Burkhard VII. Münch

Who was Burkhard VII. Münch?

Burkhard VII. Münch was a knight and life peer, a renowned late member of the Landskron branch of the Münch family. He achieved sad reputation after the Battle of St. Jakob an der Birs.

Being a Habsburg faithful, Burkhard VII. rode as knight with Dauphin Louis XI and Jean V de Bueil. He was also named by the French as Bourgeamoine. He joined the Armagnacs in the battle against the Swiss Eidgenossenschaft as negotiator, translator and guide. His demeanour following the Battle of St. Jakob an der Birs is a theme in Swiss patriotic historiography.

The Battle of St. Jakob an der Birs was fought on 26 August 1444, this was a battle within the Old Zürich War. During the battle the Swiss suffered heavy casualties and were virtually wiped out by the Armagnacs.

Following the bloodbath, Burkhard VII. rode his horse across the slaughter field to witness the dead and the wounded and sarcastically mocked the Eidgenossen. He raised the visor of his helmet and uttered a sentence that was to become famous: Ich siche in ein rossegarten, den min fordren geret hand vor hunderd jar.

Provoked by this arrogant phrase, one of the dying Swiss, one Arnold Schick of Uri, hurled a rock into the open visor. According to the legend, the equally famous answer that accompanied the throw was: Da friss eine der Rosen!. The Horse he was riding jolted and fled. Burkhard VII. fell from his saddle and was dragged from the battlefield. He died from his wounds three days later.