Battle of Morat
The Battle of Morat, fought on June 22, 1476, was a significant confrontation during the Burgundian Wars, involving Duke Charles the Bold and the Swiss Confederation. After laying siege to the town of Morat, Charles had fortified his position, anticipating a Swiss relief force. However, the Swiss delayed their attack, waiting for reinforcements from Zurich. Once the Zurich contingent arrived, the Swiss launched a surprise assault against the Burgundians, utilizing the element of surprise as they advanced through dense woods. The swift and aggressive tactics of the Swiss forces overwhelmed the Burgundian defenses, leading to a chaotic retreat of Charles's troops. The battle resulted in a substantial loss for the Burgundians, with over one-third of their army reportedly lost in the engagement. While the Swiss victory at Morat was notable, its immediate impact was limited; the Swiss did not capitalize on their success, and Charles managed to regroup and later launch further military efforts. The battle exemplified the fierce conflicts characteristic of the era and highlighted the tactical proficiency of the Swiss forces.
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Battle of Morat
Type of action: Ground battle in the Franco-Burgundian Wars
Date: June 22, 1476
Location: Morat, Fribourg Canton, Switzerland
Combatants: 25,000 Swiss vs. 12,000 Burgundians
Principal commanders:Swiss, Wilhelm Herter; Burgundian, Duke Charles the Bold (1433–1477)
Result: Swiss defeated Burgundians
On June 9, 1476, Duke Charles the Bold, who had energetically rebuilt his army after Granson (March 2, 1476), established siege lines around the town of Morat. He created a powerful line of circumvallation against the expected Swiss relief force, choosing as its site a field deemed highly favorable for the use of artillery and cavalry. The Swiss attack was delayed by the decision to wait for a large contingent from Zurich. Scouts kept Charles informed of the massing of the Swiss four miles away, but on June 22, he concluded that no attack would occur that day. Once the Zurichers arrived, however, the Swiss, as was their style, moved immediately to attack, marching though a dense woods until they were close to the Burgundian lines. Catching the Burgundians by surprise, the Swiss, under Wilhelm Herter, charged through artillery and arrow fire to overwhelm the palisade and smash into Charles’s camp. Few Burgundian units could form up in effective battle lines before the Swiss reached them. In short order, the Burgundians were in full flight. The Swiss pursued vigorously, and the presence of a lake to the east of the battlefield made escape difficult. Charles lost more than one-third of his army; the Swiss, perhaps 3,000 men.
Significance
Like the earlier Battle of Granson, Charles’s defeat had few immediate consequences. The Swiss did not follow up on their victory, and Charles still had enough resources to form his army against and attack Nancy (1477) at the end of 1476.
Bibliography
Bonjour, Edgar, et al. A Short History of Switzerland. 1955. Reprint. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 1985.
Fahrni, Dieter. An Outline History of Switzerland: From the Origins to the Present Day. Zurich: Pro Helvetia, 1994.
Vaughan, Richard. Charles the Bold: The Last Valois Duke of Burgundy. London: Longman, 1973.