Cristini, Luca S. The battle of Sempach 1386

The Swiss triumph over the Habsburgs

In this book, readers learn how an army of Swiss militiamen, vastly outnumbered and outgunned, defeated the army of Archduke Leopold III, one of the most capable military leaders of his time, a man who was prepared to let his knights fight on foot with lances rather than recklessly charge against a wall of lances, and how this led to one of the most complete reforms in Swiss history. The Battle of Sempach in 1386 was the decisive battle in the war between the Swiss Confederation and the Duchy of Austria (Habsburg). This event is considered the culmination of the Confederates' long struggle for liberation from the feudal rule of the Habsburgs. The overwhelming victory of the Swiss marked an epoch-making turning point: on the one hand, it consolidated the unity and power of the young Confederation, and on the other, it led to the final collapse of Habsburg power in the region. The victory also gave cities such as Lucerne, Bern and Solothurn the opportunity to expand their territories. The battle is also immortalised by the famous heroic deed of Arnold von Winkelried, a legendary figure who, according to tradition, sacrificed his life to break through the enemy lines a founding myth that has shaped Switzerland's national identity for centuries.