The Landsknechts

Osprey Men at Arms #58

by Douglas Miller, Gerry Embleton (Illustrator)

The Landsknechts were German mercenaries who served during the reigns of Maximilian I and Charles V in the sixteenth century. Having signed up, these Landsknechts were read a very detailed code of conduct, organized into companies, paid one month in advance, and sent into battle! Their major weapon was the pike, which could be up to 18 feet in length, but those whose duty it was to advance in the front line carried instead the fearsome Zweihänder; an enormous battle-sword around 66 inches in length! Douglas Miller describes in detail the organisation, tactics, weapons, uniforms and history of these remarkable soldiers.

Genres: History, Military History, Nonfiction, Germany, 16th Century, Renaissance, Live Action Roleplaying

48 pages, Paperback

First published March 31, 1994

Reviews

[Steven Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

For those not familiar with Osprey, the publisher specializes in short books, normally with nice illustrations. This is part of their "Men-at-Arms" series. The focus is on German "Landsknechts," an equivalent to the Swiss Pike men, a more well known set of troops.

These German soldiers were mercenaries. The book notes their military strategy, the nature of their equipment, how their pike technique differed from the Swiss. Several battles are discussed, providing a sense of how the "Landsknechts" were deployed. One of the more telling discussions was of the battle of Pavia (I think I'm right; sometimes it gets a little uncertain what the role of Landsknechts were in certain battles and which battle the author is writing about)--where German mercenaries were on both sides! And fought one another!

The book notes that the use of such soldiers was coming to its natural end, as cannon and early relatives of the musket were beginning to come into play. Their mercenary nature (and sometimes refusing to fight if they didn't get paid what they wanted) began to undermine their usefulness.

At any rate, an interesting look at these "men-at-arms."

[Nathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting unit I'd never heard of before.

[Michael Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even most students of military history might have to stop and think if they came across the German term in the title. It originally meant “servant of the land” but the spelling often was changed to Lanzknecht -- “servant of the lance” -- and what it refers to is the mercenary pikeman of the early 16th century, especially as employed by Emperors Maximilian I and Charles V against their enemies in central Europe. The mercenary companies of this period and place didn’t operate the same way as the Italian condottieri, though. They weren’t available for hire to anyone with the money to pay them but rather were raised ad hoc and as needed for service to the emperor alone. While they often carried two-handed swords and halberds and various other weapons, their primary arm was the Swiss-style pike, which was as much as eighteen feet long. (I can’t even imagine efficiently manipulating something that size.) As auxiliary weapons, the crossbow gradually gave way to the portable firearm, and artillery of primitive design also was added. The text is excellent in describing the development of the Landsknechts and their most important international campaigns, which included both notable successes and serious failures. They disappeared mostly because of the emperor’s growing inability to pay them (the mercenaries’ motto was “no money, no men”) and their eventual replacement by conscripted foot soldiers. Given the fact that this book was first published more than thirty-five years ago and simply reprinted since without updates, I suspect the interpretations Miller draws from the sources are now a bit outdated.

One of the selling points of Osprey’s books, of course, is the section of color plates showing uniforms and insignia, but in this case the term should be “costume.” There was no uniformity at all and the gaudy and garish outfits depicted again seem very inefficient. Officers (and their mounts) might own elaborate sectional armor but the typical infantryman was lucky to possess a breastplate. But they certainly had a sense of theater.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed "The Swiss at War" much more which was also about pikeman and how there were used in battle. Still, it is very interesting how the units were used in war and how technology and politics eventually finished them all off.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of great information about a group of people I suspect I descend from. Plus, you know, pictures.