Georg von Frundsberg was a German military and Landsknecht leader in the service of the Holy Roman Empire and Imperial House of Habsburg. An early modern proponent of infantry tactics, he established his reputation in active service during the Italian Wars under Emperor Maximilian I and his successor Charles V. Even in his lifetime, he was referred to as "Vater der Landsknechte" and legends about him as the patriarchal figure of the Landsknechte or his incredible physical strength surfaced.
Georg von Frundsberg
Frundsberg, by Christoph Amberger.
The Battle of Wenzenbach between the troops of Maximilian I and the Czech Utraquists in 1504
Landsknecht mercenaries (Tapestries of the Battle of Pavia by Bernard van Orley, between 1528 and 1531)
The Landsknechte, also rendered as Landsknechts or Lansquenets, were German mercenaries used in pike and shot formations during the early modern period. Consisting predominantly of pikemen and supporting foot soldiers, their front line was formed by Doppelsöldner renowned for their use of Zweihänder and arquebus. They formed the bulk of the Holy Roman Empire's Imperial Army from the late 15th century to the early 17th century, fighting in the Habsburg-Valois wars, the Habsburg-Ottoman wars, and the European wars of religion.
Landsknechte, etching by Daniel Hopfer, c. 1530
Image of Landsknechte in the Geschichte des Kostüms
Kaiser Maximilian I. und Georg von Frundsberg, depicting Maximilian I and Georg von Frundsberg, founders of the Landsknechte, by Karl von Blaas. 1868. Kunsthistorisches Museum.
Standard bearer fighting against five Landsknechte (etching by Daniel Hopfer)