Which came first? · Counterintuitive
Which came first: the Vatican's Swiss Guard or the birth of William Shakespeare?
The Vatican's Swiss Guard came first, in 1506 (founded). The birth of William Shakespeare followed 58 years later, in 1564.
- First1506
The Vatican's Swiss Guard
institution · foundedThe Vatican's Swiss Guard was established in 1506, though it has been disbanded and reconstituted more than once since then.
- Second1564
The birth of William Shakespeare
person · bornShakespeare was baptised in April 1564; nobody knows his exact birthday.
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All which-came-first pairs · About Older Than You Think · Quiz games
Years from Wikidata, each checked against the item’s English Wikipedia article on 2026-10-18. A year stands for what its label says: a founding, a first patent, a premiere.