Hans Conrad Werdmüller

Hans Conrad Werdmüller (Zürich, 20 July 1606 – Zürich, 30 July 1674)[1] was a Swiss military commander and a member of the city council of Zürich.

17th-century engraving by Conrad Meyer

Biography

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Werdmüller was the son of Christoph Werdmüller, a member of the Grand Council of Zürich, and Anna Jegglin.[2] He studied at Zürich and Geneva.[2] Werdmüller fought in the Valtellina War as a mercenary in French service, then served Frederick V, Margrave of Baden-Durlach from 1629 to 1631.[2] Appointed captain in 1632, his military talents brought him to the rank of colonel.[2] Werdmüller commanded the troops of Zürich during the Wädenswil revolt of 1646 and the Swiss peasant war of 1653.[2] He was responsible for the 17th-century reorganization of Zürich's defenses, most notably through the introduction of cavalry.[2]

References

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  1. ^ Database of the councilmen of Zürich. URL last accessed 2006-12-18.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Martin Lassner: Werdmüller, Conrad in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.

Further reading

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  • Weisz, L.: Die Werdmüller. Schicksale eines alten Zürcher Geschlechtes; Schulthess & Co., Zürich, 1949.