In the late 15th century, Maximilliam of Austria(later Holy Roman Emperor
Maximillian I) needed a highly trained, well disciplined army in order to
consolidate his hold on his wife's inheritance of the Netherlands against
Louis XI of France. He based his troops and their training on the
Swiss model of pikemen.
This heralded the return of the infantry as an effective fighting force, and sounded
the
death knell for the era of the mounted knight. In companies of five hundred,
armed
with 15-18 foot pikes, the Lanksknechts (german for "land servants")
quickly became
the most highly respected and feared troops in Europe.
After 1500, when Maximillian
allowed them to hire out as mercenaries units, they
became the most sought
after as well. The Landsknechts fought in virtually all of
the major European conflicts
from 1482-1660. They were employed by Henry VII,
Henry VIII, and Elizabeth I of England, Louis XI, Francis I and Henri II of France,
and, of course, Maximillian I, Charles V,
Ferninand I, and Rudolph II, and
Maximillian II of the Holy Roman Empire.
They were renowned for their fierceness and professionalism, but they were
also
known for their drunkenness, brutality, and loyalty to only their
commanders and
the money provided them.
