![Tapestry of the Siege of Dijon, c. 1514-1520 (detail).](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/tapisserie-dijon-1513-titel-300x225.jpg)
The Siege of Dijon 1513
The Old Swiss Confederation won a stunning military victory over France at the Battle of Novara in June 1513. Following up on their successes in Italy, the Swiss and their Swabian allies successfully besieged the city of Dijon in September 1513, which marks the apex of Swiss power across Western Europe.
Burgundy, as dark with power as with wine…greedy, rich Flanders. These are the same lands in which the splendour of painting, sculpture, and music flower, and where the most violent code of revenge ruled and the most brutal barbarism spread among the aristocracy.
![Map of Burgundy, c. 1608.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/karte-von-burgund-um-1608-300x257.jpg)
![Emperor Maximilian I with his wife Mary of Burgundy and their son Philip the Handsome as well as grandsons Ferdinand I, Charles V and grandson-in-law Louis II.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/kaiser-maximilian-i-mit-seiner-gattin-maria-von-burgund-270x300.jpg)
![Pope Julius II, painted by Raphael, 1511.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/papst_julius_ii-221x300.jpg)
International Alliances and Coordinated Plans
![Heinrich VIII in 1509.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/henry-viii-1509-225x300.jpg)
![Cardinal Matthäus Schiner of Sion in a 18th century etching.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/kardinal-matthaus-schiner-225x300.jpg)
![Henry VII, King of England and Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor, meet after the successful Battle of Guinegate. Painting from the 16th century.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/schlacht-bei-guinegate-300x147.jpg)
They go forth of their country in great companies together, and whosoever lacketh soldiers, there they proffer their service for small wages. This is the only craft they have to get their living by. They maintain their life by seeking their death.
![The castle of Dijon around 1512.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/das-schloss-von-dijon-um-1512-300x170.jpg)
The Siege of Dijon
![Louis de la Trémoille, painted by Ghirlandaio or one of his pupils.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/louis-ii-de-la-tremoille-201x300.jpg)
![The siege of Dijon according to a woodcut in the Stumpf Chronicle. However, the woodcut was also used to illustrate other sieges of the Swiss Confederation. Around 1548.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/ie-belagerung-von-dijon-laut-einem-holzschnitt-in-der-stumpf-chronik-300x137.jpg)
![Louis de la Trémoille (centre) negotiates with the Swiss about their withdrawal.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/louis-de-la-tremoille-mitte-verhandelt-mit-den-schweizern-uber-deren-abzug-249x300.jpg)
War is delightful to those who have had no experience of it.
Conflicting Legacies & An Exquisite Tapestry
![Illustration from the Zeugbuch of Emperor Maximilian I, 1502.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/2022-08-24-17-00-53-zeugbuch-kaiser-maximilians-i-bsb-codicon-222-bavarikon-300x195.jpg)
![Detail of the Murten diorama in the National Museum Zurich.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/eidgenossische-pikeniere-in-der-schlacht-von-murten-dig-57655-lm-61635-300x225.jpg)
![Tapestry of the Siege of Dijon, c. 1514-1520](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/tapisserie-dijon-1513-ganz-300x115.jpg)