THE SWABIAN WAR OF 1499: A Contest Between Two Early Tactical Infantries

1-902027

In 1499, a ferocious war was waged between the Swiss states and the German Empire. It was costly conflict and an estimated 200 villages were destroyed and over 20,000 combat troops were killed, not to mention uncounted thousands of non-combatants. The Swiss had developed into one of the first truly tactical infantries, capable of complex maneuvers in both offensive and defensive roles. But in the Swabian War, the Swiss faced another truly tactical infantry, the German Landsknechts, who based their military on the Swiss model. In an number of campaigns and battles, the two forces met in closely fought contests, leaving the impression that Swiss dominance as an infantry had met its match. Contains 40 black and white illustrations, five pages of color plates, five black and white maps, and three color maps.