![Central Swiss soldiers going to the second Battle of Villmergen. Painting by Johann Franz Strickler c. 1712.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/innerschweizer-soldaten-zeihen-in-die-zweite-schlacht-von-villmergen-300x225.jpg)
The use of mercenaries by Zurich and Bern against central Switzerland
In the 17th century, Zurich and Bern took steps to bring in foreign troops for support in conflicts against their catholic countrymen. Why was their own militia not enough and what did the two cities hope to gain by bringing in mercenaries to fight for them?
And it is hereby deemed necessary that a number of foreign soldiers are hired immediately on foot and horseback on behalf of and paid for jointly pro rata by each canton and at whatever cost is necessary.
![Depiction of the loading process for a muzzle-loader in the Zurich war manual of 1651.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/abbildung-zum-ladevorgang-eines-vorderladers-im-zurcher-kriegsbuchlein-von-1651-300x206.jpg)
![Portrait of Hans Ludwig von Erlach c. 1650.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/hans-ludwig-von-erlach-218x300.jpg)
![Zurich General Hans Rudolf Werdmüller despaired of his soldiers’ battle readiness.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/hans-rudolf-werdmuller-gbe-89841-lm-78123-248x300.jpg)
![Coat of arms in memory of the victory over the Bernese at the first Battle of Villmergen on 24 January 1656.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/erste-schlacht-von-villmergen-dig-43575-lm-6181-300x300.jpg)
![In the Battle of Villmergen it was halberds versus firearms. The result was clear: 1 – nil to the good old thrust, chop, slash!](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/schlacht-bei-villmergen-300x121.jpg)
![A poor family in their hovel, etching from 1817.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/verlumpte-familie-in-armseligem-raum-gbe-61366-lm-35165-268x300.jpg)
![Recruitment of soldiers during the Thirty Years’ War. Engraving by Jacques Callot, 1633.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/rekrutierung-von-soldaten-rp-p-ob-20670-300x120.jpg)
![Soldiers partying in front of a hostelry and not endearing themselves to the locals. Engraving by Frans van den Wijngaerde, after Peter Paul Rubens, c. 1650.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/feiernde-soldaten-vor-einem-gasthaus-300x207.jpg)
![Mercenaries on Utrecht marketplace on 31 July 1618. Painting by Joost Cornelisz Droochsloot, 1625 (extract).](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/soldner-auf-dem-marktplatz-von-utrecht-am-31-juli-1618-300x212.jpg)