Dissension within the Confederation
Bruder Klaus, as portrayed on the wall of the church at his hermitage in Flüeli-Ranft, Canton Obwalden© julia slater / swissworld.org
The Oath of Confederation at the Council of Stans, from the series of historical scenes painted by Humbert Marechet in 1585-6 for the chamber of the Grand Council in Bern.© Bern Historical Museum
The expansion of the Confederation did not proceed entirely smoothly. Opposition to Austria held the members together, but as that threat subsided, the cantons became more ready to look to their individual interests. On two occasions in the 15th century internal dissension threatened the Confederation with collapse.
Zurich vs the rest
Conflict broke out between Zurich and Schwyz over the inheritance of the last Count of Toggenburg who died in 1436. Zurich refused to accept the verdict of arbitrators, and even appealed to Austria for aid. The dispute simmered for several years, but in 1444 Austria persuaded French mercenaries to fight on Zurich's side. This French army smashed the Confederates at battle of St Jakob an der Birs.
A peace treaty was only achieved in 1450. Zurich gave up its alliance with Austria and agreed not to make similar agreeements in the future.
Cities vs rural areas
A second threat to the survival of the Confederation was the result of simmering political and social tensions.
The individual Confederate members had always had the right to make their own alliances, but after the conclusion of the Burgundian War in 1477 the city members made so many new alliances with other cities, that the rural members feared that the balance within the Confederation would be upset.
The rural cantons were also worried by the shift of power westwards, as the huge canton of Bern played an ever greater role in Confederation affairs.
One particular bone of contention was the desire of the city cantons to upgrade the status of the associated cities of Solothurn and Fribourg to full membership of the Confederation.
A compromise agreement was finally reached at the Council of Stans in 1481, mediated by the hermit Nikolaus of Flüe, popularly known as Bruder Klaus. Solothurn and Fribourg became the ninth and tenth members.
"The Dauphin forbade the whole army to abuse any of the Confederates who might lie wounded on the battlefield, and told the men of Basel that they could bury their dead, as is their custom, for their bravery had earned them the right to burial. He also allowed them to take any wounded they might find back to the city and to treat them there... One of the wounded was from Glarus. He was the only man from Glarus to survive. He had received seven severe cuts and blows. He was treated in Basel, and later became Landammann in Glarus. There were no survivors at all from Unterwalden. Just one survived from Schwyz. Because he had not been wounded, he was despised in Schwyz for the rest of his life."
Aegidius Tschudi (1505-1572), The Battle of St Jakob an der Birs
Link to other website
- The life of Bruder Klaus Brother Klaus