The Black Band was a formation of 16th century mercenaries, largely pikemen, probably serving as Landsknechts. They fought in the French army for ten years, seeing service in several notable engagements, including the Battle of Marignano and the Battle of Pavia.
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Some uncertainty exists concerning the origin of the Black Band. They are often described as “Landsknechts” and as “renegades” who refused to return to the Empire when recalled by the emperor Maximilian I, which suggests they were in fact German. However, they are also described at times as “Hollanders” and as being raised in Guelders, which at this time was ruled by Charles of Egmond, who was generally at odds with the Empire.
What is known is that the Black Band was raised by King Francis I of France in 1515 in order to replace the Swiss mercenary pikemen who traditionally formed the core of the French infantry force but were at that time allied with the enemies of France.
The Black Band was initially 17,000 men strong, composed of 12,000 pikemen, 2,000 arquebusiers, 2,000 two-handed swordsmen, and 1,000 halberdiers. Its captain was Georg Langenmantel, but was also placed under the command of a French officer, such as at Pavia, when it was led by Francois de Lorraine. By the time of the Battle of Pavia, they are described by Delbrück as 5,000 strong, by Konstam as 4,000 strong.
The Black Band marched into Italy in 1515 in time to fight alongside King Francis I at the Battle of Marignano, where, defending the ditch and supported by artillery, they were nonetheless recoiled by the attacking Swiss, but were eventually relieved by the charge of the French gendarme heavy cavalry into the flank of the Swiss attack column.
Ten years later they reappear as the lead French infantry square at the Battle of Pavia, where they were heavily outnumbered by the 12,000 Imperial Landsknechts opposing them, led by the Landsknecht commander Georg von Frundsberg. Struck in both flanks -- “seize[d] … as if with tongs” -- and hacked to pieces, the unit ceased to exist.
It was refounded and fought with a strength of 4,000 under Lautrec in the campaign against the Imperial army in Naples. The destruction of that army in August 1528 saw some 2,000 survivors, many of whom found service with the Imperial Landsknechts.