"The Guardia Nobile. — This most distinguished corps of the papal military service has an interesting history. ... After the disbanding of these troops during the confusion of the French Revolution, Pius VII formed a new body-guard composed of the remainder of the cavallegmeri and the old cavalière délie lancie spezzate. A Decree of 11 May, 1801, ordered the institution of the Noble Guard (guardie nobili di corno), the Spanish noble guards being taken as the model. The political revolutions under Napoleon I prevented the proper formation of the new софе, so that the reorganization effected by warrant of the Cardinal-Secretary of State. Focóle Consalvi, of 8 November, 1815, was found necessary. The petition of Count Giovanni Mastai Ferretti (afterwards Pius IX) for admission into the Guards (26 June, 1814), which was rejected on account of his weak health, is still preserved in the archives of the Noble Guard. ....."