Swiss mercenaries

Swiss mercenaries were soldiers from the Swiss Confederacy who served foreign rulers and states for pay. Their disciplined infantry formations made them sought-after troops across Europe from the late Middle Ages into the early modern period.

Pike square: An infantry formation in which ranks of soldiers wielding long pikes form a dense square. Swiss infantry used dense pike formations to resist cavalry and advance against opposing troops.
Old Swiss Confederacy: A loose alliance of Swiss cantons that developed from the late thirteenth century until 1798. The Confederacy's communities formed the political base for recruitment and military service.
Charles the Bold: The duke of Burgundy from 1467 to 1477, whose campaigns ended in defeat and death at Nancy. His wars brought Swiss forces into conflict with Burgundy and enhanced their reputation.
Swiss Guard: A Swiss military unit that has served as the pope's personal guard since 1506. It is the best-known surviving institution rooted in Swiss military service abroad.
Halberd: A pole weapon combining an axe blade, a thrusting point, and a hook. Swiss troops used halberds in close combat, especially where long pikes became unwieldy.
Battle of Morgarten: A 1315 battle in which forces from Schwyz ambushed troops of the Habsburg duke Leopold I. The victory helped establish the military reputation of early Swiss communities.
Louis XI of France: The king of France from 1461 to 1483, who expanded royal power and employed Swiss troops. His recruitment of Swiss soldiers helped establish their long relationship with the French crown.
Swiss Guards massacre: The killing of Swiss Guards defending the Tuileries during the French Revolution on 10 August 1792. The massacre made Swiss service to the French monarchy a lasting symbol of loyalty.
Swiss military system: The decentralized system through which Swiss cantons mobilized and organized military forces. Cantonal recruitment and organization supplied the troops hired abroad.
Battle of Sempach: A 1386 battle in which Confederates defeated a Habsburg army near Lucerne. The victory strengthened the Confederacy and its reputation for effective infantry warfare.

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