Battle of Sempach

Timeline

1. 1385–1386Lucerne · Canton of LucerneLeopold III sought to open a corridor between Tyrol and Further Austria, conflicting with the urban territorial policies of Lucerne and Bern. In late 1385 militias from Zurich, Zug, and Lucerne attacked Austrian positions at Rapperswil, Rothenburg, and Wolhusen. In January 1386 Lucerne extended citizenship rights to Entlebuch and Sempach. On January 14 Lucerne appealed to the Forest Cantons for aid; on February 21 a brief truce was concluded.
2. 1386Willisau · Canton of LucerneThe truce was not renewed. Leopold assembled Swabian, Alsatian, Aargau, and Tyrolean knights and mercenaries at Brugg; the confederates mistakenly believed he would attack Zurich and gathered toward that city. The Austrian army instead marched south through Zofingen, burned and pillaged Willisau, then advanced through Sursee toward Sempach, intending to strike the Lucerne countryside. Confederate infantry marched back from Zurich to intercept. Bern did not answer the call.
3. 1386Sempach · Canton of LucerneOn July 9 the two sides met above Sempach. The confederates were fewer than the Austrians and poorly positioned, suffering setbacks at first. The narrow slope limited cavalry action, and many Austrian knights dismounted to form ranks. Under Gundoldingen's command the confederates ultimately routed the Austrians, and Leopold III and many regional nobles were killed. The story of Arnold Winkelried opening a path by embracing spears is not found in contemporary records and belongs to legend from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries onward.
4. 1386–1389Canton of Lucerne and Further Austria · SwitzerlandHabsburg rule south of the Rhine quickly disintegrated, and local nobles loyal to Austria suffered heavy casualties. Lucerne consolidated its newly acquired territories, while Bern took the opportunity to expand into the Jura, the Emme valley, and Aargau. The Battle of Näfels in 1388 freed Glarus from Austrian control. From October 1386 there were repeated truces, culminating in a longer peace in 1389. Sempach became a key memory of confederate identity.