Georg von Frundsberg
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Georg von Frundsberg (1473–1528) was a German Knight and landowner. He was born at Mindelheim on September 24, 1473.
He fought for the Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I against the Swiss in 1499, and in the same year was among the Imperial troops sent to assist Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan, against the French. Still serving Maximilian, he took part in 1504 in the war over the succession to the duchy of Bavaria-Landshut, and afterwards fought in the Netherlands.
Convinced of the necessity of a native body of trained infantry, Frundsberg assisted Maximilian to organize the Landsknechts, and subsequently at the head of bands of these formidable troops he was of great service to the Empire and the Habsburgs. In 1509 he participated in the war against Venice, winning fame for himself and his men.
After a short visit to Germany he returned to Italy, where between 1513 and 1514 he gained fresh laurels by his enterprises against the Venetians and the French. Peace being made, he returned to Germany, and at the head of the infantry of the Swabian League assisted to drive Ulrich, Duke of Württemberg from his duchy in 1519.
At the diet of Worms in 1521 he spoke words of encouragement to Martin Luther, and when the struggle between France and the Empire was renewed he took part in the invasion of Picardy, and then proceeding to Italy brought the greater part of Lombardy under the influence of Charles V through his victory at the Battle of Bicocca in April 1522. He was partly responsible for the great victory over the French at the Battle of Pavia in February 1525, and, returning to Germany, he assisted to suppress the Peasants' War, using on this occasion, however, diplomacy as well as force.
When the war in Italy was renewed Frundsberg raised an army at his own expense, and skilfully surmounting many difficulties, joined the Constable de Bourbon near Piacenza and marched towards Rome. Before he reached the city, however, his unpaid troops showed signs of mutiny, and their leader, stricken with illness and unable to pacify them, gave up his command. Returning to Germany, he died at Mindelheim on August 20 1528. He was a capable and chivalrous soldier, and a devoted servant of the Habsburgs.
His son Caspar (1500–1536) and his grandson Georg (d. 1586) were both soldiers of some distinction. With the latter's death, the family became extinct.
During World War II, the Waffen SS's 10th Panzer Division was given the honorific title Frundsberg.
References
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