Wilhelm Frölich (c. 1504 – 4 December 1562) was aSwiss mercenary commander who served the French Crown during theItalian Wars. He has been described as one of the most successful mercenary leaders in Swiss history.[1]
Frölich was born in 1504 or 1505 in the town ofRiesbach (now a district ofZürich), in thecanton of Zürich, into a family of humble background.[1] He entered French service in 1522 and was promoted to captain in 1536.[1] Frölich won fame as commander of the Swiss mercenaries at theBattle of Ceresole in 1544.[1] That same year, he acquired thebourgeoisie ofSolothurn, after he was stripped of his rights as a bourgeois of Zürich due to his mercenary activity.[1] He became a member of Solothurn's Grand Council in 1550 and of its Small Council in 1555.[1]
As a colonel, Frölich served in Italy from 1551 to 1557 and inPicardy in 1558, during KingHenry II'sItalian War, and campaigned against theHuguenots in 1562 during theFirst French War of Religion.[1] He was made a lieutenant of the eliteCent-Suisses.[1] Frölich was ennobled by Henry II in 1556 and was created aPapal knight in 1557.[1] He died in Paris on 4 December 1562 and was buried at the Corderliers Church.[1]
Frölich married Anna Rahn, the daughter of an influential Zürich family, in 1545.[1] Their two sons, who went on to become captains in French service, were killed at the Battle of Die (1575) during the Fifth War of Religion. A funerary bust of Frölich byPierre Bontemps is now at theLouvre Museum.[2][3]
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