Black Band ( landsknechts ) The Black Band was a formation of 16th century mercenaries , largely pikemen , probably serving as Landsknecht s . They fought in the French army for ten years , seeing service in several notable engagements , including the Battle of Marignano and the Battle of Pavia . Origin . The Black Band was created as Black Guard 1514 by George , Duke of Saxony to fight for his claims in East Frisia vs . Edzard I , Count of East Frisia in what was to become known as the Saxon feud . It is not clear whether the band was newly founded or in continuity of the " Black Guard " ( or Great Guard ) that was founded in 1488 by Landsknechts formerly in Imperial service with Maximilian in Flandern . It fought in northern Germany and Denmark , often against rebellious peasants , until its defeat at the Battle of Hemmingstedt . It is possible that at least some Fähnlein of the Black Guard survived during these 14 years and were part , if not core , of the new formation . This Black Guard took part in the campaign in East Frisia in 1514 and devastated large parts of it in the process . When the participation of George of Saxon in the Saxon Feud ended in 1515 at the mediation of Charles II , Duke of Guelders and Francis I of France , George abandoned the 5 , 000 men of the Black Guard who then resorted to living off the land . Charles of Geldern hired them and led them in support of Francis to Italy , where they entered French service and became known as the " Black Band " . When the allegiance switched to France , some Landsknechts left the band to continue their service in Imperial companies . Organization and leadership . The full Landsknecht contingent of Francis I . army in 1515 was initially 17 , 000 men strong , composed of 12 , 000 pikemen , 2 , 000 arquebusiers , 2 , 000 two - handed swordsmen , and 1 , 000 halberdiers . The Black Band became a part of this contingent , joining the Landsknechts who were originally sent " on loan " to the French by Maximilian between 1512 and 1513 and who had defied his " recall " to Imperial service . Some sources do not differ between the Black Band and the other Landsknecht contingents of Francis I before and at Marignano . After the battle the remnant Landsknechts in French service are grouped together as " Black Band " . Captain of the Black Band in 1525 was Georg Langenmantel , but it was also placed under the command of a French officer , such as at Pavia , when it was nominally led by Francois de Lorraine and Richard de la Pole . By the time of the Battle of Pavia , they are described by Delbrück as 5 , 000 strong , by Konstam as 4 , 000 strong . Campaigns . The Black Band marched into Italy in 1515 in time to fight alongside King Francis I at the Battle of Marignano , where , defending the ditch and supported by artillery , they were nonetheless recoiled by the attacking Swiss , but did not break . Eventually they were relieved by the charge of the French " gendarme " heavy cavalry into the flank of the Swiss attack column . Ten years later they are still in French service and appear as the lead French infantry square at the Battle of Pavia , led by Francois de Lorraine and Richard de la Pole . In this battle they found themself heavily outnumbered by two blocks of 12 , 000 Imperial Landsknechts opposing them , led by Georg von Frundsberg and Max Sittich von Ems . Before the battle Georg Langenmantel , Obrist of the band , stepped out and tried to challenge Frundsberg or Ems to single combat , but was killed by the Imperials in response . Struck in both flanks - - “ seize [ d ] … as if with tongs ” — and hacked to pieces , the Black Band was killed almost to the last man , including both of their leaders , and ceased to exist . It was refounded and fought with a strength of 4 , 000 under Lautrec in the campaign against the Imperial army in Naples . The destruction of that army in August 1528 saw some 2 , 000 survivors , many of whom found service with the Imperial Landsknechts .