important swiss historyyyyy Flashcards
United we stand
- within the Holy Roman Empire during the 13th century the Habsburgs controlled the German-speaking part of present day Switzerland
- Waldstätten: Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden
- in apline valleys life was hard
- their stategic location on important lines od communication awakened the interest of powerful families
confederative associations
- to protect themselves against internal threats
The Emperor’s favours
- 1231 Uri opened a transit passage across the Alps via the Gotthard pass
- stategic axis
- optained the so-called “imperial freedom”
- the community was placed directly under the Holy ROman Empire and not under the Habsburgs
Emperor Rudolf I
- 1291
- the first Habsburg to carry the imperial title
- attempted to re-establish the Habsburgs’ authority over the forest cantons
The Rütli oath
- Werner Stauffacher of Schwyz
- Walter Fürst of Uri
- Arnold con Melchtal von Unterwald
William Tell
- he refused to pay his respects to the Habsburgs coat of arms at Altdorf (UR)
- under threat of execution, Gessler, the bailiff of the Habsburgs, ordered him to shoot with his crossbow an aplle placed on his son’s head
- although Tell succeeded at this task, he was arrested
- he managed to escape and kill Gessler several days later
The Pact of 1291 included following provisions
- The forest communities promised “aid, help and assistance,” subject to thei submission to their lord (the emperor)
- Should any conflict arise between the allies, “ the wisest citizen of the Confederacy” would mediate
- Respect for administrative tradition was guaranteed.
- Judical cooperation was established: a criminal from Uri was not protected from judgement by fleeing to Schwyz.
The battle of Morgarten
Habsburgs and Switzerland clashed in 1315 in Morgarten (south of Zurich)
Duke Leopold I of Habsburg defeated by the confederates
victory of Morgatern encouraged to conclude a new pact in Brunnen (SZ) on 9. December 1315
from now they were called Eidgenossen
(meaning “those bound by an oath” or “Confederates”)
New members
Lucerne
- 1332
- closest proximity to the Confederates
- commercial hub
New members
Zurich
- 1351
- economic importance
- silk industry
- to protect it’s trading access to the Gotthard
New members
Glarus
- 1352
- wanted to free itself from the Habsburgs
- different status
New members
Zug
1352
The Confederates took this Habsburg town by siege.
New members
Bern
1353
independent military power
the town had conquered territories, including the Oberland
- July, 1386
The battle of Sempach
- Lucerne wanted to increase its dependence from the Habsburgs
- Habsburgs 4000 knights
- Confederates 1600
- they won killing 1800 of their enemies, including their leader, Duke Leopold II of Austria
9 April, 1399
The battle of Näfels
- Glarus announced its independence
- refusing to accept this the Habsburgs sent an army of 6500
- although reinforced with help from Schwyz they only had a tenth of the Habsburgs numbers
- The Swiss won the battle, however, and Glarus became a permanent member of the Confederation.