Marignano 1515

In the 15th century, the Confederates were militarily very strong. They conquered new territories and fought as mercenaries for foreign rulers. At the beginning of the 16th century, they fought for control of Milan in northern Italy. In doing so, they came into conflict with the King of France.

On 13 and 14 September 1515, the Confederates lost the Battle of Marignano, near Milan, against the French king Francis I. Thousands of Confederates died. In 1516, the Confederates concluded the «Perpetual Peace» with France. They gave up Milan. After that, the Confederation abandoned its policy of conquest. The time of great joint conquests was over.

Later, Marignano was often seen as the beginning of Swiss neutrality. Historians today are more careful: Swiss mercenaries fought in foreign armies for a long time afterwards. Neutrality was only recognised in 1815. Important for the test: the most important consequence of Marignano was the end of the policy of conquest.

Memory aid: 1515: fifteen-fifteen, the end of conquering.