以前瑞士是欧洲的穷国,当雇用兵的不少。 因为瑞士的中立的传统,国外皇室的都喜欢用瑞士人当卫士因为他们不会因为政治而摇摆。这点在法国大革命推翻路易丝16世时充份体现出来。600-700瑞士兵卫士因保卫皇室被杀害,他们的头和身体被扔在街上让小孩和妇女踢来踢去。
In the early 1800s, the Danish artist Bertel Thorvaldsen was hired to sculpt a monument to the fallen Swiss Guards.
Mark Twain (1835–1910) praised the sculpture of a mortally-wounded lion as "the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world."
有意思的是瑞士现在还保持中立,他们的军队主要的是到国外维持和平。