Gerry and Julie's Landsknecht Site
RENAISSANCE GERMANY HISTORICAL DATA CRIB SHEET
by Julie Adams
The Major Religions of the Empire were:
Lutheren
Catholic
Protestant
Calvinist
Martin Luther started the Religious Reformation by nailing the 95 theses on the door of a church in Wittenberg in the mid-16th century. By the late 16th century, most of the country was Protestant, Lutherin, or Calvinist.
The Popes were:
Julius II 1503-1513
Leo X 1513-1521
Hadrian VI 1522-1523
Clement VII 1523-1534
Paul III 1534-1549
Julius III 1550-1555
Paul IV 1555-1559
Pius IV 1560-1565
?
Gregory XIII 1572-1585
The Holy Roman Emperors were all catholic and were:
Maximillian I
Charles V
Ferdinand II
Maximillian II
Rudolf II
The Habsburgs were the ruling family. They were catholic and they had two lineages, Spanish and Austrian.
The Electors were:
The Major Regions of the Empire during the reign of Maximillian were:
Austria
Bavaria
Saxony
Swabia
Friesia
Bohemia
the Black Forest
Wittemburg
The following regions were in and out of the Empire during the 16th century:
Burgundy
Parts of Austria
Hungary
Poland
the Lowlands
The Major Cities of the Empire were:
Salzburg
Augsburg
Cologne
Nuremburg
The Duchies were:
The major Counties were:
Many cities were "free" cities, this means they were not under feudal control of the nobility. Cities and towns were primarily of one religion, though other religious groups might have neighborhoods and businesses there.
The major campaigns in the first half of the 16th century were in Italy, Pavia, Trieste, Friau, and fighting the Turks. The major campaigns in the second half of the 16th century were fighting the Turks and French, and were involved in the war in the Lowlands. There were also a number of internal battles, such as the Peasants War. There were a number of other conflicts within the Empire over religion and politics. Campaignes were used to gain and hold territory and also to reduce population.
Landesknechte means "Servant of the Country", but were usually mercenary companies. Companies would often have their primary recruitment from a particular region or city. They were also often funded by, owned, ran, and named after rich Gentlemen of War.
Soldiers were from peasant to middle class. Officers were from the upper middle class or minor nobility. Soldiers had other trades, such as tailor, cobbler, or wheelwright.
Most women in the baggage train were prostitutes, but all had other trades, such as nurse, sutleress, cook, laundress. Officers wives and expensive courtesans also accompanied Officers. Most people joined the army because there were too many tradesmen and farmland was expensive.
Currency values were: gold florin or guilden, Pearls. Germans didn't like silver.
Historical Pay scale:
Foot Soldier - 4 fl.
Calvalry Soldier with Pistols - 12 fl.
Artillery - 8fl
Doppel - 8 fl.
Fifer or Drummer - 8 fl.
Wiebel - 10 fl.
FeldWeibel - 12fl
Fahndrich (Ensign) - 20
Leutnant (Leutenant) - 20
Hauptmann (Captain) - 40
Obrist - 400
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