The Swabian War of 1499

In 1499, the Swiss and German Landsknechts clashed in the Swabian War, each showcasing advanced tactical infantry, resulting in intense and costly battles.

In 1499 a ferocious war was waged between the Swiss States and the Holy Roman Empire. It was a costly conflict with an estimated two hundred villages destroyed and over twenty thousand troops killed, as well as uncounted thousands of non-combatants. The Swiss had developed one of the first truly tactical infantries, capable of complex manoeuvres in both offensive and defensive roles. But in the Swabian War, they faced another kind of infantry, the German Landsknechts, who based their military system on the Swiss model. In a number of campaigns and battles, the two forces met in closely fought contests, leaving the impression that Swiss infantry’s dominance as a military force had met its match.​