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The Battle of Soltau ((ドイツ語:Schlacht bei Soltau)) took place on 28 June 1519 and was the military climax of the Hildesheim Diocesan Feud which lasted from 1519–1523.〔Felleckner 2009〕 Some sources describe it as "the last knights' battle" (''Die letzte Ritterschlacht''). 〔(''Ist Soltau zu retten?'' ), Soltau Kurier, Lüneburgischer Landschaftsverband, 2009. Retrieved on 3 Apr 2010.〕〔(''Der letzte Ritterschlacht'' ) at www.opencaching.de. Retrieved on 4 Apr 10.〕 It is also often described as the "last medieval feud".〔Schnath 1976, p. 55〕 The feud had all the hallmarks of a typical dispute between noble families of that time. At its heart was the division of revenue and territorial claims, mainly on the land of the Bishopric of Hildesheim. Two aspects, however, made it rather different. Firstly, the main protagonists on both sides were members of the princely House of Welf family and secondly, the warring parties simultaneously supported different pretenders to the imperial elections of the Holy Roman Empire. The Brunswick-Calenberg party, with dukes Henry II of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel and Eric I of Calenberg at its head, favoured the Habsburg Charles (later Emperor Charles V), the Lüneburg-Hildesheim coalition under Duke Henry the Middle and Bishop John IV supported the election of Francis I of France as the new emperor.〔〔(Stiftsfehde ''Kleiner Exkurs zur Hildesheimer Stiftsfehde (1519–1523)'' at www.folker-hett.de. Retrieved on 3 Apr 2010. )〕 Despite their convincing victory at the Battle of Soltau, the Lüneburg-Hildesheim alliance eventually lost the war against Brunswick and Calenberg, when Emperor Charles V banned both Henry, Duke of Lüneburg, and Prince-Bishop John.〔(''Hildesheim Stift Feud, 1518–1523'' ) at www.zum.de. Retrieved on 4 Apr 10.〕 ==Background== The forces of Brunswick numbered about 7,000 foot soldiers (of which 4,000 were feudal levies and 3,000 were professional ''Landsknechte'') and 700 armoured cavalry (''Reisige''). The Lüneburgers also had purportedly over 7,000 infantrymen, but their cavalry force, of about 1,500 horse, was considerably stronger. The Brunswickians took 24 cannon and a large baggage train with them; the strength of the Lüneburg artillery is unknown. As it happened, only the lighter guns could be deployed for the battle itself. The professional infantry fought in compact squares (''Gevierthaufen''). Following Swiss practice, the first three to five ranks carried pikes up to six metres long, whilst the rear ranks were mainly equipped with the shorter halberds or similar. Occasionally two-handed swords and matchlock-arquebuses were carried, but they played a secondary role. Nothing is known of the weapons carried by the levies.〔Stanelle 1982〕 Both armies marched in the usual order for that period. At the head was a vanguard (''Vortrab'') also known as the ''Verlorener Haufen'' or 'forlorn hope', which in the case of the Brunswick force numbered some 1,500 ''Landsknechte'', accompanied by 300 cavalry and a section of artillery (probably the field guns). This was followed by the main body of 4,500 men (500 ''Landsknechte'', accompanied by the rest of the cavalry) and a rearguard (''Nachhut'') of 1,000 ''Landsknechte''. The baggage train would have been at least as large as the army itself, especially on the Brunswick side, which took with it a large quantity of treasure and its war chest. Nothing is known about the order of march of the Lüneburg army, but it was probably similar to that of Brunswick. However, for reasons that are not explained anywhere, the Lüneburgers had allowed their foot soldiers to fall behind, so that on 28 June only their cavalry initially stood in the way of the Brunswickians.〔〔Havemann 1837, p. 303, gives the Brunswick numbers as: 2,000 ''Landsknechte'' and 300 horse in the van, and 5,000 foot soldiers in the main body.〕〔Havemann 1837, p. 302.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Battle of Soltau」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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