The Bishopric of Basel in the Burgundian Wars (1474–1477)

550 years ago, Duke Charles of Burgundy—known as “the Bold”—was defeated twice by the Swiss and their allies, first at Grandson (March 2, 1476) and then at Morat (June 22, 1476). Among the victors were men from the Bernese Jura fighting under the banners of Biel and La Neuveville. The Burgundian Wars marked the entry of the Episcopal Principality of Basel into the sphere of influence of the Swiss Confederation.

Numerous illustrations will immerse you in the realities of the era, from the daily lives of soldiers to the magnificent spoils taken from the Duke of Burgundy, including the prince-bishop’s illuminated manuscripts. The sources, presented as written texts or audio files—excerpts from chronicles, letters, or everyday documents—will help you understand the social, political, and military realities of those times of war. Finally, weapons, helmets, and armor—whether replicas or originals—will help you discover the military context of this pivotal period, straddling the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.


Note: This text was translated by machine translation software and not by a human translator. It may contain translation errors.