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Military history of Switzerland
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| History of Switzerland | |
|---|---|
| Early history | (before 1291) |
| Old Swiss Confederacy | |
| Growth | (1291–1516) |
| Reformation | (1516–1648) |
| Ancien Régime | (1648–1798) |
| Transitional period | |
| Napoleonic era | (1798–1814) |
| Restauration | (1814–1847) |
| Switzerland | |
| Federal state | (1848–1914) |
| World Wars | (1914–1945) |
| Modern history | (1945–present) |
| Topical | |
| Military history | |
The military history of Switzerland comprises centuries of armed actions, and the role of the Swiss military in conflicts and peacekeeping worldwide. Despite maintaining neutrality since its independence from the Holy Roman Empire in 1499,[1] Switzerland has been involved in military operations dating back to the hiring of Swiss mercenaries by foreign nations, including the Papal States.
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Formed with the Federal Charter of 1291, an alliance of three cantons was formed for mutual defense, chiefly against the Hapsburgs. A succession of interventions by the Hapsburgs produced the battles of Morgarten (1315) and Sempach (1386), resulting in independence for the confederacy.
By 1353 the original three cantons had been joined by two additional cantons and three city states.
Late in the thirteenth century, soldiers drawn from the cantons of Switzerland gained a military reputation throughout Europe. This reputation was earned as a result of their defense against the Austrian Habsburg overlords and during campaigns in Italy. By the fifteenth century the Swiss had become particularly valued as soldiers-for-hire. Swiss soldiers were noted for their combat skill and ferocious attacks in the Phalanx, or deep column formation using pike and halberd. They had a virtual monopoly on pike mercenary service up until 1490.
By 1490 German mercenaries became proficient in Swiss military tactics and were available for hire at a lower cost. In 1515 the Swiss pledged themselves to neutrality, and they only continued to fight in the service of the Royal French army. They became bitter rivals with the German mercenaries and the two would often fight on the battlefields of Europe during the next few decades.
Following the Battle of Marignano in 1515, however, the Swiss style of massed-combat fighting went into steady decline, to be replaced by the arquebusiers, artillery and earthworks. During the Battle of Bicocca in 1522 the Swiss mercenaries saw a bitter defeat with heavy casualties. Nonetheless Swiss continued to serve as mercenaries during the next two centuries, adopting the musket to replace the pike.
The Swiss Guard has its origins in 1506 when Pope Julius II hired them as "bodyguards"; however the group of soldiers was large enough to be considered an army. This is appropriate, seeing as the Papal States took up one-third of Italy at the time, requiring extensive protection. The pope enlisted them, seeing as he believed they were best at the time. Currently, it is illegal for Swiss citizens to fight as mercenaries, however working to protect the Vatican is the sole exception.[2]
The Swiss peasant war of 1653 was a popular revolt by the rural populations of several cantons. The rebellion was suppressed, but it led to a series of reforms. In 1655 and later in 1712, the Battles of Villmergen occurred as a result of religious conflicts between Catholic and reformed cantons. The religious conflicts were renewed in 1847, resulting in a civil war and leading to the formation of Switzerland as a federal state.
In 1798 the French army overran Switzerland and proclaimed a Helvetic Republic. Internal resistance and economic problems destablized the state and additional French troops were deployed to restore order.
During the 1814-15 Congress of Vienna the neutrality of Switzerland was guaranteed by the signatories.
During World War I, Switzerland remained a neutral state. In World War II, Germany made some plans for the invasion of Switzerland, most notably Operation Tannenbaum, but these were never carried out. However Swiss air space was repeatedly violated.
- ^ Switzerland. CIA World Factbook. Retrieved on May 25, 2006.
- ^ "History of the Guard." All Things Considered. Robert Siegel. National Public Radio.
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