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1386 - Winkelried - Sempach

About half an hour distant to the north-east of Sempach, on the hillside, is the site of the famous battle of Sempach (9th July 1386), in which the Swiss defeated the Austrians, whose leader, Duke Leopold, lost his life. The legendary deed of Arnold of Winkelried (q.v.) is associated with this victory. The spot is now marked by an ancient and picturesque Battle Chapel (restored in 1886) and by a modern monument to Winkelried.
 

The Battle of Sempach 1386 Winkelried
 

From Wikipedia:

According to 16th century historiography, Winkelried was the main factor of the victory of the confederate forces of the Old Swiss Confederacy in the Battle of Sempach in 1386 against an army of the Habsburg duke Leopold III of Austria.

According to legend, the Swiss could not break the close ranks of the Habsburg footsoldiers. Winkelried is reported to have cried: "I will open a passage into the line; protect, dear countrymen and confederates, my wife and children" before opening a breach in their lines by throwing himself into their pikes, taking them down with his body such that the confederates could attack through the opening.
 

 

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