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The Battle of Morgarten on November 15, 1315, was a decisive event in the formation of the Old Swiss Confederacy. The three Forest Cantons—Uri, Schwyz, and Unterwalden—ambushed an Austrian army led by Leopold I, Duke of Austria, near Lake Ägeri. Despite being an improvised militia of farmers and herdsmen, the Confederates routed Leopold’s well-trained knights, killing or drowning many of them. The Swiss victory solidified the alliance between the cantons and marked an early assertion of their autonomy.
The battle stemmed from long-standing tensions with the Habsburgs, who sought control over the strategically important Gotthard Pass. The conflict intensified in 1314, when the Confederates supported Louis IV of Bavaria in his struggle for the Holy Roman throne against the Habsburg prince Frederick the Handsome. Fearing Habsburg annexation, Schwyz raided the Habsburg-protected Einsiedeln Abbey, triggering Leopold's military campaign.
The ambush at Morgarten showcased innovative tactics, including the effective use of halberds—possibly their first recorded use against knights—which became iconic of the Swiss infantry. The Confederates’ cohesion and tactical adaptability foreshadowed future Swiss military successes.
In the aftermath, the Forest Cantons renewed their alliance in the Pact of Brunnen (1315), strengthening their confederacy. Emperor Louis IV confirmed their rights and privileges in 1316, though tensions with the Habsburgs persisted. Temporary truces followed, and the Forest Cantons expanded their alliances, including with Bern and Glarus. Over the next decades, more cities such as Lucerne, Zug, and Zürich joined the Confederacy, which achieved virtual autonomy. The victory at Morgarten laid the foundation for Swiss independence, with the Confederacy growing steadily until the next major conflict at the Battle of Sempach in 1386.