Too often and too glibly has the Bernese conquest of the Vaud in the first two
months of 1536 been described as a ‘military promenade’.617 It is true that
Bern’s troops encountered little resistance, but was that surprising amidst a
devastated landscape and a demoralized population? The troops were passing
through small towns which in many cases had not yet been affected by evangelical
preaching, so that Bern’s commanders were careful to receive their submission
without insisting they immediately forswear their Catholic faith: Moudon, the
capital of the Vaud, is a prime example.618 Nevertheless, Bern knew that it was
taking a colossal risk, and sent appeals to all those allied by Burgrechte—Saanen,
Biel, Neuchâtel, Payerne, and Lausanne—to rally to the cause.619 But it was
forced into action by the news that Gian Giacomo de Medici, lord of Musso,
was approaching from Italy with an army of 5000 men.620 Moreover, on the
very day that it declared war, 16th January, it learnt that some Fribourgers had
joined the Savoy camp.621 Bern was worried that certain Savoy noblemen who
were citizens of Fribourg, such as Michel Mangerod, would be given leave to
move troops through Fribourg territory.622 Since the route of Bern’s march must
perforce traverse Fribourg territory, it needed to ascertain the latter’s reaction. It
cannot have been reassured to learn that Fribourg had issued a written injunction
to its subjects in Morat on 14th January not to join the Bernese forces. It transpired
that there had been heated debate with the Fribourg officials when they arrived
617 Vasella, ‘Krieg Berns’, A 245–6 n 3. With ironical distance see most recently Santschi, Crises et
Révolutions, 16.
618 EA IV, 1c, 611–12 (no. 373: 1; 2) (Jan. 1536); Charles Gilliard, ‘Moudon et la conquête
bernoise’, Revue Historique Vaudoise, 30 (1922), 229–42, here at 236–8. But Moudon was criticized by
Romont and Rue for having knuckled under so readily.
619 Feller, Geschichte Berns, 2, 374; Paquier, Pays de Vaud, 2, 255. Only Saanen refused. On 9 Jan.
Bern had renewed its Burgrecht with Lausanne and requested it to send troops. EA IV, 1c, 604–5
(no. 369: I; II) (Jan. 1536); 605 (no. 370) (Jan. 1536). Lausanne complied.
620 EA IV, 1c, 607–8 (no. 372: to d) (Jan. 1536); SABE, Teutsche Missiven-Buch 24 W, pp. 110–12
(14 Jan. 1536: to Basel); 118–22 (16 Jan. 1536: to VII cantons and Valais); 123–5 (14 Jan. 1536: to
3 Leagues).
621 EA IV, 1c, 606, 608–9 (no. 372: f; 3) (Jan. 1536). Fribourg and Solothurn were told to send
spies into the Bernese camp.
622 AEF, Diplomatische Korrespondenz a) Bern: 72 (19 Jan. 1536).