Swiss troops in Strasbourg service

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Coat of arms of the free imperial city of Strasbourg

A total of eight Swiss troops in the service of Strasbourg supported the free imperial city of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation in the dispute over the diocese of Strasbourg and - in vain - against the expansionist urge of the French Sun King Louis XIV.

Swiss troops in foreign service was the name of the paid service of commanded, whole troop bodies abroad, regulated by the authorities of the Swiss Confederation by international treaties .

These treaties contained a chapter regulating military affairs: the so-called surrender (or private surrender if one of the contracting parties was a private military contractor).

Overview of the Swiss troops in Strasbourg service

Ammeistre Abraham Heldt
1568/1592
# str designation year
1 Auxiliary Corps Strasbourg 1592 1592
Ammeistre Dominikus Dietrich
1660–1675
# str designation year
2 Simmler Company 1673-1679
3 Diesbach Company 1673-1679
Nurse Johannes Kaspar Bernegger
1675
# str designation year
4th Ziegler company 1675-1679
5 Company Weiss 1675-1679
6th Erlach Company 1675-1679
7th Wattenwyl Company 1675-1679
8th Free Corps 1676 1676

The free imperial city of Strasbourg and the (Protestant) confederates

Millet delivery 1576

The first Protestant sermon in the Strasbourg Cathedral was given in 1521. Strasbourg , Free Imperial City in the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation, introduced the Reformation early on and in 1648 only reluctantly implemented the Augsburg Interim in 1548.

From time immemorial she cultivated friendly relations with the Protestant estates of the Confederation . In this context, the so-called millet trip 1574 by the Zurich people is known. In 1584, Strasbourg even made a formal application for membership to the Confederates. The Catholic towns, fearful of the strengthening of the Protestant camp, knew how to postpone business in the Diet until it had to be written off and Strasbourg had to be rejected.

After all, in 1588, the two municipal estates of Bern and Zurich concluded a protection and defiance alliance with Strasbourg. If the imperial city should become involved in a war, the two confederates would rush to help.

In 1592 this was needed and provided in a dispute over the office of bishop , but without fighting.

Name,
duration of use		 (1 str ) Auxiliary Corps Strasbourg 1592 1592
Year,
contractual partner		 1588: Protection and defense alliance of the Free Imperial City of Strasbourg with the two Protestant federal estates of Bern and Zurich.

These provide auxiliary troops on request for compensation of 5000 guilders per 1000 men per month.

Stock,
formation		 5 companies each of 300 men from Zurich and Bern, a total of 3,000 men.
Origin squad,
troop		 From Zurich and Bern.
Owner,
commander,
namesake
  • Zurich: Colonel Junker Jakob von Schönau and the captains Niklaus Waser, Hans Walder, Sixt Vogel and Leonhard Holzhalb;
  • Bern: k. A.
Use,
events		 Extract at the request of Strasbourg, which was in dispute with the Archbishop and was threatened by the Duke of Lorraine.

Return without fighting.

Strasbourg in the focus of the Sun King

Almost a century later, with the outbreak of the Dutch War , the situation in Strasbourg worsened again. France's Sun King Louis XIV had owned large parts of Alsace since the Peace of Westphalia . On the Middle Rhine, the most famous military commanders faced each other with powerful troops, the Germans under Elector Friedrich Wilhelm and Montecuccoli , the French under Condé and Turenne . The situation in Strasbourg was uncomfortable. It didn't change anything that it declared itself neutral.

As a precaution, the city fortifications were renewed and the confederate confederates approached for military aid to strengthen the garrison, which they were granted. After the outbreak of the Dutch War in 1672 the confederates mobilized, according to Strasbourg's request, first 300 in two and later another 600 men in four companies, for a total of 900 men.

Name,
duration of use		 (2 str ) Simmler Company 1673–1679
Year,
contractual partner		 1588: Protection and defense alliance of the Free Imperial City of Strasbourg with the two Protestant federal estates of Bern and Zurich.

These provide auxiliary troops on request for compensation of 5000 guilders per 1000 men per month.

Stock,
formation		 A company of 150 men.
Origin squad,
troop		 From the Swiss Confederation, freely advertised.
Owner,
commander,
namesake		 Johann Rudolf Simmler
Use,
events		 Simmler's company was the best of all six. Together with Lerber Company, she was among the defenders of Kehlerschanze.

Simmler, as commander of the Kehl garrison, together with the Strasbourg vigilante group, could not prevent the loss of the Kehlerschanze to the French. He was even taken prisoner.

At least the Swiss troops, together with the forces of Strasbourg, succeeded in preventing the conquest of the city and holding it. After the peace agreement in Nijmegen they were released again.

Name,
duration of use		 (3 str ) Diesbach Company 1673–1679
Year,
contractual partner		 1588: Protection and defense alliance of the Free Imperial City of Strasbourg with the two Protestant federal estates of Bern and Zurich.

These provide auxiliary troops on request for compensation of 5000 guilders per 1000 men per month.

Stock,
formation		 A company of 150 men.
Origin squad,
troop		 From the Swiss Confederation, freely advertised.
Owner,
commander,
namesake		 Imbert von Diesbach, later: Viktor von Büren, from Bern
Use,
events		 The Swiss troops together with the Strasbourg units could not prevent the loss of control of the Rhine bridge to the French war party, but they could maintain possession of the city of Strasbourg itself.

After the peace agreement in Nijmegen they were released again.

France occupies the Rhine crossing at Kehl

Shortly after the start of the war, the bridge over the Rhine at Kehl went up in flames and was replaced by a floating bridge by the city government . Strasbourg found itself in a dilemma between its traditional orientation towards the empire and the threatening French backdrop. In contrast to its declaration of neutrality, it allowed passage across the Rhine from time to time on the German side. The French war party did not accept that.

In 1678 they overran the 800 men who defended the Kehlerschanze despite the most violent resistance and conquered this part of the city fortifications that controlled the Rhine crossing and two other entrenchments, one on an island and the other on the left bank of the Rhine. Kehl was looted and set on fire, but Strasbourg itself was not attacked with force. The river crossing over the Rhine was now in French possession.

Name,
duration of use		 (4 str ) Ziegler company 1675–1679
Year,
contractual partner		 1588: Protection and defense alliance of the Free Imperial City of Strasbourg with the two Protestant federal estates of Bern and Zurich.

These provide auxiliary troops on request for compensation of 5000 guilders per 1000 men per month.

Stock,
formation		 A company of 150 men.
Origin squad,
troop		 From the Swiss Confederation, freely advertised.
Owner,
commander,
namesake		 Salomon Ziegler from Zurich.
Use,
events		 The Swiss troops together with the Strasbourg units could not prevent the loss of control of the Rhine bridge to the French war party, but they could maintain possession of the city of Strasbourg itself.

After the peace agreement in Nijmegen, they were released in 1679.

Name,
duration of use		 (5 str ) Meiss company 1675–1679
Year,
contractual partner		 1588: Protection and defense alliance of the Free Imperial City of Strasbourg with the two Protestant federal estates of Bern and Zurich.

These provide auxiliary troops on request for compensation of 5000 guilders per 1000 men per month.

Stock,
formation		 A company of 150 men.
Origin squad,
troop		 From the Swiss Confederation, freely advertised.
Owner,
commander,
namesake		 Heinrich von Meiss from Zurich.
Use,
events		 The Swiss troops together with the Strasbourg units could not prevent the loss of control of the Rhine bridge to the French war party, but they could maintain possession of the city of Strasbourg itself.

After the peace agreement in Nijmegen, they were released in 1679.

Name,
duration of use		 (6 str ) Erlach company 1675–1679
Year,
contractual partner		 1588: Protection and defense alliance of the Free Imperial City of Strasbourg with the two Protestant federal estates of Bern and Zurich.

These provide auxiliary troops on request for compensation of 5000 guilders per 1000 men per month.

Stock,
formation		 A company of 150 men.
Origin squad,
troop		 From the Swiss Confederation, freely advertised.
Owner,
commander,
namesake		 Hans Rudolf von Erlach from Bern, later: Daniel Lerber, from Bern
Use,
events		 Lerber Company was among the defenders of Kehlerschanze. When the French attacked, Captain von Erlach was fatally wounded and his lieutenant von Landenberg was killed.

The Swiss troops together with the Strasbourg units could not prevent the loss of control of the Rhine bridge to the French war party, but they could maintain possession of the city of Strasbourg itself.

After the peace agreement in Nijmegen, they were released in 1679.

Name,
duration of use		 (7 str ) Wattenwyl Company 1675–1679
Year,
contractual partner		 1588: Protection and defense alliance of the Free Imperial City of Strasbourg with the two Protestant federal estates of Bern and Zurich.

These provide auxiliary troops on request for compensation of 5000 guilders per 1000 men per month.

Stock,
formation		 A company of 150 men.
Origin squad,
troop		 From the Swiss Confederation, freely advertised.
Owner,
commander,
namesake		 Ludwig von Wattenwyl from Bern.
Use,
events		 The Swiss troops together with the Strasbourg units could not prevent the loss of control of the Rhine bridge to the French war party, but they could maintain possession of the city of Strasbourg itself.

After the peace agreement in Nijmegen, they were released in 1679.

Name,
duration of use		 (8 str ) Freikorps 1676 1676
Year,
contractual partner		 1588: Protection and defense alliance of the Free Imperial City of Strasbourg with the two Protestant federal estates of Bern and Zurich.

These provide auxiliary troops on request for compensation of 5000 guilders per 1000 men per month.

Stock,
formation		 A federal volunteer corps: total stock k. A., including 2 free companies from Zurich of 200 men each.
Origin squad,
troop		 From the Swiss Confederation, freely advertised.
Owner,
commander,
namesake
  • General: k. A.
  • Zurich: the captains Junker Hartmann Escher and Kaspar Schmid.
Use,
events		 When German and French troops again approached the border near Basel, the garrison of Strasbourg was reinforced.

In the same year the Freikorps was abdicated again.

France takes possession of the city of Strasbourg

Three years later, Louis XIV made up for what had been postponed: in the middle of peace in 1681, he took Strasbourg by surprise, had the city of merchants occupied by Louvois (without a fight), handed the Strasbourg cathedral back to the diocese of Strasbourg , transformed the free imperial city into French territory and commissioned Vauban with the expansion of its citadel and fortifications.

Strasbourg fortress 1692

Remarks

  1. ↑ Trade relations since the 13th century, Rheinischer Städtebund , rifle festivals with 1st millet ride in 1456, joint armed forces in the Burgundian Wars , Lower Association as examples.
  2. ↑ Mayor, the councilors and the big council of the 200 and the whole municipality of the city of Zurich, Schultheisse, small and big councilors called the 200 of the city of Bern conclude an alliance with Meister und Rat, Schöffel and Ammann of the free imperial city of Strasbourg. The city of Strasbourg has to pay 5,000 guilders a month for the aid of Swiss troops and to support an attack on fortified places with herbs and lots, provisions and food. If Zurich and Bern are in danger of war, Strasbourg has no people to send to them, but has to keep 30,000 guilders and 5,000 quarters of rye ready. In addition, both parties promise to protect each other to the best of their ability in matters of religion and belief as well as in worldly and spiritual matters. Seal Zurich, Bern and Strasbourg . Regest on the certificate / copy of the certificate CI, No. 1420 . State Archives of the Canton of Zurich .
  3. ↑ City fortifications of Strasbourg in 1692 , rebuilt by Vauban after the French occupation .
  4. ↑ With this, the Free Imperial City of Strasbourg left the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation .

bibliography

  • Josef Benzing , Jean Muller: Bibliography Strasbourgeoise (= Bibliotheca bibliographica Aureliana. LXXX, XC, XV). Volume 1 (edited by Benzing) and Volume 2–3. Baden-Baden 1981–1986 (= Répertoire bibliographique des livres imprimés en France au seizième siècle. Volume 148).
  • Georges Livet, Francis Rapp and a. (Ed.): Histoire de Strasbourg des origines à nos jours (= Histoire des villes d'Alsace ). 4 volumes, Edition des Dernières Nouvelles de Strasbourg, Strasbourg 1980–1982, ISBN 2-7165-0041-X .
  • Yuko Egawa: City rule and community in Strasbourg from the beginning of the 13th century until the Black Death (1349) (= Trier historical research. Vol. 62). Kliomedia, Trier 2007, ISBN 978-3-89890-108-6 .
  • Robert Schelp: The Reformation Trials of the City of Strasbourg at the Imperial Court of Justice at the time of the Schmalkaldic Confederation, (1524) / 1531–1541 / (1555). Bookstore Geschw.Schmidt , Kaiserslautern 1965, DNB 454327714 . Zugl .: Diss., Tübingen 1965. Extended edition. With a preface by Philippe Dollinger . Bookstore Geschw. Schmidt, Kaiserslautern 1965, DNB 454327722 .
  • Bastien Gissinger, Recherches sur le site fortifié de Strasbourg durant l'Antiquité tardive: le castrum d'Argentoratum , J. et E. Hedges, Oxford, 2002.
  • Benoît Jordan, Histoire de Strasbourg , Gisserot-Histoire, 2006.
  • Paul Greissler, La Classe politique dirigeante à Strasbourg (1650–1750) , le Quai, Strasbourg, 1987.

See also

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A b c Louis Spach (author / editor): Dominique Dietrich, ammeistre de Strasbourg , Paris & Strasbourg 1857.
  2. ↑ Stefan Hotz: Why Strasbourg does not belong to Switzerland and what the millet journey has to do with it . In: Neue Zürcher Zeitung , June 20, 2018.
  3. ^ A b c Hans Heinrich Bluntschli: Memorabilia Tigurina, or oddities of the city and landscape of Zurich . , Chapter war trains , bey Heidegger and Companie, Zurich 1742. https://doi.org/10.3931/e-rara-25373 .
  4. ↑ a b c d e Oskar Erismann: Swiss in German service . Bernische Blätter for history, art and antiquity, Volume 11, Issue 4, 1915.
  5. ↑ Imbert von Diesbach . In: Bernese sexes . Accessed: November 12, 2019.
  6. ↑ Viktor von Büren . In: Bernese sexes . Accessed: November 12, 2019.
  7. ^ Barbara Braun-Bucher: Erlach, Johann Rudolf von. In: Historical Lexicon of Switzerland . 29-10-2004 , accessed on 12-11-2019 .
  8. ↑ Daniel Lerber . In: Bernese sexes. Accessed: November 13, 2019.
  9. ↑ Hans Ludwig von Wattenwyl . In: Bernese sexes. Accessed: November 13, 2019.
  10. ↑ Friedrich Vogel: The old chronicles or memorabilia of the city and landscape of Zurich from the oldest times to 1820 , printed and published by Friedrich Schulthess, Zurich 1845. https://doi.org/10.3931/e-rara-26753
  11. ^ Johann Conrad Felsing: Military map of the Strasburg fortress; the Feste Kehl, and from the surrounding areas , Rhineland-Palatinate State Library Center , Koblenz 2017. http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0128-1-59790 .