The Swabian War of 1499 Part Two
At the end of April 1499, ten thousand Swiss crossed the Rhine near the village of Schaan and split into two groups to attack the Swabians to the north at Frastanz near Feldkirch. The local inhabitants fled into the mountains to escape the advancing army. One group drew the enemy out by following the old war trail to Franstaz to Tisis by way of Gallmist and Feelengatter, while the other commanded by the Uri hero Heinrich Wohlleb secretly moved on a mule trail that ran from Planken over the alps Gafadura, Saroja and Amerlugen. A traitor had showed the Swiss the way but, alas, instead of receiving money, the traitor had his head removed by the Swiss. The Swiss attacked and drove the Austrian army back on Feldkirch.
The castle of Gutenberg held out against all the Swiss threw at them. A huge gun made by a famous gun maker from France blew up the first time it was fired. The Swiss' other guns had no effect against the stout walls of Gutenberg castle.
The troubles dragged on until peace was restored on September 12, 1499 with the Treaty of Basil. Though the Swiss won they lost heart when one of their leaders, Heinrich Wohlleb, was killed. They retreated back across the Rhine instead of following up on their success.
In retaliation, the Swabians raided the Lower Engardine several weeks later while Ulrich Von Hapsburg led fifteen thousand troops over the Munstertal to capture the Bishop of Chur in his palace in Chur. Then men from Grisson, oart of the Rhaetian league swept down out of the Ofen Pass to attack the Swabians in the Calvi Gorge located between Tauffers and Laatsch, near the present Swiss-Austrian border. As one division attacked the enemy from the front, another group climbed the steep Schleinigberg and fell on the Swabians from the rear. The Rheatians defeated the Swabians after a violent fight. Henceforth the Rhaetian League was free from Austrian rule. The Swiss in midsummer defeated the Austrian Imperial army near Basil nominally ending the Austrian influence over them. The Swabian War was over.
When Baron Ludwig von Brandis returned to his home, his troubles were still not over. He had no money left to pay his lawyers. He passed away before he could settle his debts. In 1507, to pay off the family’s debts, Vaduz and Schellenberg were sold by Dean Johann (John), the Cathedral Prior of Chur,
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