Battle of St. Jakob an der Sihl

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of St. Jakob an der Sihl
partof=Old Zürich War


caption=The mayor of Zurich, Rudolf Stüssi, defends the bridge of St. Jakob, near Zurich, against the forces of the Old Swiss Confederacy during the Battle of St. Jakob an der Sihl. Depicted are the Rennweg gate in the background and the St. Jakob chapel in the fore. (Werner Schodoler, 1515)
date=July 22 1443
place=Zurich
result=Victory for the Old Swiss Confederacy
combatant1=Zurich, Holy Roman Empire
combatant2=Old Swiss Confederacy
commander1=Rudolf Stüssi; Albrecht Freiherr von Bussnang
commander2=unknown
strength1=unknown
strength2=unknown
casualties1=unknown
casualties2=unknown

The Battle of St. Jakob an der Sihl was a battle of the Old Zürich War that occurred on July 22 1443, resulting in a defeat for Zürich.

The battle took place outside the gates of Zürich, beyond the Sihl (today's Aussersihl district). The troops of Zürich, with Habsburg reinforcements, met the attacking confederates on the "Sihlfeld" north of St. Jakob, but were pushed back and had to escape across the Sihl into the city. The confederates did not have the means to lay siege to the city and withdrew. The defeat of Zürich was thus not decisive, and the war continued until 1446.

The commander of the Habsburg forces, Albrecht Freiherr von Bussnang, was killed behind the altar of the St. Jakob chapel.According to Zürich chroniclers, Zürich's burgomaster Rudolf Stüssi fell at this battle amongst the defenders of the bridge across the Sihl. Stüssi was covering his troops' retreat when he was killed by a confederate hiding below the bridge. This account, which emphasizes the burgomaster's bravery, is considered Zürich propaganda by historians. Additional accounts from Zürich chronicles state that the city was saved by the gatekeeper's wife, one Anna Ziegler, who managed to lower the portcullis of the Rennweg gate just as the pursuing confederates were about to enter the city.