Frundsberg Fähnlein
Under the sign of the Fünfberg
The Frundsberg Fähnlein can justifiably claim to have been the first of its kind in the Frundsberg Festring. Here, too, the year 1976 marks the real turning point. The new conception of the Frundsberg Festival as a historical festival as it is today brought with it new necessities that could best be met in the form of an organised ensemble. Thus, in 1978, at the instigation of Hans Weber, the ensign was founded, which feels such a special bond with the leader of the Lansquenets, whose name it still bears with pride and honour today: Georg von Frundsberg. The ensign, which now has almost 300 members, is known far beyond the borders of Mindelheim and Bavaria.
The main focus, however, is on the Frundsberg Festival, which takes place every three years and features a camp that stretches along the entire Fuggerstrasse. In addition to the tent site and fireplace, the Fähnlein is also responsible for the guild street and the farmers' market. From candle makers to printers and papermakers to weavers and goldsmiths, the guilds display late medieval products and production methods in their little houses. Next to them are the town scales with a writing stand, a historic skittle alley, the Schupfnudel and Karnöffelhaus and, during the farmers' markets, many an animal and feathered fowl.
In addition to the camp, the Fähnlein also offers quite mobile attractions such as the arquebusiers, who supported the common footmen in battle with their fire pipes and cannons and can be admired in action during the festival in the Battle of Peutelstein. The group of swordsmen, on the other hand, stage exhibition fights as they might have done in those days at many an irritant. Weapons typical of the time are used, such as the cat-balger, bidenhander, rapier, dagger or the bare but no less painful stick. The minstrels create the right atmosphere around the campfire with their sometimes hearty songs about the worries and desires of the lansquenets, whores and peasants. And the drummers announce the approach of the ruler and commander, Georg von Frundsberg, from afar.
The coat of arms of the Fähnlein is quartered. Fields one and four each represent a golden bouquet with a silver horseshoe and beak. Fields two and three show the typical black floating five-mountain, rounded at the bottom, on gold.
Further information on the homepage of the Frundsberg Fähnlein
