<P> There were two different corps of Swiss mercenaries performing guard duties for the Kings of France: the Hundred Swiss (Cent Suisses), serving within the Palace as essentially bodyguards and ceremonial troops, and the Swiss Guards (Gardes Suisses), guarding the entrances and outer perimeter . In addition the Gardes Suisses served in the field as a fighting regiment in times of war . </P> <P> Francis I of France used some 120,000 Swiss mercenaries in the Italian Wars . After the Perpetual Peace of 1516, a separate Soldbündnis or service pact between the Swiss Confederacy and the kingdom of France was concluded in 1521, allowing the service of Swiss mercenary regiments as regular parts of the French armed forces . This arrangement outlasted three centuries, with four Swiss regiments participating in the French invasion of Russia in 1812, foreign military service of Swiss citizens being finally outlawed in 1848 with the formation of Switzerland as a federal state . </P> <P> The Hundred Swiss were created in 1480 when Louis XI retained a Swiss company for his personal guard . By 1496 they comprised one hundred guardsmen plus about twenty - seven officers and sergeants . Their main role was the protection of the King within the palace as the garde du dedans du Louvre (the Louvre indoor guard), but in the earlier part of their history they accompanied the King to war . In the Battle of Pavia (1525) the Hundred Swiss of Francis I of France were slain before Francis was captured by the Spanish . The Hundred Swiss shared the indoor guard with the King's Bodyguards (Garde du Corps), who were Frenchmen . </P> <P> The Hundred Swiss were armed with halberds, the blade of which carried the Royal arms in gold, as well as gold - hilted swords . Their ceremonial dress as worn until 1789 comprised an elaborate 16th century Swiss costume covered with braiding and livery lace . A less ornate dark blue and red uniform with bearskin headdress was worn for ordinary duties . </P>

Who was ordered to guard the sword of kings