Franz von Sickingen

Franz von Sickingen (born in 1481 - died the May 7th 1523) is a German knight and one of the most notable characters of the first period of the Protestant Réforme.

After having fought for the emperor Maximilien I {{er}} against Venice in 1508, it inherited vast domains on the the Rhine, and could then increase its richness by diverted methods. In 1513, it took makes and causes for Balthasar Schlör, an expelled citizen of the town of Worms, and attacked the city with 7000 men. In spite of the imperial banishment whose it was the object, Sickingen managed to devastate the countryside and to disturb the commercial relations and yielded only when its requirements were satisfied. It made then the war with the duke of Lorraine and forced Philippe Ier de Hesse to pour 35000 gulden to him. In 1518, it intervened in a civil conflict with Metz, and openly took party for the citizens against the Oligarchie with the capacity. It carried out an army of 20000 men against the city, and forced the local municipal officials to grant 20000 gulden out of gold to him and a month of pay for its troops. In 1518, Maximilien Ier cancelled the banishment whose Sickingen was the object.

After the death of Maximilien, Sickingen accepted bribes on behalf of François I {{er}} to support the candidature of this last, but at the time of the election, it brought its troops to Francfort-sur-le-Main to ensure it the election of Charles Quint. In reward of this service, it was made imperial chamberlain and adviser. In 1521, at the time of the Sixth war of Italy, it carried out a forwarding in France, during which it devastated the Picardy. It was however overcome with the Siège of Wall, and constrained to beat a retreat.

After the failure of French forwarding, Sickingen plotted with Ulrich von Hutten the inversion of the Prince-Voters of the Holy roman Empire and rise in dignity about the Chevalerie, which he hoped to achieve with the support of the cities and the farming community. The weakness of its alliances finally forced it to be folded up on its castle of Landstuhl, not without to have collected abundant spoils on the road.

The October 22nd 1522, the council of regency banishes it again, it with what he retorted by plundering Kaiserslautern in spring 1523. The leaders of Trier, the Hesse and the Palatinat were combined against him and besieged Landstuhl. Sickingen accepted a serious wound there. This seat was one of the first occasions to make use of the Artillerie, and of the breaches were rapidements practiced in what would have differently remained an impregnable fortress. The May 6th 1523, Sickingen was resigned to capitulate, and he died the next day. He was buried in Landstuhl, and in 1889 a large monument was set up with Ebernburg, its memory and that of Ulrich von Hutten.

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