Papal Zouaves

Papal Zouaves
Zuavi Pontifici
Papal Zouave c. 1865
Active	January 1861 – September 1870
Country	Papal States
Allegiance	Pope Pius IX
Branch	Army
Type	Infantry
Engagements	Italian Unification Battle of Castelfidardo Battle of Mentana Capture of Rome
Commanders
Commander	Eugène Allet

The Papal Zouaves (Italian: Zuavi Pontifici) were an infantry battalion, later regiment, dedicated to defending the Papal States. Named after the French zouave regiments, the Zuavi Pontifici were mainly young men, unmarried and Catholic, who volunteered to assist Pope Pius IX in his struggle against the Italian unificationist Risorgimento.^[1]