ABSTRACT
The Vintschgau is a high mountain valley in South Tirol where in 1499 on the Calva Maximilian experienced his most humiliating defeat at the hands of neighbouring Swiss peasants and mercenaries, whom he had attempted to oppress with illegal taxes and with pettifogging. In Maximilian’s reign minimum fine was a day’s labouring wage–anything up to twelve kreuzers. In Lienhart Zott’s case Maximilian intervened in his favour, a great moment indeed for the humble serf-peasant family, as the myth came true and they received judgment seemingly handed down from the emperor himself. Herberstein’s political allies were Maximilian’s Lords Lieutenant and leaders of the territorial Estates in Styria, Sigmund von Dietrichstein, and in Carniola, Hans von Auersperg. In the 1490s that extra wealth for ambitious dynastic and military policies had to be sought in mining industries of the Austrian Alps. There Maximilian found the ready cash he needed, but at a price. It was another low threshold of violence in labour relations.
