I was probably like most Italian Wars figure gamers when it came to choosing Flags for Swiss Pike blocks. I ordered a sheet of 12 flags from Pete’s Flags off eBay and when they arrived, I quickly put the ones that I liked the most onto my pike blocks. Depending upon the size of the pike blocks, they had between three and six flags each. Initially I was not worried whether the flags that I was using would go together historically.
As a follow up to my recent instruction video on attaching flags to a 28mm Swiss Pike Block, I decided to do a bit of research on the subject. I want to stress that this research is ongoing and this blog post will evolve as I get more information. I am not claiming that everything is totally correct, but it is my current understanding of Swiss flags. It would be great to hear from anyone that has better information.
The Swiss Cantons
I wanted to start my research with an understanding of the Swiss Cantons during the Italian Wars period. At this time there were thirteen cantons in the old Swiss Confederacy. Five of the cantons were rural cantons and eight of the cantons were urban cantons. The distinction between rural and urban cantons is important and will be covered later.
The rural cantons were: Uri, Schwyz, Unterwalden, Glarus and Appenzell.
The urban cantons were: Zurich, Bern, Luzern, Zug, Basel, Fribourg, Solothurn (often called Soleure) and Schaffhausen.
Three of these canons, Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden were the founders of the original Swiss Confederacy in the late 13th century and often marched together in battle.
The above flag sheet from Pete’s flags includes at least eleven of the thirteen cantons. I have managed to identify the flags as follows:
- Row 1: Bern (left), Schaffhausen (right).
- Row 2: Thun, town in Bern canton (left), Zug (right)
- Row 3: Appenzell (left), Schwyz (right)
- Row 4: Basel (left), Uri (right)
- Row 5: Unterwalden (left), Zurich (right)
- Row 6: Solothurn (left), Glarus (right)
The sheet does not include Luzern and Fribourg.
Allies of the Swiss Confederacy.
There were a number of Allies of the Swiss Confederacy. In the period of the Italian Wars they were independent territories or alliances, but today they have joined Switzerland and have the designation of canton. There are three of these allies that I will discuss. In many cases these allies provided troops to the Swiss Confederacy and in some cases actually sent troops to Italy independently.
Grisons
In 1471 the League of ten jurisdictions, the League of Gods house and the Grey League joined together to form the Grey League (Grisons). The area that they occupy is to the East of the Swiss confederacy with the Republic of Venice to the South. Grisons became a canton in 1803. Due to the frequency of Grisons troops fighting in the Italian Wars, I will be adding some Grisons flags to my collection.
Valais
Valais is to the South West of the Swiss confederacy. To its North is Fribourg and Bern and to the South is the Duchy of Milan. Valais became a canton in 1815.
St. Gallen
St. Gallen is North of Appenzell. St. Gallen became a canton in 1803.
The battles with Swiss pike blocks.
Seminara (1495)
800 Swiss troops were deployed in a three deep pike line. At the moment I have no details on which cantons provided the troops although they were led by Tambien Chandieu.
Fornovo (1495)
3000 Swiss troops were deployed in a single pike block. At the moment I have no details on which cantons provided the troops.
Cerignola (1503)
Swiss troops were deployed. At the moment I have no details on which cantons provided the troops.
Garigliano (1503)
8000 Swiss troops were deployed. At the moment I have no details on which cantons provided the troops.
Agnadello (1509)
In 1499 King Louis of France had made an agreement with the Swiss confederacy that allowed him to recruit whenever he needed men. In 1509 this agreement was coming to an end. Due to some resentment towards the French, the confederacy declined to provide troops for the campaign. Louis turned to the Grisons to provide 6,000 pike troops. It is reported that these troops were less cohesive and less disciplined than the bands previously provided by the cantons. In my games I decrease the effectiveness of these “Swiss” pike blocks.
(reference: Mallet and Shaw Pg. 88/89)
Novara (Ariotta) (1513)
According to Oman, the Swiss were split into three units. The largest unit had 7,000 troops and was directed against the Landschnekts. According to Oman commanders from Bern, Zurich and Unterwalden were lost in fighting the Landschnekts, so it can be inferred that at least these three cantons were part of the large pike block. The other two pike blocks are listed as containing 1,000 and 2,000 troops.
(reference: Oman Pg 159.)
However, according to Mario Torso (La Battaglia dell’Ariotta), a source which I am more inclined to believe than Oman, the battle was launched by forces from Basel, Bern, Lucerne, Uri, Schwyz, Zug, Fribourg, Solothurn, Schaffhausen, Valais and Unterwalden.
Forces from Bern, Fribourg and Valias had arrived from the cantons via the Simplon pass. Forces from Basel, Lucerne, Uri, Schwyz, Unterwalden, Solothurn and Zug had arrived via the San Gotthard pass.
The forces of Schaffhausen, Zurich, Glarus, Appenzell and St. Gallen had taken the San Bernardino pass and only the lead elements of the Schaffhausen troops arrived in time for the battle. This would seem to contradict Oman in relation to the Zurich canton being represented at the battle (although it is possible that some troops from Zurich were part of the Novara garrison).
(reference: Mario Troso. La Battaglia Dell’Ariotta PG 62, note 112 and Pg 74, note 149).
Mario Troso states that there were three pike blocks, one of 6,000 troops, one of 3,000 troops and one of 1,000 troops. There are no details of which troops were in each of the pike blocks.
Marignano (1515)
It was reported that Bern, Fribourg, Solothurn and Valais troops left for home shortly before the battle, so these cantons should not be represented at the battle of Marignano. These troops were essentially bribed by the French to leave.
There were three large pike blocks at this battle of 10,000, 10,000 and 8,000 troops.
The left pike block was composed of troops from Lucerne, Schaffhausen, and Basel.
The main battle consisted of troops from the old cantons of Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden. It also included Zug and some Grisons.
The right pike block consisted of Zurich and the eastern cantons of Appenzell and Glarus as well troops from St.Gallen.
(reference: Oman pg 68. footnote, pg 163. and pg 169. footnote)
Bicocca (1522)
At this battle there were two pike blocks each of 8,000 troops. One pike block was composed of troops from the rural cantons (Uri, Schwyz, Unterwalden, Glarus and Appenzell. It also included the allies of Valais and Grisons) and the other pike block was composed of troops from the urban cantons (Zurich, Bern, Luzern, Zug, Basel, Fribourg, Solothurn and Schaffhausen). I have not found out which pike block was on the left and which pike block was on the right.
There are reports that the rural cantons and urban cantons raced into battle in competition with each other.
(reference: Oman Pg 68/69)
Pavia (1525)
At this battle there were Swiss 5000 troops. On February 20th, four days before the battle of Pavia, the 6,000 troops of the Grisons marched back to the Valtelline area. This move was because Sforza’s Milanese troops had captured the castle town of Chiavenna which controlled the main route from the Grisons to Italy. The Grisons troops wanted to protect their boarders. While this information does not shed light on which Swiss troops were at the battle of Pavia, it is certain that the Grisons were not at Pavia.
(ref. Oman Pg 196/197)
On the famous picture of the Battle of Pavia at the Royal Armory, there is a group of the Swiss contingent portrayed. They are shown carrying two flags, a blue French flag with three Fleur-de-lis and a yellow flag with an image of a whole black bull. Although the flag of Uri is a black bull’s head on a yellow flag, I would suggest that the flag on the picture could be a variation of the Uri canton flag.
(ref. Royal Armouries Picture of Battle of Pavia)
Other flags
It is my understanding that when the whole Swiss Confederacy went to war, such as at Novara and Marignano, only Swiss flags were used.
When the Swiss provided troops to another nation such as at Bicocca, then the pike block would also fly flags of the nation that was paying them (note that I have not yet added any French flags to my Bicocca pike blocks in the photos above, I have a number of French flags on order so they will be added in the next month or two).
In addition to the canton flags, a pike block would also fly flags of some of the Swiss cities that had provided troops. In my pike blocks I do have some of these city flags, such as the flags Lorraine and Thun when I use the troops from the Bern canton or the flag of Greyers when I use troops from the Fribourg canton.
Conclusion on Flags for Swiss Pike blocks
Hopefully this article has given you some information on Flags for Swiss Pike blocks. There are some historical records that show which cantons fought in which pike block at some of the Italian wars battles. My research is limited at this stage, but I plan to add to this blog post as I find new information.
I plan to us the appropriate Canton (and city) flags for a pike block where I have historical information. Where I don’t have historical information I will at least keep the three old cantons in the same pike block. I may also have another pike block dominated by Bern and its cities, as Bern often had enough troops to form its own block. In those battles where the Swiss served another nation, I will also add one or two flags of that nation keeping the design of the nation flag as nondescript as possible (such as a simple French cross).
There is an advantage in mounting figures on individual bases and using a movement tray for the pike block; it allows me to swap out flags for a particular battle. This will mean that I don’t have to have the flags of the traitorous Bern canton when I refight Marignano – not that anyone at our club game would comment.
