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Why did Francis I make peace with the Swiss Confederation?
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Francis I
King Francis I of France, portrait by Pierre Dumonstier, after a drawing by Jean Clouet; in the Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris.
Following the Battle of Marignano in 1515, where Francis I of France narrowly defeated the Swiss Confederation, the two parties entered into a peace settlement in 1516.12
Francis I chose to offer generous peace terms to the vanquished Swiss for several strategic and economic reasons:
- Securing Military Stability: The battle had demonstrated the formidable military strength of the Swiss infantry, and a peace treaty helped stabilize the region after years of conflict over the duchy of Milan.2
- Mercenary Access: The resulting "mercenary pact" of 1521 secured France's access to Swiss troops, which were highly valued across Europe for their military prowess.2
- Economic Integration: The peace fostered goodwill that opened the large French market to Swiss merchants, particularly for textiles, cheese, and other goods, creating a mutually beneficial economic relationship that lasted for over 250 years.2
This accord effectively ended Switzerland's period as a major European power and initiated a long-standing relationship between the two former belligerents.2