SWISS MERCENARIES (XVI CENTURY)

The Swiss infantry was considered one of the best in Western Europe during the 14th - 16th centuries, i.e. at the turn of the Middle Ages and early modern times. She was recruited from native Swiss, especially from forest and mountain cantons. She was characterized by a very high level of discipline, resistance to the hardships of marches, but also a good level of individual training of individual soldiers. The Swiss infantry used mainly white weapons, such as a halberd, a sword or, especially, a pike, which was its main weapon. Missile weapons were treated as secondary - both non-flammable (crossbows or bows) and firearms (arquebuses, and later muskets). In the course of battle, Swiss infantry most often - although there were not rare exceptions to this rule - took a formation composed of three elements. The first of them (called Vorhut) consisted of crossbowmen, archers, marksmen, but also halberdiers. Behind him followed the most numerous Gewalthut, composed almost entirely of pikemen, and the role of the rearguard was performed by Nachhut - often composed of halberdiers. Swiss infantry, due to their high combat qualities, was very often used as mercenary troops by France or the Habsburg house. It became famous in the battles of Morgarten (1315), Sempach (1386) and Nancy (1477). It also played a huge role during the Italian wars (1494-1559).