German archaeologists discovered graves of soldiers from the Schmalkaldic War in Lauingen. The team from the Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation (BLfD) uncovered five burials containing the remains of five men, found with a boot fastener and four small silver coins dating from the 16th century.
The Schmalkaldic War, which occurred from 1546 to 1547, was a conflict between forces allied with Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, and Maurice, Duke of Saxony, against the Lutheran Schmalkaldic League—a military alliance of Lutheran principalities and cities within the Holy Roman Empire. The war culminated in the Battle of Mühlberg in 1547, where the imperial forces decisively defeated the Schmalkaldic League and captured its key leaders.
In autumn 1546, imperial forces advanced from the Rhine and the Danube, defeating the Schmalkaldic League. After the fall of Donauwörth on October 9 and the surrender of Lauingen on October 13, the local council paid homage to Charles V. This act was portrayed by Matthias Gerung in his famous painting, emphasizing the historical significance of these events.
Despite this victory, Lutheran ideas had already spread widely throughout Europe, making it no longer possible to suppress them by military force. "Lutheran ideas could no longer be suppressed by military force after the Schmalkaldic War," noted HeritageDaily.
The most surprising aspect of the find is how it confirms details of a painting from 1551 by Matthias Gerung titled Heerlager Karls V. bei Lauingen (Military Camp of Charles V near Lauingen), which depicts the Imperial encampment at the exact location of the graves. This correlation provides details about the conflict between Emperor Charles V and the Protestant Schmalkaldic League, which arose from Charles V's attempt to reassert Catholic authority.
The boot fastener found in the graves also appears in Gerung's painting. The exact location of the graves coincides with the camp of Charles V depicted by Gerung. The discovery not only validates the historical accuracy of the artwork but also challenges assumptions about the propagandistic nature of battle or camp paintings.
"The age of the coins suggests a direct connection between these burials and the brief period of the Schmalkaldic War, specifically between October and November 1546," explained Dr. Johann Friedrich Tolksdorf, Deputy Head of the Archaeological Monument Preservation Department in Swabia at the BLfD, according to HeritageDaily.
The soldiers' extremities show signs of intense physical effort, reflecting the harsh marches during the Danube campaign, where the troops faced severe conditions. This insight sheds light on the arduous experiences of Charles V's soldiers during the conflict. "This find not only sheds light on the lives of Charles V's soldiers but also underscores the relevance of Lauingen in the course of the Schmalkaldic War."
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.
