Battle of Laupen

Battle of Laupen
Illustration by Diebold Schilling the Elder (Spiez chronicle, 1480s) showing the cavalry engagement of the Forest Cantons.
Date 21 June 1339 Location Laupen, Bern (46°55′N 7°17′E / 46.917°N 7.283°E / 46.917; 7.283) Result Bernese victory, tightening of the Bernese-Swiss relationship resulting in Bern's permanent accession to the Swiss Confederacy in 1353.
Belligerents
Bern and allies:    Solothurn    Murten    Payerne    Burgdorf    Thun    Hasli    Lords of Weissenburg Old Swiss Confederacy:  Uri  Schwyz  Unterwalden	Fribourg County of Neuchâtel Valangin County of Gruyères County of Savoy County of Aarberg County of Nidau Belp-Montenach Bishopric of Basel Bishopric of Sion Bishopric of Lausanne Duchy of Austria (not engaged) County of Kyburg
Commanders and leaders
Rudolf von Erlach[1]	Rudolf III von Nidau Gérard de Valengin[2]
Strength
6,000, including 1,000 from the Forest Cantons[3]	16,000 infantry, 1,000 cavalry [4]
Casualties and losses
unknown	1-1,500[5]

The Battle of Laupen was fought in June 1339,^[6] between Bern and its allies on one side, and Freiburg together with feudal landholders from the County of Burgundy and Habsburg territories on the other. Bern was victorious, consolidating its position in the region. As a consequence of the conflict, the relations of Bern and the Swiss Confederacy tightened, resulting in Bern's permanent accession in 1353.

This is also the first battle that the white cross was documented as being used as a field sign worn by Swiss combatants.