Swiss Mercenaries: The Bloody Business That Built a Nation

Before Switzerland was famous for chocolate, watches, and banks, it was famous for something far more brutal: soldiers for hire. For centuries, Swiss mercenaries — the Reisläufer — were the most feared infantry in Europe, fighting for popes, kings, and emperors. This episode looks at the bloody business that shaped Swiss identity, from the Battle of Marignano in 1515, where the Swiss suffered a devastating defeat that pushed them toward neutrality, to the Swiss Guard in Vatican City, which still protects the pope. We cover the Pensionen system, where Swiss cantons received pensions from foreign powers in exchange for recruits, creating political corruption and social upheaval. We also examine the 1527 Sack of Rome, where Swiss Guards died defending Pope Clement VII. Lucas and Luna explore how mercenary service exported violence, brought wealth into the Alpine valleys, and planted the seeds of Swiss neutrality. A story of honor, money, and survival. #SwissMercenaries #Reisläufer #Marignano #SwissGuard #SackOfRome #Pensionen #Neutrality #Vatican #PopeClementVII #Habsburgs #FrenchKings #Landsknechte #Halberd #PikeSquare #16thCentury #SwissHistory #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo