Kaspar von Silenen
Who was Kaspar von Silenen?
Swiss military personnel. 1st Commander of the Pontifical Swiss Guard (1467-1517)
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Kaspar von Silenen (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Kaspar von Silenen was born around 1467 in Lucerne. He was the son of Ritter Albin of Silenen, a noble from Uri known for commanding Lucerne troops at the battles of Murten and Nancy. His mother was Verena Netstaler. Growing up in a military family, Kaspar became familiar early on with Swiss military life and the mercenary service that made Swiss soldiers popular across Europe. He married Anne de Rovéréa, strengthening his ties to the political and military circles of the Confederation.
Von Silenen's military career took off with his involvement in Charles VIII of France's Naples campaign in 1494, a key early conflict of the Italian Wars. This placed him among the Swiss mercenaries who were gaining a reputation as Europe's best infantry. He then entered public life in Lucerne, serving as reeve of Ebikon from 1497 to 1499 and joining the Lucerne city council from 1497. His council tenure ended in 1503 after he was convicted of illegally recruiting mercenaries for France, showing the tense politics over Swiss military control at the time.
Despite this, von Silenen rebounded thanks to the support of the pope. Pope Julius II, needing dependable military protection for the Vatican, arranged with the Swiss Confederation to provide a permanent guard. Kaspar von Silenen led the first group of 150 Swiss mercenaries into the Vatican on 22 January 1506, marking the start of the Pontifical Swiss Guard, where he became its first commander. His role required both military skill and diplomatic tact, managing the relationship between the papacy and its Swiss guardsmen carefully.
Von Silenen's story ended during the War of Urbino in 1517 under Pope Leo X. His unit was one of six Swiss and Grisons mercenary groups, totaling about 1,800 men, sent to defend Rimini against Francesco Maria I della Rovere, Duke of Urbino. The garrison leader, the condottiere Guido Rangoni, hesitated to let such a large force into the city's main walls, so he stationed them in Borgo San Giuliani, a suburb outside the main defenses. On the night of 4 August 1517, reports came of an enemy approach. Rangoni suggested the mercenaries move into the city, but von Silenen refused, saying his men were already full of wine and it was too late. This choice was fatal. Early on 5 August, enemy troops slipped into the Borgo, killing many of the sleeping mercenaries. Kaspar von Silenen died in the attack, ending the life of the founder of one of the world's oldest military units still active today.
Before Fame
Kaspar von Silenen was born into a family with a strong military background in the Swiss Confederation. His father, Ritter Albin of Silenen, had earned recognition commanding Lucerne forces in the battles of Murten in 1476 and Nancy in 1477. These victories were crucial in defeating Charles the Bold of Burgundy and established Swiss infantry as a leading force in European warfare. This background influenced Kaspar's ambitions and gave him opportunities in the mercenary networks connecting Swiss cantons to the major powers of the time.
By the late 15th century, Swiss mercenaries were highly sought after in Europe, hired by French kings, Italian princes, and the papacy. Von Silenen's involvement in Charles VIII's Naples campaign in 1494 gave him firsthand experience in the Italian Wars at their start, a battleground that would shape European politics for years. His later career in Lucerne's local government, although marred by a scandal over illegal mercenary recruitment, kept him involved in the circles of power and influence, eventually bringing him to the attention of Pope Julius II.
Key Achievements
- Appointed first commandant of the Pontifical Swiss Guard in 1506, leading the founding contingent of 150 men into the Vatican on 22 January of that year
- Participated in the Naples campaign of Charles VIII of France in 1494, gaining early experience in the Italian Wars
- Served as reeve of Ebikon from 1497 to 1499 and as a member of the Lucerne city council from 1497 to 1503
- Commanded Swiss mercenary forces under Pope Leo X during the War of Urbino in 1517, deployed to defend Rimini
Did You Know?
- 01.Von Silenen reportedly refused to bring his men inside the walls of Rimini on the night before the fatal attack, explaining to the garrison commander that his soldiers were already 'full of wine'.
- 02.The 150 Swiss mercenaries von Silenen led into the Vatican on 22 January 1506 are still commemorated on that date each year as the founding date of the Pontifical Swiss Guard.
- 03.His father, Ritter Albin of Silenen, commanded Lucerne troops at both the battle of Murten and the battle of Nancy, two of the most celebrated Swiss military victories of the fifteenth century.
- 04.Before becoming the first commander of the papal guard, von Silenen was convicted by Lucerne authorities in 1503 for illegally recruiting Swiss mercenaries on behalf of France.
- 05.At the time of his death in 1517, von Silenen's unit was part of a force of approximately 1,800 Swiss and Grisons mercenaries deployed to hold Rimini for the papacy during the War of Urbino.