Schweiz

Swiss Confederation

A confederation born of a pact of valleys in 1291, Switzerland made armed neutrality and direct democracy a model without equal.

Erbe

Calvin's Geneva was the “Protestant Rome” and a refuge for the Huguenots; Basel printed Erasmus; the abbey of Saint Gall preserves one of Europe's oldest monastic libraries. The Red Cross, born in Geneva in 1863, transposes into international law the Christian idea of aid to the wounded regardless of side.

Geschichte

The 1291 pact between Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden founded a defensive alliance that widened by successive accretion of cantons. Victories over the Habsburgs and then Burgundy established the Swiss military reputation.

The Reformation durably split the Confederation between Catholic and Reformed cantons: Zwingli in Zurich, Calvin in Geneva. After the defeat at Marignano in 1515 and above all the Peace of Westphalia, neutrality became a principle.

The modern federal state was born in 1848, with American-inspired bicameralism and direct democracy. Switzerland rejected EEA membership in 1992 and Union membership, but is linked to it by a dense network of bilateral agreements; it joined the Schengen area in 2008 and the UN in 2002.

Meilensteine

1291 Mittelalter

Federal Charter

Three Alpine valleys swear mutual assistance: the founding act of the Confederation.

1499 Renaissance und Reformationen

Swabian War

The Confederation becomes de facto free of the Holy Roman Empire, formally recognised in 1648.

1536 Renaissance und Reformationen

Calvin in Geneva

The Institutes of the Christian Religion make Geneva a centre of the European Reformation.

1848 Frühe Neuzeit

Federal Constitution

After a brief civil war, Switzerland becomes a federal state with direct democracy.

1863 Frühe Neuzeit

Founding of the Red Cross

Henry Dunant creates in Geneva the institution that will give birth to humanitarian law.

1923 Zeitgeschichte Hauptakteur

Customs union with Switzerland

The Swiss franc becomes official currency; Bern represents the principality abroad.

1992 Europäischer Aufbau

Rejection of the EEA

The people reject the European Economic Area; the bilateral path prevails.

2008 Europäischer Aufbau

Schengen entry

Without Union membership, Switzerland abolishes its border controls.

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