I always wondered, why swiss soldiers were so successful (until guns joinded the game). I know, they had really good tactics, but they were also famous for there ruthless and merciless "behaviour" on the battlefield. The won battles against armies, which were a lot bigger than their own, especially against the austrians. Later they were feared for there efficiency as mercenaries. But why were they so good? They were often poor farmers from the alps, so what made them such an efficient force?