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Corsican Guard
| Guardia Corsa | |
|---|---|
 Soldier, officer and high officer of the Corsican Guard in 1656, after "La Corse militaire", by Marquis Paul D'Ornano (1904) | |
| Active | 1603–1662 |
| Country |  Papal States |
| Type | Infantry |
| Role |
|
| Size | 600–700 |
| Garrison/HQ | Rome |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Mario Chigi |
The Corsican Guard (Italian and Corsican: Guardia Corsa) was a military unit of the Papal States composed exclusively of Corsican mercenaries on duty in Rome, having the functions of an urban militia and guard for the Pope.
Preceded by several militias composed of Corsicans since the fifteenth century, the Corsican Guard was formally founded in 1603 under Pope Clement VIII. The unit was disbanded in 1662 upon request of the French king Louis XIV, following an incident between Corsican soldiers and Frenchmen near the French Embassy in Rome at Palazzo Farnese.
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