eidgenossen

Swiss military combatants

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July 23, 2026

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The term eidgenossen refers to Swiss military combatants, meaning "oath brothers." These confederate forces, primarily from cantons like Uri, Schwyz, Unterwalden, and Lucerne, became renowned for their effectiveness in battle, particularly with the pike.123

Their military prowess was demonstrated in significant victories against the Austrian Habsburgs, such as the Battle of Morgarten in 1315 and the Battle of Sempach in 1386. These battles highlighted how Swiss infantry, armed with pikes, could defeat armored knights in open combat, marking a shift in European military tactics and contributing to the decline of feudalism. The Swiss Confederation's success was rooted in its unique political structure, uniting rural and urban communes, and its commitment to shared defense and liberty.1324

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Battle of Morgarten
…the rise of the Swiss eidgenossen (“oath brothers”) as the most ferocious shock combatants in Europe. Because of the prestige won by Schwyz in the battle, the confederation as a whole became known by forms of this name (e.g., Schweiz [German], Suisse [French], Svizzera [Italian], or Switzerland).
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…the rise of the Swiss eidgenossen (“oath brothers”) as the most ferocious shock combatants in Europe. Because of the prestige won by Schwyz in the battle, the confederation as a whole became known by forms of this name (e.g., Schweiz [German], Suisse [French], Svizzera [Italian], or Switzerland).
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Battle of Sempach
…that an army of Swiss eidgenossen (“oath brothers”) armed primarily with the pike could defeat chivalric elites in the open field, whether mounted or dismounted.
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…that an army of Swiss eidgenossen (“oath brothers”) armed primarily with the pike could defeat chivalric elites in the open field, whether mounted or dismounted.
Read More