The Emergence of Switzerland

The 1291 pact between Uri, Schwyz and Nidwalden, later joined by Obwalden, traditionally marks the birth of Switzerland. Motivated by the desire to constrain Habsburg overlordship, this was probably the revival of an older alliance. After 1291 the cantons successfully played the Habsburgs off against other imperial families and in 1315 they defeated the Habsburgs at Morgarten. To further secure their quasiautonomous status, allies were sought and Luzern, a town closely connected economically and ecclesiastically, joined in 1332. Temporary alliances with Zurich, Zug and Glarus, all wary of Habsburg intentions, were made permanent shortly afterwards. Bern, a less obvious ally, joined in 1352. For the next century and a half the eight cantons (sometimes together, sometimes on their own) were embroiled in wars, some defensive, some expansionist. Habsburg power was further limited by victories at

Sempach (1386) and Nafels (1388), and the joint cantonal occupation of Aargau in 1415. Victory in the Swabian War of 1499 confirmed Switzerland's de facto independence from the empire. Bern's chief preoccupation was in the west, where she clashed with Burgundy. Not until Duke Charles the Bold's defeat and death at Nancy, in 1477, was this threat removed. Uri spearheaded southern expansion. Swiss participation in the Holy League secured the acquisition of the Ticinese provinces from Milan in 1512/13. Swiss influence also grew through a series of alliances with neighbouring provinces. There was reluctance, however, to admit new cantons. Appenzell was only admitted in 1513. Freiburg and Solothurn entered in 1486, following their support in the Burgundian wars, while Basel and Schaffhausen, allies in the Swabian War, joined in 1501.

Unity was, however, originally based only on

The desire to maintain cantonal independence. Initially there were no central institutions and cantonal interests frequently clashed. Yet, due to military success, the fragile unity of the unusual alliance between towns and rural communities was preserved.

D. Ditchburn