Virtus in Periculis Firmior

While revisiting my archive, I recently rediscovered a series of group portraits made in Rome in September 2018—photographs of the Reggimento Corazzieri, the elite cuirassiers of Italy and the ceremonial honour guard of the President of the Italian Republic.

At the time, the work felt significant. Looking at it now, with distance and perspective, it feels essential.

The Corazzieri—formerly known as the Comando Carabinieri Guardie del Presidente della Repubblica—represent far more than ceremonial splendour. They are living custodians of continuity: a visible link between medieval lifeguards, royal cavalry, republican duty, and modern statehood. Their motto, “Virtus in periculis firmior”—Courage becomes stronger in danger—is not an abstraction. It is embodied daily in discipline, restraint, and readiness.

Photographing this regiment had been an ambition of mine for some time. My wider Italian project, Soldati della Repubblica, sought to document the modern Italian military not as spectacle, but as human institution—rooted in history, bound by service, and shaped by responsibility. After a series of enquiries, I was fortunate to make contact with the Regiment’s Commander in Rome, and following careful organisation, we arranged portrait sittings on 25 September 2018.

Reggimento Corazzieri – Rome Portrait Sittings (Rory Lewis Photographer 2018)

Standing before the Corazzieri is a humbling experience. As a photographer of modest height—5 ft 6 in—the regiment felt quite literally like a land of giants. Admission requires a minimum height of 190 cm (6 ft 3 in), and when assembled, their physical presence is formidable. Yet what struck me most was not stature, but stillness. An almost monastic control. A quiet authority that does not demand attention, but commands it.

Their history stretches back over six centuries. From the mounted archers of Amadeus VII of Savoy in the 14th century, to the Guardia d’Onore of Emmanuel Philibert in the 16th century, to the cuirassiers who saved Charles Emmanuel I during the siege of Mons in 1590—this unit has evolved alongside Italy itself. Following the unification of Italy and later the birth of the Republic, the Corazzieri were re-founded in 1946, reaffirming their role not as relics of monarchy, but as guardians of democratic continuity.

To become a Corazziere is anything but easy. Beyond exceptional physical requirements, candidates must demonstrate impeccable service records, moral standing, and professional excellence. They undergo extensive training—riding Irish and Italian horses selected for strength, temperament, and elegance; mastering ceremonial precision; and preparing for operational readiness in complex public environments. Many are also trained as sharpshooters, martial artists, motorcyclists, and security specialists tasked with protecting the President in full public view.

During the sittings, my aim was simple but demanding: to strip away spectacle and reveal presence. To photograph not uniforms alone, but the men within them. To allow the viewer to sense the weight of tradition, the responsibility of service, and the quiet vigilance required to stand immobile for hours—ready, always, for the unforeseen.

This is the kind of work that sits at the heart of the non-profit mission. It is slow, careful, and often unseen. It requires trust, access, time, and sustained commitment—returning to archives, preserving material, and sharing these histories responsibly and respectfully.

Your donations make this possible.

They allow me to spend time where time is essential: with institutions that rarely pause, with individuals who serve without expectation of recognition, and with histories that deserve to be recorded before they fade into abstraction. They support the preservation of cultural memory—not as nostalgia, but as living record.

The Corazzieri stand watch over the President of the Republic. Through this work, I hope to stand watch—quietly, patiently—over their story.