Helvetic Republic: Difference between revisions
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On [[5 March]] [[1798]], French troops completely overran Switzerland and the [[Ancien Régime of Switzerland|Swiss Confederation]] collapsed. On [[12 April]] [[1798]] 121 cantonal deputies proclaimed the Helvetic Republic, "One and Indivisible". The new régime abolished [[canton (subnational entity)|cantonal sovereignty]] and [[feudal]] rights. The occupying forces established a centralised state based on the ideas of the [[French Revolution]]. |
On [[5 March]] [[1798]], French troops completely overran Switzerland and the [[Ancien Régime of Switzerland|Swiss Confederation]] collapsed. On [[12 April]] [[1798]] 121 cantonal deputies proclaimed the Helvetic Republic, "One and Indivisible". The new régime abolished [[canton (subnational entity)|cantonal sovereignty]] and [[feudal]] rights. The occupying forces established a centralised state based on the ideas of the [[French Revolution]]. |
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Following the declaration of the Republic, the Cantons of [[Canton of Uri|Uri]], [[Canton of Schwyz|Schwyz]] and [[Canton of Nidwalden|Nidwalden]] rejected it and raised an army to fight the French. Under [[Alois von Reding]] they were able to raise about 10,000 men. This army was deployed along the defensive line from [[Napf]] to [[Rapperswil]]. General Reding besieged French controlled [[Lucerne]] and marched across the [[Brünig pass]] into the [[Berner Oberland]] to support the armies of Berne. At the same time, the French General [[Balthasar Alexis Henri Antoine of Schauenburg]] marched out of occupied [[Zürich]] to attack [[Zug]], Lucerne and the [[Sattel pass]]. Even though the Reding's army won victories at Rothenthurm and [[Morgarten]], Schauenburg's victory near [[Sattel, Switzerland|Sattel]] allowed him to threaten the town of [[Schwyz]]. On 4 May 1798, the town council of Schwyz surrended.<ref>{{HDS|8915-1-1|The French Invasion}}</ref> |
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Many Swiss citizens resisted these "[[Progressivism|progressive]]" ideas, particularly in the central areas of the country. Some of the more controversial aspects of the new regime limited [[freedom of worship]], which outraged many of the more devout citizens. Several uprisings took place, most notably in the canton of [[Nidwalden]], which the authorities crushed, with towns and villages burnt down by French troops. |
Many Swiss citizens resisted these "[[Progressivism|progressive]]" ideas, particularly in the central areas of the country. Some of the more controversial aspects of the new regime limited [[freedom of worship]], which outraged many of the more devout citizens. Several uprisings took place, most notably in the canton of [[Nidwalden]], which the authorities crushed, with towns and villages burnt down by French troops. |
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Revision as of 00:04, 1 September 2009
Helvetic Republic | |||||||||||||
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| 1798–1802 | |||||||||||||
.svg) Flag of the Helvetic Republic
 Official seal
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| Status | Client of the First French Empire | ||||||||||||
| Capital | Lucerne | ||||||||||||
| Government | Republic | ||||||||||||
| Historical era | Napoleonic Wars | ||||||||||||
| March 5, 1798 | |||||||||||||
• Republic proclaimed | April 12, 1798 1798 | ||||||||||||
• Mutual defence treaty with France | 19 August 1798 | ||||||||||||
• Diplomatic recognition by French allies | 19 September 1798 | ||||||||||||
• Malmaison constitution | 29 May 1801 | ||||||||||||
• Federal constitution | 27 February 1802 | ||||||||||||
• Act of Mediation | 19 February, 1803 1802 | ||||||||||||
| June 8, 1815 | |||||||||||||
| ISO 3166 code | CH | ||||||||||||
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Note: See below for a full list of predecessor states | |||||||||||||
| History of Switzerland |
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| Early history |
| Old Swiss Confederacy |
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| Transitional period |
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| Modern history |
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| Timeline |
| Topical |
 Switzerland portal |
In Swiss history, the Helvetic Republic (1798–1803) represented an early attempt to impose a central authority over Switzerland, which until then consisted mainly of self-governing cantons united by a loose military alliance, and conquered territories such as Vaud. Its name came from the Helvetii people.
A constitutional arrangement imposed by French military might, the Republic existed as a state for only five years but failed to achieve widespread popular support among its citizens. However, some aspects of it have survived into present-day[update] Switzerland.
History
During the French Revolutionary Wars of the 1790s, the French Republican armies expanded eastward, enveloping Switzerland on the grounds of "liberating" the Swiss people, whose own system of government was deemed as feudal, especially for annexed territories such as Vaud. Some Swiss nationals, including Frédéric-César de La Harpe, had called for French intervention on these grounds. The invasion proceeded largely peacefully, since the Swiss people failed to respond to the calls of their politicians to take up arms.
On 5 March 1798, French troops completely overran Switzerland and the Swiss Confederation collapsed. On 12 April 1798 121 cantonal deputies proclaimed the Helvetic Republic, "One and Indivisible". The new régime abolished cantonal sovereignty and feudal rights. The occupying forces established a centralised state based on the ideas of the French Revolution.
Following the declaration of the Republic, the Cantons of Uri, Schwyz and Nidwalden rejected it and raised an army to fight the French. Under Alois von Reding they were able to raise about 10,000 men. This army was deployed along the defensive line from Napf to Rapperswil. General Reding besieged French controlled Lucerne and marched across the Brünig pass into the Berner Oberland to support the armies of Berne. At the same time, the French General Balthasar Alexis Henri Antoine of Schauenburg marched out of occupied Zürich to attack Zug, Lucerne and the Sattel pass. Even though the Reding's army won victories at Rothenthurm and Morgarten, Schauenburg's victory near Sattel allowed him to threaten the town of Schwyz. On 4 May 1798, the town council of Schwyz surrended.[1]
Many Swiss citizens resisted these "progressive" ideas, particularly in the central areas of the country. Some of the more controversial aspects of the new regime limited freedom of worship, which outraged many of the more devout citizens. Several uprisings took place, most notably in the canton of Nidwalden, which the authorities crushed, with towns and villages burnt down by French troops.
No general agreement existed about the future of Switzerland. Leading groups split into the Unitaires, who wanted a united republic, and the Federalists, who represented the old aristocracy and demanded a return to cantonal sovereignty. Coup-attempts became frequent, and the new régime had to rely on the French to survive. Furthermore, the occupying forces insisted that the accommodation and feeding of the soldiers be paid for by the local populace which drained the economy. The treaty of alliance with France also broke the tradition of neutrality established by the Confederation. All this made it difficult to establish a new working state.
In 1799, Switzerland became a virtual battle-zone between the French, Austrian and Imperial Russian armies, with the locals supporting mainly the latter two, rejecting calls to fight with the French armies in the name of the Helvetic Republic.
Instability in the Republic reached its peak in 1802–03 — including the Stecklikrieg civil war of 1802. Together with local resistance, financial problems caused the Helvetic Republic to collapse, and its government took refuge in Lausanne.
At that time Napoleon Bonaparte, then First Consul of France, summoned representatives of both sides to Paris in order to negotiate a solution. Although the Federalist representatives formed a minority at the conciliation conference — known as the "Helvetic Consulta" — Bonaparte characterised Switzerland as federal "by nature" and considered it unwise to force the country into any other constitutional framework.
On February 19, 1803, the Act of Mediation restored the cantons. With the abolition of the centralized state, Switzerland became a confederation once again.
Constitution
Before the advent of the Helvetic Republic, each individual canton had exercised complete sovereignty over its own territory or territories. Little central authority had existed, with matters concerning the country as a whole confined mainly to meetings of leading representatives from the cantons: the Diets.[2]
The constitution of the Helvetic Republic came mainly from the design of Peter Ochs, a magistrate from Basel. It established a central two-chamber legislature which included the Grand Council (with 8 members per canton) and the Senate (4 members per canton). The executive, known as the Directory, comprised 5 members. The Constitution also established actual Swiss citizenship, as opposed to just citizenship of one's canton of birth.[2]
After an uprising led by Alois von Reding in 1798, some cantons were merged, thus reducing their anti-centralist effectiveness in the legislature. Uri, Schwyz, Zug and Unterwalden together became the canton of Waldstätten; Glarus and the Sarganserland became the canton of Linth, and Appenzell and St. Gallen combined as the canton of Säntis.
Due to the instability of the situation, the Helvetic Republic had over 6 constitutions in a period of 4 years.[2]
Legacy
The Helvetic Republic did highlight the desirability of a central authority to handle matters for the country as a whole (as opposed to the individual cantons which handled matters at the local level). In the post-Napoleonic era the differences between the cantons (varying currencies and systems of weights and measurements) and the perceived need for better co-ordination between them came to a head and culminated in the Swiss Federal Constitution of 1848.
The Republic's 5-member Directory resembles the 7-member Swiss Federal Council, Switzerland's present-day[update] executive.
The period of the Helvetic Republic is still very controversial within Switzerland.[3] It represents the first time that Switzerland existed as a unified country and a step toward the modern federal state. For the first time the population was defined as Swiss, not as members of a specific canton. For cantons like Vaud, Thurgau and Ticino the Republic was a time of political freedom from other cantons. However the Republic also marked a time of foreign domination and revolution. For the cantons of Berne, Schwyz and Nidwalden it was a time of military defeat followed by occupation and military suppression. In 1995 the Federal Parliament chose to not celebrate the 200 year anniversary of the Helvetic Republic, but to allow individual cantons to celebrate if they wished.[3]
Administrative divisions
The Helvetic Republic reduced the formerly sovereign cantons to mere administrative districts, and in order to weaken the old power-structures, it defined new boundaries for some cantons. The act of 1798 and subsequent developments resulted in the following cantons:
Predecessor states
As well as the Old Swiss Confederacy, the following territories became part of the Helvetic Republic:
Associate states
Republic of the Seven Zenden
Imperial Abbey of St Gall- File:Coa St. Gallen.png Imperial City of St Gall
Condominiums
County of Baden
Vogtei of Bellinzona
Vogtei of Blenio
Freie Ämter
Vogtei of Gams / Hohensax- Lordship of Grandson
Vogtei of Leventina
Landvogtei of Locarno
Landvogtei of Lugano
Landvogtei of Mendrisio
Vogtei of Murten- Vogtei of Orbe-Échallens
Imperial Abbey of Pfäfers
Vogtei of Rheintal
Vogtei of Rivera
County of Sargans
Schwarzenburg / Grasburg
Landgraviate of Thurgau
County of Uznach
Landvogtei of Valmaggia
Vogtei of Windegg
Protectorates
Unassociated territories
The Helvetic Republic also annexed two territories not previously part of Switzerland:
Fricktal, a part of the Breisgau, within the Habsburg Further Austria, retained by Aargau
Konstanz, a part of the Bishopric of Constance, later restored to the Grand Duchy of Baden
References
- ^ The French Invasion in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.Error in template * invalid parameter (Template:HDS): "1"
- ^ a b c Histoire de la Suisse, Éditions Fragnière, Fribourg, Switzerland
- ^ a b Helvetic Republic, Historiography and Remembrance in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.Error in template * invalid parameter (Template:HDS): "1"
See also
External links
- Helvetic Republic Template:De icon in the Historical Dictionary of Switzerland
- Divisions of Switzerland under Napoleon Template:Fr icon
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|  Europe at the height of Napoleon's Empire | |||||||||||
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This article incorporates material translated from the German-language Wikipedia