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Swiss Mercenaries: Early Modern Europe, Battle of Bicocca, Battle of Marignano, Battle of Novara (1513), Italian Wars, Old Swiss Confederacy, Burgundian Wars, Hundred Years' War
Swiss Mercenaries Early Modern Europe Battle of Bicocca Battle of Marignano Battle of Novara Italian Wars Old Swiss Confederacy Burgundian Wars Hundred Years' War - 1513 High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Swiss mercenaries were soldiers notable for their service in foreign armies, especially the armies of the Kings of France, throughout the Early Modern period of European history, from the Later Middle Ages into the Age of the European Enlightenment. Their service as mercenaries was at its apogee during... more » the Renaissance, when their proven battlefield capabilities made them sought-after mercenary troops. During the Late Middle Ages, mercenary forces grew in importance in Europe, as veterans from the Hundred Years War and other conflicts came to see soldiering as a profession rather than a temporary activity, and commanders sought long-term professionals rather than temporary feudal levies to fight their wars. Swiss mercenaries (Reisläufer) were valued throughout Late Medieval Europe for the power of their determined mass attack in deep columns with the pike and halberd. Hiring them was made even more attractive because entire ready-made Swiss mercenary contingents could be obtained by simply contracting with their local governments, the various Swiss cantons?the cantons had a form of militia system in which the soldiers were bound to serve and were trained and equipped to do so.« less