The Government Palace (

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries **Spanish cuisine Other places * Spanish, Ontario, Can ...

: ''Palacio de Gobierno''), also known as the House of Pizarro, is the seat of the

executive branch The Executive, also referred as the Executive branch or Executive power, is the term commonly used to describe that part of government which enforces the law, and has overall responsibility for the governance of a state. In political systems ...

of the Peruvian Government, and the

official residence An official residence is the House, residence of a head of state, head of government, governor, Clergy, religious leader, leaders of international organizations, or other senior figure. It may be the same place where they conduct their work-relate ...

of the

President of Peru The president of Peru ( es, link=no, presidente del Perú), officially called the president of the Republic of Peru ( es, link=no, presidente de la República del Perú), is the head of state and head of government of Peru. The president is th ...

. The palace is a stately government building, occupying the northern side of the Plaza Mayor in Peru's capital city,

Lima Lima ( ; ), originally founded as Ciudad de Los Reyes (City of The Kings) is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín Rivers, in the desert zone of the central coastal part of ...

. Set on the

Rímac River The Rímac River is located in western Peru and is the most important source of potable water for the Lima and Callao Metropolitan Area. The river is part of the Pacific watershed and has a length of 204 km. The river begins in the highlan ...

, the palace occupies the site of a very large

huaca In the Quechuan languages of South America, a huaca or wak'a is an object that represents something revered, typically a monument of some kind. The term ''huaca'' can refer to natural locations, such as immense rocks. Some huacas have been ass ...

("revered object") that incorporated a shrine to Taulichusco, the last

kuraka A ''kuraka'' (Quechua for the principal governor of a province or a communal authority in the Tawantinsuyu), or curaca (hispanicized spelling), was an official of the Inca Empire who held the role of magistrate, about four levels down from the Sa ...

(indigenous governor) of Lima. The first Government Palace was built by

Francisco Pizarro Francisco Pizarro González, Marquess of the Atabillos (; ; – 26 June 1541) was a Spanish conquistador, best known for his expeditions that led to the Spanish conquest of Peru. Born in Trujillo, Spain to a poor family, Pizarro chose ...

, governor of New Castile, in 1535. When the

Viceroyalty of Peru The Viceroyalty of Peru ( es, Virreinato del Perú, links=no) was a Spanish imperial provincial administrative district, created in 1542, that originally contained modern-day Peru and most of the Spanish Empire in South America, governed fro ...

was established in 1542, it became the viceroy's residence and seat of government. The most recent alterations to the building were completed in the 1930s, under the direction of President Oscar R. Benavides during his second term of office. The chief architects were Claude Antoine Sahut Laurent and Ricardo de Jaxa Malachowski. A number of ceremonial guard units of the Peruvian Armed Forces are stationed at the Palace, and participate in the daily Changing of the Guard ceremony and other official duties.

Architecture

The current Government Palace building dates largely from the 1920s. It is representative of the Neo-Plateresque style characteristic of Lima from the 1920s to the 1940s. The

coat of arms A coat of arms is a heraldic visual design on an escutcheon (i.e., shield), surcoat, or tabard (the latter two being outer garments). The coat of arms on an escutcheon forms the central element of the full heraldic achievement, which in its ...

of Pizarro is displayed on the main

portico A portico is a porch leading to the entrance of a building, or extended as a colonnade, with a roof structure over a walkway, supported by columns or enclosed by walls. This idea was widely used in ancient Greece and has influenced many cul ...

of the building, at Palacio Street, which was designed and built by French architect Claude Antoine Sahut Laurent (1883–1932). Polish architect Ricardo de Jaxa Malachowski designed the building's facade in 1938. Inspired by the Neo-Baroque style, it looks onto the main square, the Plaza Mayor, or Plaza de Armas, of Lima.

Interior

The palace has several formal rooms looking out onto a courtyard garden. The palace has several inner courtyards, and halls and rooms named for notable figures in Peruvian history. The Presidential Office (''Despacho Presidencial'') is named in honor of Colonel Francisco Bolognesi. The Agreements Room is named for Admiral

Miguel Grau Miguel María Grau Seminario (27 July 1834 – 8 October 1879) was the most renowned Peruvian naval officer and hero of the naval battle of Angamos during the War of the Pacific (1879–1884). He was known as ''el Caballero de los Mares'' (Spa ...

. The Ministers' Council Room is named after Air Force Captain José A. Quiñones Gonzáles. The Ambassadors' Room (''Salón de Embajadores'') has recently been renamed in honor of the Inspector of the Guards Mariano Santos Mateo. Among the reception rooms is the Golden Hall, which has a fine collection of paintings. The building also contains elegant living quarters which serve as the official residence of the President of the Republic.

Jorge Basadre Room

Previously called the Eléspuru and Choquehuanca Hall (''Hall Eléspuru y Choquehuanca''), the Jorge Basadre Room (''Salón Jorge Basadre'') is in the Spanish Renaissance style and dates from the 1920s. It features marble columns and rounded arches showing Moorish architectural influence. The hall is illuminated by four large windows, and the floor is Italian marble mosaic. Two presidential carriages, used on official occasions until 1974, are displayed in this room. The room may be entered through from a door to the Palace on Palacio Street. Its original name paid tribute to the soldiers who died defending the building here during the attack on 29 May 1909 during the first presidency of

Augusto B. Leguía Augusto Bernardino Leguía y Salcedo (February 19, 1863 – February 6, 1932) was a Peruvian politician who served as President of Peru from 1908 to 1912 and from 1919 to 1930, the latter term known as ''El Oncenio de Leguía'' (Leguía's E ...

, whose bust is displayed beneath a portrait of

Pedro Fernández de Castro, Count of Lemos Pedro Fernández de Castro y Andrade (1576–1622), better known as the Great Count of Lemos, was a Galician (Spanish) nobleman who was viceroy of Naples from 1608, and was also president of the Council of the Indies. Biography A member of the H ...

by an unknown 17th century artist.

Sevillian Patio

This internal courtyard, dating from the 1920s, features glazed tiles made in

Seville Seville (; es, Sevilla, ) is the capital and largest city of the Spanish autonomous community of Andalusia and the province of Seville. It is situated on the lower reaches of the River Guadalquivir, in the southwest of the Iberian Penins ...

, Spain. Each set displays the coat of arms of Peru, of Lima, and Pizarro. It is accessed through the rooms of the presidential residence. One legend says that Pizarro himself planted and took care of a fig tree here that is supposedly alive today. According to Peruvian historian Raúl Porras Barrenechea, the fig tree was "not mentioned by any chronicler of the 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th centuries until it was invented by some valet from the palace, urged by tips".

Golden Hall

Dating from the 1920s, the Golden Hall (''Salón Dorado'') is the largest and grandest of the Government Palace. It is the main reception hall, and is where Ministers take their oath of office and Ambassadors present their credentials to the President. Inspired by the Hall of Mirrors at the

Palace of Versailles The Palace of Versailles ( ; french: Château de Versailles ) is a former royal residence built by King Louis XIV located in Versailles, about west of Paris, France. The palace is owned by the French Republic and since 1995 has been managed, u ...

in France, the room is the work of French architect Claude Antoine Sahut Laurent. The walls feature tall mirrors and relief work in gold leaf. The vaulted ceiling is decorated with gilded relief work featuring both indigenous and European motifs and . The furnishings are in the style of

Louis XIV Louis XIV (Louis Dieudonné; 5 September 16381 September 1715), also known as Louis the Great () or the Sun King (), was List of French monarchs, King of France from 14 May 1643 until his death in 1715. His reign of 72 years and 110 days is the Li ...

; four bronze and crystal chandeliers hang from the ceiling. The room contains two matching marble tables, and an old clock topped with a small statue of

Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy Emmanuel Philibert ( it, Emanuele Filiberto; pms, Emanuel Filibert; 8 July 1528 – 30 August 1580), known as ( pms, Testa 'd fer, links=no; "Ironhead", because of his military career), was Duke of Savoy from 1553 to 1580. He is remembered fo ...

, who was victorious at the Battle of St. Quentin in 1557. In the central part of the hall is a marble dais and balustrade, framed by two double columns with gilded bronze capitals, each carved from a single block of pink marble.

Túpac Amaru II Room

This room dates from the 1920s. The

Túpac Amaru II José Gabriel Condorcanqui ( – May 18, 1781)known as Túpac Amaru II was an indigenous Cacique who led a large Andean rebellion against the Spanish in Peru. He later became a mythical figure in the Peruvian struggle for independence and ...

Room (''Salón Túpac Amaru''), renamed from the Pizarro Room in the 1970s during the presidency of

Juan Velasco Alvarado Juan Francisco Velasco Alvarado (June 16, 1910 – December 24, 1977) was a Peruvian general who served as the President of Peru after a successful coup d'état against Fernando Belaúnde's presidency in 1968. Under his presidency, nationalis ...

, is furnished in the Neo-Colonial style. A central rotunda features a wooden cupola with a stained glass lamp at its highest point. The room features four sculptures by Mateu, an artist of French origin, representing the seasons, and plaster reliefs by Daniel Casafranca representing the

Inca The Inca Empire (also known as the Incan Empire and the Inka Empire), called ''Tawantinsuyu'' by its subjects, ( Quechua for the "Realm of the Four Parts", "four parts together" ) was the largest empire in pre-Columbian America. The adm ...

s. The large portrait of Peruvian rebel Túpac Amaru II hanging over the carved wooden fireplace replaced in 1972 the portrait of Pizarro that hung in this room. On display is a throne that was a gift of the Japanese

Emperor Akihito is a member of the Imperial House of Japan who reigned as the 125th emperor of Japan from 7 January 1989 until his abdication on 30 April 2019. He presided over the Heisei era, ''Heisei'' being an expression of achieving peace worldwide. Bo ...

to Peru. This was the first official dining hall of the Government Palace, and could seat 172 people. This is the room from which the President addresses the nation. It is also used for

press conference A press conference or news conference is a media event in which notable individuals or organizations invite journalists to hear them speak and ask questions. Press conferences are often held by politicians, corporations, non-governmental organ ...

s, meetings and, occasionally, as a dining room.

Peace Room

This room is named to commemorate the signing of a

peace treaty A peace treaty is an agreement between two or more hostile parties, usually countries or governments, which formally ends a state of war between the parties. It is different from an armistice, which is an agreement to stop hostilities; a surre ...

between

Honduras Honduras, officially the Republic of Honduras, is a country in Central America. The republic of Honduras is bordered to the west by Guatemala, to the southwest by El Salvador, to the southeast by Nicaragua, to the south by the Pacific Oce ...

and

El Salvador El Salvador (; , meaning " The Saviour"), officially the Republic of El Salvador ( es, República de El Salvador), is a country in Central America. It is bordered on the northeast by Honduras, on the northwest by Guatemala, and on the south ...

on 30 October 1980. The president of Peru,

José Bustamante y Rivero José is a predominantly Spanish and Portuguese form of the given name Joseph. While spelled alike, this name is pronounced differently in each language: Spanish ; Portuguese (or ). In French, the name ''José'', pronounced , is an old vernacul ...

, acted as mediator. Designed by Ricardo de Jaxa Malachowski, the Peace Room (

: ''Salón de la Paz'') is also known as the great dining hall of the Government Palace (

: ''Gran Comedor''). It is one of the largest rooms in the Palace, with a seating capacity of 250. The room is colonial in style, and features carved wooden beams and two balconies where chamber orchestras can perform. From the ceiling hangs a quartz crystal chandelier made in

Bohemia Bohemia ( ; cs, Čechy ; ; hsb, Čěska; szl, Czechy) is the westernmost and largest historical region of the Czech Republic. Bohemia can also refer to a wider area consisting of the historical Lands of the Bohemian Crown ruled by the Bohem ...

, weighing some . Also of note are the length of the table and the leather backs of the carved chairs, stamped in gold with Pizarro's shield. The chairs are upholstered in different colors for men and women. Paintings by

Abraham Brueghel Abraham Brueghel (baptised 28 November 1631 – c. 1690) was a Flemish painter from the famous Brueghel family of artists. He emigrated at a young age to Italy where he played an important role in the development of the style of decorative Baroq ...

(Flemish, 17th century) and Girolamo Cenatiempo (Italian, 18th century) hang in this room.

Admiral Miguel Grau Room

A painting of the naval hero, Admiral

, hangs in this room, which was previously called the Agreements Room. The room also contains a dark wood fireplace, decorated with a maquette of the

turret ship Turret ships were a 19th-century type of warship, the earliest to have their guns mounted in a revolving gun turret, instead of a broadside arrangement. Background Before the development of large-calibre, long-range guns in the mid-19th century, ...

Huáscar Huáscar Inca (; Quechua: ''Waskar Inka''; 1503–1532) also Guazcar was Sapa Inca of the Inca Empire from 1527 to 1532. He succeeded his father, Huayna Capac and his brother Ninan Cuyochi, both of whom died of smallpox while campaigning near Q ...

, built for Peru in Britain in the 1860s.

Ambassadors' Room

The Ambassadors' Room (''Salón de Embajadores'') bears its name because it is the room where Ambassadors deliver credentials to the President. Its wooden and bronze decor is in the Louis XIV style, and its furniture is Regency.

Great Hall and presidential residence

The Grand Entrance (''Puerta de Honor'') of the Government Palace leads into the two-level Great Hall (''Gran Hall''). Above the door hangs a painting of Francisco Pizarro by Daniel Hernández. This painting hung in the Pizarro Room until 1972. The Hall is lined with Roman-style columns, decoration in bronze leaf and painted stucco relief. The marble floor displays indigenous motifs. The staircase at the end of the hall is framed by two busts of the Liberators of Peru

Simón Bolívar Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios (24 July 1783 – 17 December 1830) was a Venezuelan military and political leader who led what are currently the countries of Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Panama and B ...

and

José de San Martín José Francisco de San Martín y Matorras (25 February 177817 August 1850), known simply as José de San Martín () or '' the Liberator of Argentina, Chile and Peru'', was an Argentine general and the primary leader of the southern and centr ...

, sculpted by Peruvian artist Luís Agurto. The busts in the gallery of important figures in Latin American history were made by sculptor Miguel Bacca Rossi. Above the stairwell, a domed ceiling features Art Nouveau-inspired stained glass. The white stucco-decorated gallery on the second level of the Great Hall gives access to the office of the Council of Ministers (''Consejo de Ministros''). The living quarters of the President and their family in the Government Palace, dating from 1838, are accessed through the Great Hall. The residential quarters feature several important rooms, and the Seville Patio.

History

New Castile

, appointed Governor of New Castile in 1529, founded the city of

as his capital in 1535 and built his Palace on its Plaza Mayor in 1536. The original house was a two-story

adobe Adobe ( ; ) is a building material made from earth and organic materials. is Spanish for '' mudbrick''. In some English-speaking regions of Spanish heritage, such as the Southwestern United States, the term is used to refer to any kind of ...

structure, built on the Castilian model with two large courtyards for troops and stables. It stood on the site of a large

("revered object") where Taulichusco, last

, or indigenous ruler, of the Rimac Valley during that period, had lived until Pizarro's conquest of the area. Present-day Lima is built over the location of more than 300 sacred huaca sites, of which this was one of the most important. The building served as the head office of Pizarro's administration. On Sunday 26 June 1541, thirteen supporters of

Diego de Almagro II Diego de Almagro II (1520 – September 16, 1542), called ''El Mozo'' (the lad), was the son of Spanish conquistador Diego de Almagro and Ana Martínez, a native Panamanian Indian woman. Peru In 1531 El Mozo accompanied his father on the e ...

, whose father

Diego de Almagro Diego de Almagro (; – July 8, 1538), also known as El Adelantado and El Viejo, was a Spanish conquistador known for his exploits in western South America. He participated with Francisco Pizarro in the Spanish conquest of Peru. While subd ...

had been executed in 1538 by Pizarro's brother Hernando, stormed the building. Several guests escaped as the attackers fought their way in, but four defenders were killed and four wounded before Pizarro was assassinated.

Viceregal period

Following Pizarro's death in 1541, and the creation of the

in 1542, the building became the Viceregal Palace. It underwent several extensions over the course of this period, and was occupied by 43 viceroys before the last, José de la Serna, was forced out in 1821. The building was damaged by an earthquake on 20 October 1687, and again in 1746.

Antonio de Ulloa Antonio de Ulloa y de la Torre-Giralt, FRS, FRSA, KOS (12 January 1716 – 3 July 1795) was a Spanish naval officer, scientist, and administrator. At the age of nineteen, he joined the French Geodesic Mission to what is now the countr ...

described the building as it was at the time of his arrival in Lima as a young Lieutenant of the

Spanish Navy The Spanish Navy or officially, the Armada, is the maritime branch of the Spanish Armed Forces and one of the oldest active naval forces in the world. The Spanish Navy was responsible for a number of major historic achievements in navigation, ...

in 1740:

In the north side of the square is the vice-roy's palace, in which are the several courts of justice, together with the offices of revenue, and the state prison. This was formerly a very remarkable building, both with regard to its largeness and architecture, but the greatest part of it being thrown down by the dreadful earthquake with which the city was visited, Oct. 20th, 1687, it now consists only of some of the lower apartments erected on a terras (''sic''), and is used as the residence of the vice-roy and his family.

General

declared the

Independence of Peru The Peruvian War of Independence ( es, Guerra de Independencia del Perú, links=no) consisted in a series of military conflicts in Peru beginning with viceroy Abascal military victories in the south frontier in 1809, in La Paz revolution a ...

from the Palace on 28 July 1821.

Republican period

The Government Palace has served as the seat of government of all presidents of the Republic of Peru since the Viceroyalty came to an end. Palacio de Gobierno

Fire gutted the building in December 1884, during the presidency of General Miguel Iglesias, and it had to be rebuilt. In 1921, fire again destroyed much of building. The then President,

, ordered its reconstruction and, in modifying the facade, launched the building of the present Government Palace. Work began in 1926. The first phase was designed by French architect Claude Antoine Sahut Laurent (1883–1932). Construction came to a halt with his death in 1932. Phase II was built between 1937 and 1938 during the presidency of Oscar R. Benavides, who assigned completion of the building to Polish architect Ricardo de Jaxa Malachowski. Work began on 24 August 1937 with the

demolition Demolition (also known as razing, cartage, and wrecking) is the science and engineering in safely and efficiently tearing down of buildings and other artificial structures. Demolition contrasts with deconstruction, which involves taking a bu ...

of the older structure, including what remained of Pizzaro's original adobe building. The project was completed the following year, when the new Government Palace was officially inaugurated. On 28 July 2021, during his inauguration, President

Pedro Castillo José Pedro Castillo Terrones (; born 19 October 1969) is a Peruvian politician, former elementary school teacher, and union leader who served as the President of Peru from 28 July 2021 to 7 December 2022. On 7 December 2022, he was impeached a ...

announced that he will not govern from the palace and that the palace will be handed over to the Ministry of Cultures and turned into a museum of Peruvian history.

Palace Guard

Viceregal Period

When the Viceroyalty was established, the Viceregal Palace Guards were the Halberdier Corps of the Viceroy's Royal Infantry Guard (''Compañía de Alabarderos de la Guardia Real de Infantería del Virrey'').

described the Viceroy's bodyguard in 1740:

"For the safety of his person and the dignity of his office, he has two bodies of guards; one of horse, consisting of 160 private men, a captain and a lieutenant. Their uniform is blue, turned up with red, and laced with silver. This troop consists entirely of picked men, and all Spaniards... These do duty at the principal gate of the palace; and when the viceroy goes abroad he is attended by a piquet guard consisting of eight of these troopers. The 2d is that of the halberdiers, consisting of 50 men, all Spaniards, dressed in a blue uniform, and crimson velvet waistcoats laced with gold. These do duty in the rooms leading to the chambers of audience, and private apartments. They also attend the viceroy when he appears in public, or visits the offices and tribunals."

The Royal Halberdiers were the Viceroy's Guard for three hundred years until the

Latin American wars of independence The Spanish American wars of independence (25 September 1808 – 29 September 1833; es, Guerras de independencia hispanoamericanas) were numerous wars in Spanish America with the aim of political independence from Spanish rule during the early ...

of the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

Republican period

The

Peruvian Army The Peruvian Army ( es, Ejército del Perú, abbreviated EP) is the branch of the Peruvian Armed Forces tasked with safeguarding the independence, sovereignty and integrity of national territory on land through military force. Additional missi ...

was charged with protection of the Government Palace from 1821. Various army units stationed at the Palace also performed public duties. This role was shared from 1852 with the Peruvian National Gendarmerie (''Gendarmería Nacional del Perú''). From 1873, they were joined by the

Civil Guard Civil Guard refers to various policing organisations: Current * Civil Guard (Spain), Spanish gendarmerie * Civil Guard (Israel), Israeli volunteer police reserve * Civil Guard (Brazil), Municipal law enforcement corporations in Brazil Historic ...

(''Guardia Civil''). President Augusto Bernardino Leguía Salcedo, then in his second term of office, permanently assigned an infantry battalion to safeguard Palace security and assume public duties on the model of the

French Republican Guard The Republican Guard (french: Garde républicaine) is part of the French National Gendarmerie. It is responsible for special security duties in the Paris area and for providing guards of honour at official ceremonies of the French Republic. Its ...

, on the insistence of Peruvian Army General Gerardo Álvarez. The First Gendarme Infantry Battalion, later renamed 1st Republican Guard of Peru Infantry Gendarme Battalion of the Peruvian National Gendarmerie, was appointed presidential guard battalion by Presidential Decree of 7 August 1919. Florentino Bustamante was its first commanding officer, serving until 1923. The Guard Battalion was mandated to ensure security in all national government buildings, in particular of "the Government Palace and the National Congress". The battalion grew to become a full regiment, and moved to new barracks at the Quinta de Presa palace in 1931. Also in 1931, the Republican Guard Regiment was renamed the 2nd Infantry Regiment of Security under the government of President

David Samanez Ocampo David Samanez Ocampo (4 November 1865 – 13 July 1947), the son of José Samanez, served as Interim President of Peru, officially as the President of the Southern Junta, during the transitional period of March to December 1931. He oversaw chang ...

, in a failed attempt to unify the national police services following the example of Chile. It reverted to its former name later that year at the order of President Luis Miguel Sánchez Cerro. The regiment underwent a new reorganization in 1932, with a new motto: "Honor, Loyalty, Discipline". It remained the presidential guard until shortly after the assassination of President Sánchez Cerro on 30 April 1933. The reorganized Regiment comprised a regimental headquarters unit, service battalion, and two battalions of 3 rifle companies each, plus a machine gun platoon, the regimental band and drum corps. The role of the Guard was expanded in 1935, to include border patrol, prison security, protection of public and private places of national importance, and general maintenance of peace, public order and national security, in addition to fighting alongside the armed forces in times of war. With the expansion of its role, the Guard left palace duties in 1940. Responsibility for the security of the President and Government Palace was taken over in that year by the Palace Machine Gun Detachment of the Civil Guard (''Destacamento de Ametralladoras de Palacio''). From 1944 to 1969, it continued in that role as the 23rd Command of the Civil Guard - Palace Machine Guns (''23ª Comandancia de la Guardia Civil – Ametralladoras de Palacio''). It was reorganized into a police unit in 1969, and was succeeded by the Assault Battalion of the 22nd Command of the Civil Guard (''22ª Comandancia de la Guardia Civil del Perú - Batallón de Asalto''). In 1987, protection of Presidential security was assumed by the 501st Military Police Battalion of the Peruvian Army (''Batallón de Policía Militar Nº 501''). Today the Government Palace Guard performs largely ceremonial

public duties Public duties are performed by military personnel, and usually have a ceremonial or historic significance rather than an overtly operational role. Armenia Since September 2018, the Honour Guard Battalion of the Ministry of Defense of Armenia has ...

for its Commander in Chief, the President, and his family on behalf of the Armed Forces and the National Police of Peru. Palace security is assured by the personnel of the Presidential Security Division, the State Security Directorate and the Civil Disturbance Directorate of the National Police.

Horse Guard

The "Mariscal Domingo Nieto" Cavalry Regiment Escort (''Regimiento de Caballería "Mariscal Nieto" Escolta del Presidente de la República del Perú'') is the Horse Guard of the Government Palace. Other than the period from 1987 to 2012, it has served in that role since it was first raised in 1904. Modeled on the French dragoon regiments of the late 19th to early 20th centuries, this cavalry regiment was formed on the recommendation of a French military mission to Peru that, in 1896, undertook a reorganization of the Peruvian Army. Originally known as the Presidential Escort Cavalry Squadron (''Escuadrón de Caballería "Escolta del Presidente"''), it was granted regimental status in 1905, and was named after Field Marshal

Domingo Nieto Domingo Nieto (15 August 1803 – 17 February 1844) was a Peruvian Grand Marshal, forefather of the nation, and politician who served as the 19th President of Peru between 1843 and 1844, officially as the President of the Government Junta and ...

in 1949. In 1987, President

Alan García Alan Gabriel Ludwig García Pérez (; 23 May 1949 – 17 April 2019) was a Peruvian politician who served as President of Peru for two non-consecutive terms from 1985 to 1990 and from 2006 to 2011. He was the second leader of the Peruvian Apri ...

replaced the Dragoons with the "Glorious Hussars of Junín - Liberator of Peru" Cavalry Regiment (''Regimiento de Caballería "Glorioso Húsares de Junín" N° 1 - Libertador del Perú'', or ''Húsares de Junín'') as the Presidential Life Guard, a position it held until 2012. The Junín Hussars were raised in 1821 by

as part of the

Peruvian Guard Legion ) , colors = , march = "El Ataque de Uchumayo (La Salaverrina)""Sesquicentenario" , mascot = , identification_symbol = , identification_symbol_label = , battles ...

, and fought in the final battles of the

in Junin and Ayacucho. Wearing uniforms similar to the

Regiment of Mounted Grenadiers The Regiment of Mounted Grenadiers ( es, Regimiento de Granaderos a Caballo) is the name of two Argentine Army regiments of two different time periods: a historic regiment that operated from 1812 to 1826, and a modern cavalry unit that was organiz ...

"General San Martín," but in red and blue with a

shako A shako (, , or ) is a tall, cylindrical military cap, usually with a visor, and sometimes tapered at the top. It is usually adorned with an ornamental plate or badge on the front, metallic or otherwise; and often has a feather, plume (see hackle) ...

, the Hussars carry sabers and lances on parade, both mounted and on foot. They were transferred to the Army Education and Doctrine Command in 2012 after 25 years of service, but the regiment still rides to the Palace and in state ceremonial events when required. The Domingo Nieto Regiment was reactivated on 2 February 2012, by order of President

Ollanta Humala Lieutenant colonel Ollanta Moisés Humala Tasso (; born 27 June 1962) is a Peruvian politician and former military officer who served as President of Peru from 2011 to 2016. Originally a socialist and left-wing nationalist, he is considere ...

and the Peruvian Ministry of Defense. It now joins the other guard units stationed at the Government Palace, and alternates with them in the palace grounds. Today, it serves as the Peruvian equivalent, with the Junín Hussars Regiment and the Mounted Squadron of the Chorrillos Military School Cadet Corps, of the British Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment.

Changing of the Guard

The Changing of the Guard is a major tourist attraction at the Government Palace. It takes place at noon daily on the main esplanade looking onto the Plaza de Armas. There dedicated stands outside the palace for public viewing.

Schedule of ceremonies

On the first and third Sundays of the month the Dragoon Guards of the Presidential Life Guards Regiment "Mariscal Nieto" conducts a formal mounted Changing of the Guard ceremony in the presence of the President of the Republic and First Lady or, traditionally, in their absence, of the chief of the Presidential Military Staff. From 2014, government ministers have been authorized to preside over the formal ceremony. On other days, the Changing of the Guard is performed unmounted. On Saturdays, and on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month, the unmounted ceremony mirrors that of the mounted Dragoon Regiment, but includes a drill exhibition with band accompaniment. Unlike the Dragoon Regiment, which performs a slow march during the Monday and Friday ceremonies, the other units make their entrance with a quick march. In addition to the Changing of the Guard, the Dragoons, and other ceremonial units of the Armed Forces, perform the daily public raising of the flag at 8:00pm and lowering of the flag at 6:00pm.

Participating units

In 2007, President Alan Garcia ordered participation in the ceremony to be opened to all of the Armed Forces and the National Police, represented by their historical and ceremonial units. The Peruvian Navy's Fanning Marine Company (''Compañía de Infantería de Marina Capitán de Navío AP Juan Fanning García'') joined the ceremonial footguards of the Palace at that time, participating in alternation with the Junín Hussars and the Peruvian Guard Legion Infantry Battalion. In 2012, after a five-year absence, the ceremonial unit of the Peruvian Air Force, the Airborne Platoon of the 72nd Squadron, resumed participation in the Changing of the Guard, as did the Peruvian Air Force Central Band.

Mounted ceremony

The mounted Changing of the Guard begins with the regimental band trotting past the dignitaries at the Palace entrance and taking position on the esplanade. Three mounted officers from the Regiment then approach the palace entrance at a trot as the band plays ''La Rejouissance'' from

George Frideric Handel George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel (; baptised , ; 23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-British Baroque music, Baroque composer well known for his opera#Baroque era, operas, oratorios, anthems, concerto grosso, concerti grossi, ...

's '' Royal Fireworks Suite''. They give notice that the changing of the guard is about to begin, and if the President is present the officers salute to the accompaniment of

Sergeant Major Sergeant major is a senior non-commissioned rank or appointment in many militaries around the world. History In 16th century Spain, the ("sergeant major") was a general officer. He commanded an army's infantry, and ranked about third in th ...

José Sabas Libornio Ibarra's 1897 '' Marcha de Banderas'' (''March of Flags''). The commencement of the ceremony is called, a

fanfare A fanfare (or fanfarade or flourish) is a short musical flourish which is typically played by trumpets, French horns or other brass instruments, often accompanied by percussion. It is a "brief improvised introduction to an instrumental perf ...

is sounded and they trot to take their place as the band plays. Two mounted officers arrive at the gate and canter past the President. The music stops, the officers face the front and draw their sabers. The guard detail commander, an officer of field rank, calls the regimental troops and salutes, with the Executive Officer as second in command. To band accompaniment, the color guard and guidon escort guard trot into the palace square, followed by the platoons led by their officers. These are the Old and New Guards. The music stops, the officers face the front, call a full salute and inform the President of the commencement of the

Musical Ride The Musical Ride of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP; french: Gendarmerie royale du Canada; french: GRC, label=none), commonly known in English as the Mounties (and colloquially in French as ) is the ...

. Following the salute, as the commander of the New Guard orders the end of the salute, the band strikes up and the mounted platoons parade in the presence of the President. The ride ends with the troops forming in parade order and walking past the President, bringing the ceremony to a close, followed by the trot past of the band. When the President is not in attendance, only the leading officer makes the initial salute, and the official March is not played. In place of the platoons' salute to the President, the band sounds a fanfare as the Old and New Guards salute each other. The Musical Ride concludes with the guards trotting out, and is followed by another exhibition by the Chorrillos Military School and the Army Cavalry and Equestrian School's mounted units. The Presidential Escort Regiment parades in full dress uniform, consisting of white tunics with red pants in summer, and blue breeches in winter. Epaulettes, similar to French practice, are gold for officers and red for

non-commissioned officer A non-commissioned officer (NCO) is a military officer who has not pursued a commission. Non-commissioned officers usually earn their position of authority by promotion through the enlisted ranks. (Non-officers, which includes most or all enli ...

s and enlisted personnel. A gold

pith helmet The pith helmet, also known as the safari helmet, salacot, sola topee, sun helmet, topee, and topi) is a lightweight cloth-covered helmet made of sholapith. The pith helmet originates from the Spanish military adaptation of the native '' salako ...

is worn, bearing the Coat of arms of Peru, and the dragoons are armed with sabres and lances. Formerly the FN FAL rifle, standard issue in the Peruvian Army, was part of the regiment's arsenal, but only used in dismounted drill. In 2013,

bass drum The bass drum is a large drum that produces a note of low definite or indefinite pitch. The instrument is typically cylindrical, with the drum's diameter much greater than the drum's depth, with a struck head at both ends of the cylinder. Th ...

s, suspended cymbals, and

snare drum The snare (or side drum) is a percussion instrument that produces a sharp staccato sound when the head is struck with a drum stick, due to the use of a series of stiff wires held under tension against the lower skin. Snare drums are often used ...

s were added to the instruments of the mounted band.

References

Bibliography

* ''Guides to Perú – Lima'' ''by Victor W. Von Hagen, Third Edition, 1960, pages 8,9 and 18''. * ''Caminante'' ''Magazine of Ecology and Tourism'' Nº 12, 1995, Essay: ''Behind the Government Palace House's threshold'' by Juan Puelles, pages 13–14.

External links

"Field Marshal Nieto" Regiment of Cavalry, Life-Guard of the President of the Republic of Peru

Gallery

File:PlazaMayordeLimaVirreinal.jpg, Main Square of Lima with the Palace of the Viceroys in the epoch of the Viceroy Manuel de Amat y Junient (1772-1776) File:Palaciodegobierno001.jpg, Palace of the Viceroys in the 18th century File:Palaciodegobierno004.JPG, Government Palace of Peru in 1860 File:Palaciodegobierno002.jpg, Government Palace of Peru in 1865 File:PALACIODEGOBIERNO010.jpg, Government Palace of Peru in 1895's revolution File:Palaciodegobierno003.jpg, Government Palace of Peru in the late 19th century File:InteriorPalaciodeGobiernoPeru.jpg, Interior of the Government Palace of Perú in 1921 File:PalaciodeGobiernoPeru1938.png, Peru's Government Palace in 1938 File:Casadepizarrolima.jpg, Facade of the Peru's Government Palace facing onto the Main Square File:Lima municipal building.jpg, Porch of the facade of the Government Palace facing onto the Main Square File:Palaceangle.JPG, View from the Archbishop's Palace File:Palacio de Gobierno, Lima, Perú, 2015-07-28, DD 61.JPG, Frontal view File:Palacio de Gobierno, Plaza de Armas, Lima, Perú, 2015-07-28, DD 35.JPG, Detail of the facade File:PALACIO DE GOBIERNO DEL PERÚ (4855232230).jpg, Night view {{Coord, 12.04514, S, 77.02989, W, source:placeopedia, display=title Government of Peru Buildings and structures in Lima Palaces in Peru Presidential residences Baroque palaces Baroque Revival architecture Spanish Colonial architecture in Peru Neoclassical architecture in Peru Official residences in Peru