Life guard (military)

Since the 15th century, Leibgarde^[1] has been the designation for the military security guards who protected Fürsten (royals and nobles) – usually members of the highest nobility who ruled over states of the Holy Roman Empire and later its former territory – from danger. The Leibgarde should not be mixed up with bodyguard (Leibwächter), which may refer also to a single private individual.^[2]

In the Kingdom of France, the Garde du Corps was established (with reference to the sergents d'armes) in 1440. It was abolished after the French Revolution, re-established in 1815 after the Bourbon Restoration, and finally dissolved in 1830 after the July Revolution. In addition, Napoleon III set up the Cent-gardes for his own protection.

• Germany:
  • Kingdom of Bavaria: Royal Bavarian Infantry Lifeguards Regiment – part of the Bavarian Army
  • Kingdom of Prussia: Prussian Life Guards – part of the Guards Corps of the Prussian Army
  • Nazi Germany: 1st SS Panzer Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler" – incorporated into the Waffen-SS during World War 2
• Kingdom of France: French Life Guards – part of the Maison Militaire du Roi de France of the French Royal Army
• Imperial Russia: Imperial Guard (Leibgarde) – regiments of life guards that evolved into many elite combat units in the Imperial Russian Army
• United Kingdom: Life Guards – part of the British Army
• Sweden: Life Guards – part of the Swedish Army
• Denmark: Royal Life Guards – part of the Danish Army
• United States: Washington's Life Guard – part of the Continental Army

• Royal guard