The Swabian and imperial Landsknechts had learned the Swiss system, reducing the Confederacy's old tactical monopoly. Keeping large pike formations intact made them noisy and awkward in forests, while breaking into small parties risked emerging unready for combat. The choice traded stealth for force cohesion. Switzerland's separated valleys further punished invading forces that could not support one another. The war lasted from January to September 1499. Maximilian was sensible to end it once a quick victory proved impossible, though starting it remained the deeper error.
Notable Point · 25:17-27:38
Landsknecht imitation meets Swiss terrain
German Landsknechts copy Swiss doctrine, but formation discipline creates its own tradeoff between cohesion, stealth, and movement through forests and mountain valleys.