Good day. :)

Im interested in details of this battle and would like to ask someone with knowledge about it if he couldnt describe it in greater detail if its possible.

My main questions would be:

-composition of french army
-how the battle itself was played out
-casualties on both sides
-how much of this can be found in contemporary sources and if there are big differences in them
-if there ever was any research conducted that would form a good base of knowledge about it

I was looking for some reading about it but it isnt very abundant.

Thx for any help or information. :)

Anyone? :)

There are many people here with great and detailed knowledge its allways pleasure to read history discussions. Theres allwas something new to be found there.

The traditional narrative has around fifteen hundred Swiss primarily armed with pikes advancing across a river to attack a French force of twenty to forty thousand. The Swiss fight fiercely against opposing heavy cavalry but eventually withdraw to a stronghold where the French artillery takes a heavy toll. They resist to the last man when the French storm the stronghold. Three or four thousand French perished in the battle. It's an amazing story and almost unbelievable. I don't anything about the period sources, unfortunately.

Found this on Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_St._Ja...url][/url]

Jaroslav:

From what I recall - you have the basics correct. Supposedly the Goss were there, supposedly. Coat of Arms is nothing more than...a masonry wall!

Anyway, I think Osprey had something on them in their book on the Swiss? I contacted the Swiss Embassy and others and got some info - years ago. Not much though, as I did not pursue it with due diligence. Sorry.

Interesting topic though.

Thank you!

That is "modern" coat of arms, since the Switzer were democratic from what....August 1, 1291! No landed nobility in the Kantons!!!!

Thats shame. :)

I was interested at most in knowing how exactly could this small force resist so long and cause quite large casualties (Ive seen numbers from 2000 to 9000 for french dead against supposedly little less than 1200 Swiss-almost all present) There still is an option its just exageration.