Holy Roman Empire Association - Order of the Imperial Knights of the HRE

Welcome to the Official Instagram Account of the Holy Roman Empire Association - Associazioni dei Nobili del Sacro Romano Impero - HREA, which was first established in 1963 to unite all living descendants of the individuals invested with Titles of Nobility of the Holy Roman Empire by Imperial Letters Patent. The Association and Order is the supreme governing authority over all the Titles of Nobility of the Holy Roman Empire, the Association formally compiles the official listing of those individuals who hold the right to bear and enjoy the Titles and Armorial Bearings as members of the Imperial Nobility of the Holy Roman Empire. It also includes a number of honorary members, It was founded by Prince Giovanni Alliata di Montereale and Count Giancarlo Bonifazi di Statte. Email: [email protected] [email protected] Websites: www.holyromanempireassociation.com www.holyromanempireassociation.org Copyright Held 1963-2025 - All Rights Reserved Protected by U.S. and International Copyright Laws. #HREA #HolyRomanEmpire #HolyRomanEmperor #HolyRomanEmpress #HolyRomanEmpireAssociation #Nobility #Titles #NobilityoftheHolyRomanEmpire #Princeoftheholyromanempire #Countoftheholyromanempire #Baronoftheholyromanempire #Dukeoftheholyromanempire #Marquessoftheholyromanempire #ImperialNobility

Nobility of the Holy Roman Empire - Holy Roman Empire Association - Associazioni dei Nobili del Sacro Romano Impero - The HREA is an Organization that was established in 1963 with the aim of uniting descendants in the male and female line of individuals who were granted Noble Titles by the Holy Roman Empire through Imperial Letters Patent. www.HolyRomanEmpireAssociation.org

Portrait of Charles V (1500-1558) King of Spain, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. www.HolyRomanEmpireAssociation.org

The Ceremonial Dagger of the Grand Master of the Order of the Defeated Dragon - Pugio Caerimonialis Magni Magistri Ordinis Draconis Victi. www.SocietasDraconistarum.com

Landsknecht mercenaries with arquebuses (Tapestries of the Battle of Pavia by Bernard van Orley, between 1528 and 1531). www.HolyRomanEmpireAssociation.org

Landsknechte, etching by Daniel Hopfer, c. 1530. www.HolyRomanEmpireAssociation.org

The Landsknechte (singular: Landsknecht, pronounced [ˈlantsknɛçt]), also rendered as Landsknechts or Lansquenets, were German mercenaries used in pike and shot formations during the early modern period. Consisting predominantly of pikemen and supporting foot soldiers, their front line was formed by Doppelsöldner ("double-pay men") renowned for their use of Zweihänder and arquebus. They formed the bulk of the Holy Roman Empire's Imperial Army from the late 15th century to the early 17th century, fighting in the Habsburg-Valois wars, the Habsburg-Ottoman wars, and the European wars of religion.

The Germanic compound Landsknecht (earlier Lantknecht, without Fugen-"s") combines Land and Knecht to form "servant of the land". The compound Lantknecht was used during the 15th century for bailiffs or court ushers.

The word Landsknecht first appeared in the German language circa 1470 to describe certain troops in the army of Charles, Duke of Burgundy. As early as 1500, the term was morphed into Lanzknecht, referring to the unit's use of the pike as its main weapon. www.HolyRomanEmpireAssociation.com

Kaiser Maximilian I. und Georg von Frundsberg, depicting the Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I and Georg von Frundsberg, Knight of the Holy Roman Empire, founders of the Landsknechte, by Karl von Blaas, 1868. Kunsthistorisches Museum. www.HolyRomanEmpireAssociation.com

The March of the Reiters and Landsknecht — André Martin-Gauthereau (1883-1918).

The Landsknechte, also rendered as Landsknechts or Lansquenets, were German mercenaries used in pike and shot formations during the early modern period. Consisting predominantly of pikemen and supporting foot soldiers, their front line was formed by Doppelsöldner ("double-pay men") renowned for their use of Zweihänder and arquebus. They formed the bulk of the Holy Roman Empire's Imperial Army from the late 15th century to the early 17th century, fighting in the Habsburg-Valois wars, the Habsburg-Ottoman wars, and the European wars of religion.

Although prone to mutiny if unpaid and divided within their ranks between Catholics and Lutherans, the Landsknechte were well-armed and experienced warriors, recruitable in large numbers throughout Germany and Austria by the Holy Roman Emperor. This guaranteed both quantity and quality to the Imperial military for a century and a half. At their peak during the reign of Charles V of Habsburg, and under the leadership of notable captains such as Georg von Frundsberg and Nicholas of Salm, the Imperial Landsknechts obtained important successes such as the capture of the French King Francis I at the Battle of Pavia in 1525 and the resistance against the Ottoman Turks led by Suleiman the Magnificent at the Siege of Vienna in 1529, while also being responsible for the Sack of Rome in 1527. www.HolyRomanEmpireAssociation.com

Holy Roman Empire Association · Eaton Pl, London SW1X 8AR, United Kingdom 5.0 ★ · Association / Organization

Map, Shields and the Imperial Doppeladler of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation. www.HolyRomanEmpireAssociation.com

Emperor Maximilian I (22 March 1459 – 12 January 1519) was King of the Romans from 1486 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1508 until his death in 1519. He was never crowned by the Pope, as the journey to Rome was blocked by the Venetians. He proclaimed himself Elected Emperor in 1508 (Pope Julius II later recognized this) at Trent, thus breaking the long tradition of requiring a papal coronation for the adoption of the Imperial title. Maximilian was the only surviving son of Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor, and Eleanor of Portugal. Since his coronation as King of the Romans in 1486, he ran a double government, or Doppelregierung (with a separate court), with his father until Frederick's death in 1493. www.HolyRomanEmpireAssociation.com