Swiss soldiers guarded the kings of France for more than two centuries. Charles IX raised a regiment of Swiss guards in 1567, and in 1616 Louis XIII made it permanent as the Régiment des Gardes Suisses. Each of its companies was sponsored by a Swiss canton and recruited only Swiss soldiers. The officers came from the Swiss nobility and patrician families, and some posts passed from father to son. Inside the palace, the king was guarded by the Hundred Swiss, while the Gardes Suisses guarded the outside. Together with the Gardes Françaises they formed the core of the infantry of the royal household, and in wartime they took the field as a fighting regiment.

The officer stands at the front in a red coat heavily laced in silver, holding a polearm upright. Beside him the sergeant carries a partisan, and the drummer wears a coat covered in the royal livery lace, with a blue drum painted with gold fleurs-de-lis. Behind them five guards stand at attention with their muskets shouldered. All wear red coats with dark blue facings and white lace, dark blue breeches, white gaiters and black tricornes edged in white. Pair them with Garde Suisse. Brigade them with The Garde Francaise in their dark blue coats, the other half of the king's household infantry.

Tradition of London set 663. Officer, sergeant with partisan, drummer and five guards, eight foot figures on square gloss bases. 54mm scale (approximately 1/30). All toy soldiers cast in quality white metal and individually hand-painted in gloss enamels. Packed in the Classic Tradition Red Box. Please allow 2–3 weeks for shipping.