Battle of Frastanz
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Frastanz between an army of the Old Swiss Confederacy
and the troops of king Maximilian I
of the Holy Roman Empire
took place on April 20, 1499. In one of the many raids of the Swabian War
, an expedition of Habsburg troops had plundered some villages in the Swiss Confederacy, who responded by sending an army to Vorarlberg
. At Frastanz, a few kilometers south-east of Feldkirch
, the Habsburg troops had blocked the entry to the Montafon
valley with a strong wooden fortification called a Letzi. The Swiss used a flanking maneuver
to bypass the Letzi and after a hard battle routed Maximilian's army. Many Landsknecht
e drowned in the river Ill
.
on the strong fortifications at Frastanz seemed futile, the commander of the Swiss troops, Heinrich Wolleb from Uri
, devised an alternate battle plan. Some 2,000 men were to cross the Roya mountain, clear it from Tyrolean troops and then attack the main camp of the Habsburg army from the side. Another 5,000 men under the command of count Ulrich von Sax were to advance at the foot of the mountain and then meet the first group, also attacking from the mountain above and behind the Letzi. Some 1,600 men from the Grisons should stay put to keep the garrison at Feldkirch at bay.
Wolleb's troop was quickly engaged by the Tyrolean soldiers, but managed to drive them down the mountain. At a place called Fellengatter, they met again with the other part of the Swiss army. The Habsburg troops, amongst them many Landsknechte of the Swabian League
, attacked them, but when the Swiss charged from their higher ground, the Swabian battle line collapsed. Accounts vary; some claim the fight was long and hard, others mention that the Swiss overran the Landsknechte. Heinrich Wolleb fell through a gun bullet. The Swiss ultimately drove the Habsburg soldiers back. On their flight, many drowned in the river Ill
, which ran high due to the snowmelt in spring.
The Swiss camped three days at the battlefield and plundered and burned the villages in the area.
Old Swiss Confederacy
The Old Swiss Confederacy was the precursor of modern-day Switzerland....
and the troops of king Maximilian I
Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor
Maximilian I , the son of Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor and Eleanor of Portugal, was King of the Romans from 1486 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1493 until his death, though he was never in fact crowned by the Pope, the journey to Rome always being too risky...
of the Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
took place on April 20, 1499. In one of the many raids of the Swabian War
Swabian War
The Swabian War of 1499 was the last major armed conflict between the Old Swiss Confederacy and the House of Habsburg...
, an expedition of Habsburg troops had plundered some villages in the Swiss Confederacy, who responded by sending an army to Vorarlberg
Vorarlberg
Vorarlberg is the westernmost federal-state of Austria. Although it is the second smallest in terms of area and population , it borders three countries: Germany , Switzerland and Liechtenstein...
. At Frastanz, a few kilometers south-east of Feldkirch
Feldkirch, Vorarlberg
- Schools :* Bundesgymnasium und Bundesrealgymnasium Feldkirch * Bundeshandelsakademie und Bundeshandelsschule Feldkirch* Bundesoberstufenrealgymnasium und Bundesrealgymnasium Schillerstrasse...
, the Habsburg troops had blocked the entry to the Montafon
Montafon
Montafon is a valley in Austria that extends from the city of Bludenz to the Silvretta mountain range. It is also known in the local dialect as Muntafu....
valley with a strong wooden fortification called a Letzi. The Swiss used a flanking maneuver
Flanking maneuver
In military tactics, a flanking maneuver, also called a flank attack, is an attack on the sides of an opposing force. If a flanking maneuver succeeds, the opposing force would be surrounded from two or more directions, which significantly reduces the maneuverability of the outflanked force and its...
to bypass the Letzi and after a hard battle routed Maximilian's army. Many Landsknecht
Landsknecht
Landsknechte were European, predominantly German mercenary pikemen and supporting foot soldiers from the late 15th to the late 16th century, and achieved the reputation for being the universal mercenary of Early modern Europe.-Etymology:The term is from German, Land "land, country" + Knecht...
e drowned in the river Ill
Ill (Austria)
The Ill is a 72 km long tributary of the Rhine river in the western Austrian province of Vorarlberg.It flows from the northern slopes of the Silvretta mountain range and then runs north-west through Vorarlberg. The Ill passes through the Montafon and Walgau valleys and the town Feldkirch...
.
The battle
Because a frontal assaultFrontal assault
The military tactic of frontal assault is a direct, hostile movement of forces toward the front of an enemy force . By targeting the enemy's front, the attackers are subjecting themselves to the maximum defensive power of the enemy...
on the strong fortifications at Frastanz seemed futile, the commander of the Swiss troops, Heinrich Wolleb from Uri
Canton of Uri
Uri is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland and a founding member of the Swiss Confederation. It is located in Central Switzerland. The canton's territory covers the valley of the Reuss River between Lake Lucerne and the St. Gotthard Pass. German is the primary language spoken in Uri...
, devised an alternate battle plan. Some 2,000 men were to cross the Roya mountain, clear it from Tyrolean troops and then attack the main camp of the Habsburg army from the side. Another 5,000 men under the command of count Ulrich von Sax were to advance at the foot of the mountain and then meet the first group, also attacking from the mountain above and behind the Letzi. Some 1,600 men from the Grisons should stay put to keep the garrison at Feldkirch at bay.
Swabian League
The Swabian League was an association of Imperial States - cities, prelates, principalities and knights - principally in the territory of the Early medieval stem duchy of Swabia, established in 1488 at the behest of Emperor Frederick III of Habsburg and supported as well by Bertold von...
, attacked them, but when the Swiss charged from their higher ground, the Swabian battle line collapsed. Accounts vary; some claim the fight was long and hard, others mention that the Swiss overran the Landsknechte. Heinrich Wolleb fell through a gun bullet. The Swiss ultimately drove the Habsburg soldiers back. On their flight, many drowned in the river Ill
Ill (Austria)
The Ill is a 72 km long tributary of the Rhine river in the western Austrian province of Vorarlberg.It flows from the northern slopes of the Silvretta mountain range and then runs north-west through Vorarlberg. The Ill passes through the Montafon and Walgau valleys and the town Feldkirch...
, which ran high due to the snowmelt in spring.
The Swiss camped three days at the battlefield and plundered and burned the villages in the area.