![During the Sack of Rome of 1527, Pope Clement VII was protected by Swiss Guards as he fled the Vatican. Illustration by Marco Heer](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/illustration-marco-heer-1-300x225.jpg)
The darkest day in the history of the Swiss Guard
The Sack of Rome, or ‘Sacco di Roma’, by the leaderless troops of Charles V on 6 May 1527 ended in a bloodbath that also cost the lives of 147 Swiss guards. Traces of that dark day are still being discovered.
![Pope Clement VII in a painting by Sebastiano del Piombo, circa 1531.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/clemente-265x300.jpg)
![Emperor Charles V, painting (sketch) by Titian and his workshop assistant Lambert Sustris, 1548.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/charles-v-195x300.jpg)
![The ‘Sacco di Roma’ in a painting by Johannes Lingelbach from the 17th century.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/lingelbach-300x157.jpg)
![Swiss Guard from the Papal Guard in a print, circa 1850.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/soldato-svizzero-206x300.jpg)
![Swearing-in ceremony of the Swiss Guard at the Vatican on 6 May 2021.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/gardisten-300x200.jpg)
![‘Disputa del Sacramento’ fresco, painting by Raphael, 1509.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/estancia-del-sello-300x221.jpg)
![Scratched name ‘Luther’ in the ‘Disputa del Sacramento’ fresco.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/luther-300x155.jpg)