Battles & Campaigns · 1476
Battle of Morat (Murten)
Murten (Morat), canton of Fribourg, Switzerland
What happened
The Swiss Confederacy, with René II, Duke of Lorraine, fought the army of Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy. During the Burgundian Wars, Charles the Bold besieged the small town of Murten, about 30 km from Bern. The town held out for 13 days until an army from Bern came to relieve it. On 22 June 1476 the Swiss defeated the Burgundian army.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It was a crippling defeat for Charles the Bold. It permanently weakened the Burgundian army.
What came next
The Burgundian Wars ended in 1477. Murten has celebrated the victory every year on 22 June ever since.
Did you know?
Murten is a bilingual town: most people speak German, and its French name is Morat.
Timeline
- 1467Charles the Bold becomes Duke of Burgundy.
- 1474The Burgundian Wars begin.
- 22 June 1476The Swiss win at Morat.
- 1477The Burgundian Wars end.