the ages of 18-30, have undergone basic training with the Swiss Army and, as I recall, must be at least 5’8″.
“For the grace, for the might of our Lord
Lyrics here.
In the name of His glory
For the faith, for the way of the sword
Come and tell their story again.”
We’ve already met Sabaton, so I’ll keep this brief. They’re a Swedish Power Metal band, whose songs are all about major historical battles.
The title track of their album The Last Stand tells of the events of May 6, 1527, and has proven to be one of their most popular tracks:
The full playlist is here:
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