Osprey Men-at-Arms 384 : Armies of the German Peasants' War 1524-1526

In the 1520s, a brief but savage war broke out in Germany when various insurgent groups rose to overthrow the power structure. The movement took as its emblem a peasant's shoe and the collective title of 'Bundschuh', and this became known as the Peasants' War - although the rebel armies actually included as many townsmen, miners, disaffected knights and mercenary soldiers as rural peasants. The risings involved large armies of up to 18,000 men, and there were several major battles before the movement was put down with the utmost ferocity. This book details the armies, tactics, costume, weapons, personalities and events of this savage war. Text by Douglas Miller with illustrations by Angus McBride.

Contents

• Historical Background
• Chronology of Events
• Organisation of the Armies
  Upper Swabia - Allgäu, Lake Constance, Baltringen, Leipheim, Wurzach
  Lower Franconia - Taubertal, Neckartal Odenwald, Bildhäuser
  The Swabian Alliance
  
• The Commanders
• Major Battles - Weapons and Tactics
• Costume and Armour
  Peasants and Townsmen
  Landsknechts and Swiss Mercenaries
  Knights
  
• Flags and Recognition Marks