Page 57 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Switzerland

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DISCOVER A Brief History

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Birth of the Swiss Nation The Foundation of Modern Switzerland WOMEN’S
In 1291, men from Unterwalden, Schwyz and Uri, the “Three MÈRE ROYAUME’S Napoleon invaded Switzerland in 1798 and replaced the SUFFRAGE
FOOD FIGHT
Forest Cantons”, gathered to form an alliance against foreign cantons of the Confederation with the short-lived, unpopular
power. The Swiss Confederation was born, eventually giving rise On 11 December 1602, Helvetic Republic. The Swiss Confederation was restored in Swiss women were
to the legend of William Tell, the heroic countryman who defied the Duke of Savoy’s 1803, but French jurisdiction lasted until Napoleon’s defeat only granted the right
Habsburg rule. Over the next 200 years, other cantons joined troops attempted to by a British-led coalition of European armies at Waterloo in to vote in federal elec­
the fight for independence, which they finally gained in 1499. scale Geneva’s walls 1815. In the wake of civil war, a new constitution, drawn up tions in 1971; in 1991
Renowned for their valour, Swiss troops became sought after in a surprise attack. in 1848 and revised in 1874, established today’s system of Appenzell Innerrhoden
as mercenaries. However, a shock defeat at the 1515 Battle of Catherine Cheynel direct democracy, with the cantons collectively ruled by a became the last canton
Marignano led the nation to declare an “eternal peace” with (“Mère Royaume”), a federal assembly in Bern. With political stability, the country to give women a vote
France; this led to laws preventing the Swiss from fighting in mother of 14 children, flourished. New commercial banks were established, and on local issues. Since
foreign wars, and gradually brought about complete neutrality. grabbed a cauldron of the construction of the railway network and new roads then, women have
hot vegetable soup opened up alpine areas to burgeoning tourism; industries made great strides in
The Reformation and poured it over the from watchmaking to chocolate manufacture thrived. the political arena. In
The Protestant Reformation of the early 16th century created attackers, killing one of Neutrality through Two World Wars 2010, the country was
bitter conflict between Catholic cantons and those embracing them. This caused such one of just five world­
the new creed of reformers such as Huldrych Zwingli (1484– a commotion it roused During both the World Wars, Switzerland maintained a state wide to have more
1531) and Jean Calvin (1509–64). Despite this religious rift, all the townspeople to of armed neutrality. As a result, it was sought after by both women than men in
the cantons remained loyal to the Confederation throughout defend their city. the Allied and Axis countries as a location for commerce (thus the cabinet that year.
the wars of religion that swept Europe in the 17th century. boosting the growth of the Swiss banking industry), espionage

Timeline of events
1291 1506 1516 1680s–90s 1874 1912 1914–18
The Swiss The Swiss Huguenot Swiss mathematicians A revision of the Carl Jung publishes Switzerland
Confederation Guard is refugees Jacob and Johann Swiss constitu- his ground-breaking organizes Red
stands against engaged to introduce the Bernoulli work tion allows direct book, Psychology of Cross units but
the Habsburgs. protect the craft of clock on probability democracy by the Unconscious. remains neutral
Vatican. making. and calculus. referendum. during World War I;
the 1919 Treaty
1315 of Versailles
The Swiss defeat the Habsburgs at 1863 reaffirms Swiss
neutrality.
the Battle of Morgarten, consoli­ Henri Dunant establishes the
dating the Confederation; the 1499 Red Cross; he receives the first
Swabian War brings indepen dence. Nobel Peace Prize in 1901.
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