Black Band (landsknechts)
Encyclopedia
The Black Band was a formation of 16th century mercenaries, largely pikemen
, probably serving as Landsknecht
s. They fought in the French army for ten years, seeing service in several notable engagements, including the Battle of Marignano
and the Battle of Pavia
.
when recalled by the emperor Maximilian I
, which suggests they were in fact German. However, they are also described at times as “Hollanders” and as being raised in Guelders, which at this time was ruled by Charles of Egmond, who was generally at odds with the Empire.
What is known is that the Black Band was raised by King Francis I of France
in 1515 in order to replace the Swiss mercenary pikemen who traditionally formed the core of the French infantry force but were at that time
allied with the enemies of France.
. By the time of the Battle of Pavia, they are described by Delbrück as 5,000 strong, by Konstam as 4,000 strong.
, where, defending the ditch and supported by artillery, they were nonetheless recoiled by the attacking Swiss, but were eventually relieved by the charge of the French gendarme
heavy cavalry into the flank of the Swiss attack column.
Ten years later they reappear as the lead French infantry square at the Battle of Pavia
, where they were heavily outnumbered by the 12,000 Imperial Landsknechts opposing them, led by the Landsknecht commander Georg von Frundsberg
. Struck in both flanks -- “seize[d] … as if with tongs” -- and hacked to pieces, the unit ceased to exist.
It was refounded and fought with a strength of 4,000 under Lautrec
in the campaign against the Imperial army in Naples. The destruction of that army in August 1528 saw some 2,000 survivors, many of whom found service with the Imperial Landsknechts.
Pike (weapon)
A pike is a pole weapon, a very long thrusting spear used extensively by infantry both for attacks on enemy foot soldiers and as a counter-measure against cavalry assaults. Unlike many similar weapons, the pike is not intended to be thrown. Pikes were used regularly in European warfare from the...
, probably serving as 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...
s. They fought in the French army for ten years, seeing service in several notable engagements, including the Battle of Marignano
Battle of Marignano
The Battle of Marignano was fought during the phase of the Italian Wars called the War of the League of Cambrai, between France and the Old Swiss Confederacy. It took place on September 13 and 15, 1515, near the town today called Melegnano, 16 km southeast of Milan...
and the Battle of Pavia
Battle of Pavia
The Battle of Pavia, fought on the morning of 24 February 1525, was the decisive engagement of the Italian War of 1521–26.A Spanish-Imperial army under the nominal command of Charles de Lannoy attacked the French army under the personal command of Francis I of France in the great hunting preserve...
.
Origin
Some uncertainty exists concerning the origin of the Black Band. They are often described as “Landsknechts” and as “renegades” who refused to return to the EmpireHoly 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...
when recalled by the emperor 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...
, which suggests they were in fact German. However, they are also described at times as “Hollanders” and as being raised in Guelders, which at this time was ruled by Charles of Egmond, who was generally at odds with the Empire.
What is known is that the Black Band was raised by King Francis I of France
Francis I of France
Francis I was King of France from 1515 until his death. During his reign, huge cultural changes took place in France and he has been called France's original Renaissance monarch...
in 1515 in order to replace the Swiss mercenary pikemen who traditionally formed the core of the French infantry force but were at that time
War of the League of Cambrai
The War of the League of Cambrai, sometimes known as the War of the Holy League and by several other names, was a major conflict in the Italian Wars...
allied with the enemies of France.
Organization and Leadership
The Black Band was initially 17,000 men strong, composed of 12,000 pikemen, 2,000 arquebusiers, 2,000 two-handed swordsmen, and 1,000 halberdiers. Its captain was Georg Langenmantel, but was also placed under the command of a French officer, such as at Pavia, when it was led by Francois de LorraineFrancois de Lorraine
Francois de Lorraine was the Lord of Lambesc, and a commander in the French army under Francis I of France. He was son of René II, Duke of Lorraine and Phillipa of Guelders. He commanded the Black Band of renegade Landsknechts at the Battle of Pavia, and in the bitter combat that ensued between...
. By the time of the Battle of Pavia, they are described by Delbrück as 5,000 strong, by Konstam as 4,000 strong.
Campaigns
The Black Band marched into Italy in 1515 in time to fight alongside King Francis I at the Battle of MarignanoBattle of Marignano
The Battle of Marignano was fought during the phase of the Italian Wars called the War of the League of Cambrai, between France and the Old Swiss Confederacy. It took place on September 13 and 15, 1515, near the town today called Melegnano, 16 km southeast of Milan...
, where, defending the ditch and supported by artillery, they were nonetheless recoiled by the attacking Swiss, but were eventually relieved by the charge of the French gendarme
Gendarme (historical)
A gendarme was a heavy cavalryman of noble birth, primarily serving in the French army from the Late Medieval to the Early Modern periods of European History...
heavy cavalry into the flank of the Swiss attack column.
Ten years later they reappear as the lead French infantry square at the Battle of Pavia
Battle of Pavia
The Battle of Pavia, fought on the morning of 24 February 1525, was the decisive engagement of the Italian War of 1521–26.A Spanish-Imperial army under the nominal command of Charles de Lannoy attacked the French army under the personal command of Francis I of France in the great hunting preserve...
, where they were heavily outnumbered by the 12,000 Imperial Landsknechts opposing them, led by the Landsknecht commander Georg von Frundsberg
Georg von Frundsberg
Georg von Frundsberg was a South German knight and Landsknecht leader in the service of the Imperial Habsburg dynasty of the Holy Roman Empire....
. Struck in both flanks -- “seize[d] … as if with tongs” -- and hacked to pieces, the unit ceased to exist.
It was refounded and fought with a strength of 4,000 under Lautrec
Odet de Foix, Vicomte de Lautrec
Odet de Foix, Vicomte de Lautrec was a French military leader. He gained the reputation of a gallant and able soldier, but this scarcely seems to be justified by the facts; though he was always badly used by fortune....
in the campaign against the Imperial army in Naples. The destruction of that army in August 1528 saw some 2,000 survivors, many of whom found service with the Imperial Landsknechts.
Sources
- Arfaioli, Maurizio. The Black Bands of Giovanni, p. 143, 159-161. Pisa: Pisa University Press, 2005.
- Cuneo, Pia F. Art and Politics in Early Modern Germany: Jorg Breu the Elder and the Fashioning of Political Identity – CA 1475-1536, pp. 136–137. Leiden: Koninkliijke Brill NV, 1998.
- Delbrück, HansHans DelbrückHans Delbrück was a German historian. Delbrück was one of the first modern military historians, basing his method of research on the critical examination of ancient sources, the use of auxiliary disciplines, like demography and economics, to complete the analysis and the comparison between...
. History of the Art of War, pp. 10, 92-93. Originally published in 1920; University of Nebraska Press (reprint), 1990 (trans. J. Renfroe Walter). Volume IV: The Origins of Modern Warfare. - Knecht, R. J. Renaissance Warrior and Patron: The Reign of Francis I, p. 70. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1994.
- Konstam, Angus. Pavia 1525: The Climax of the Italian Wars, pp. 65–73. Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 1996.
- Oman, CharlesCharles OmanSir Charles William Chadwick Oman was a British military historian of the early 20th century. His reconstructions of medieval battles from the fragmentary and distorted accounts left by chroniclers were pioneering...
. A History of the Art of War in the Sixteenth Century. London: Methuen & Co., 1937. - Wilson, John. The History of Switzerland, pp. 194-195. London: Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, Green & Longman, 1832 (reprint 2005 Adamant Media Corporation).