What is the oldest, continually active military corps in history?

The Swiss Guard , right mozart?

That's right Kelleygirl. They have been protecting the Pope for nearly 500 years.

Source

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Mozart,

I realize that they claim to be "the oldest, continually active military corps in history," but the same link also states this:

"The last time the Swiss Guard ever lost to an invader was in 1798 when Napoleon swept through, disarmed and disbanded the corps and abducted two popes in two years." (Bold mine - DG)
"Disarmed and disbanded" doesn't sound like "continually active" to me.

It sounds like that DG.However I found something that might explain what happened and why the claim.In other words the Swiss army always remained "Papal protection or other purposes"

The only blemish on the guards' record occurred in 1798, when Napoleon occupied Rome, captured and deported Pope Pius VI and subsequently disbanded the Papal guard. Napoleon did, however, deploy other, non-Papal Swiss Guard units, also noted for their combat prowess, within the ranks of his Grande ArmИe.

"In the early years, the corps was disbanded several times, and the guards had to retire, especially during the imprisonment or exile of the Popes." - Sources: Vatican Information Service; L'Osservatore Romano, April 30, 1990; The Washington Post, May 5,1998 - ch.c-d.org/ch/culture_swissguard

As for the statement* that the Guard only carries halberds, see this:
" Formed in 1506 to protect the popes, the unit has been staffed ever since by young Swiss Catholics, who must be at least 5 feet, 9 inches tall. Until recently, the only weapon they carried on guard duty was the seven-foot ceremonial halberd, or pike. After the attempt on John Paul's life, they began to carry pistols and even Uzi submachine guns, often hidden in the folds of their tunics." - Selected Articles from Newsweek

Years ago, I remember reading that the Swiss Guard carried Uzis, and, when a member of the Guard killed his family and then himself a few years ago, there were comments that he used his "Guard issued" pistol.

*" Wielding nothing but Renaissance weaponry, this tiny army kept Nazi soldiers out of Vatican City as Germany occupied Rome during World War II." - from the link Mozart and Kelley provided

Were I a memeber of the Guard, I certainly wouldn't count (or even mention) the time the Guard failed in its primary function, to protect the Pope, and, after the Pope was spirited away, then went to work for the man responsible. That doesn't sound like something one would want on one's resume.

DG Ah, but these are mercenaries so they would have no shame. They are not born in the place they serve but hired from abroad.