Explanation: While landsknecht and samurai were contemporary, they never fought as Japan was… on the other side of the world from Europe. The contrast, and the way warfare developed in the time, however, it a bit amusing.

Samurai in Japan were a warrior-caste of nobility, who were expected to cultivate intense personal virtues, especially honor and loyalty, selfless service to one’s lord regardless of material gain. Samurai were also expected to learn cultured behavior, including traditions of etiquette and poetry. Now, not all of them actually did, but it was expected. During this period, however, the importance of samurai in warfare declined in favor of peasant conscripts and volunteers. Four men with six months’ training are better than just one with 20 years!

On the other hand, in Europe, the rising military force replacing European knighthood (which was expected to be… pious, but generally not much else) were Swiss and German mercenaries. As being a mercenary was a pretty ‘lowly’ career path, not much was expected of Swiss mercenaries and German Landsknecht. Famously (and as seen in the picture) they fought only for a paycheck (and God help you if you try to stiff them!), dressed extremely garishly by modern standards, and drank and gambled heavily. Yet they were considered the cutting edge of European warfare, the standard by which all other troops were measured!

One star falls, another rises! Another beer for the gentleman with the floofy pants, bitte!