Switzerland/Swiss:
Development of a Nation How Switzerland became
Switzerland,
and how the Swiss became Swiss.
How
Swiss as a people, and the country of Switzerland as a nation-state,
evolved and materialized into current form, in terms of ancestral
bloodlines, language, borders, culture, and even how they
received their name.
Holy
Roman Empire (HRE). In 953, the German Kingdom becomes the Holy
Roman Empire (HRE), after entering into a partnership with the Pope
in Rome. The King of the Germans is recognized as Holy Roman
Emperor by Rome in exchange for guaranteed independence of Papal
States (centered around Rome – rule by Church). The Holy Roman
Empire was a collection of German duchies, principalities and other
entities that offered at least token loyalty to the partnership of
the Emperor and the Pope. The Emperor and Pope formed (at least in
theory) a secular-ecclesiastic partnership in governing the empire.
In reality, the two offices were often at odds, even directing acts
of hostility toward one another. The German princes, dukes, etc. of
member states within the HRE typically operated with autonomy,
cooperating with the emperor when unifying causes arose, such as
military campaigns to expand or protect the empire. Other
nationalities were brought under HRE-rule throughout history, such
as Italy and Burgundy (French). Many German entities eventually
broke away from the Holy Roman Empire to form their own distinct
nations, such as the Dutch, Swiss and Austrians.
1291: Birth of the Old Swiss Confederacy at the
western fringe of the Holy Roman Empire, to which it still paid its
allegiance in the same manner as other German duchies and
principalities, while beginning to operate with de facto
independence, creating a more pronounced division with the main body
of German peoples.
1499: The Old Swiss Confederacy became
politically independent from the Holy Roman Empire, solidifying the
concept of "Swiss" as a distinct nationality. As the confederacy
eventually transformed into a Federal State in 1848, further
cementing their status as a completely independent nation. In the
time since, they would intermix with French and Italian people that
have immigrated within its borders, although the French-Italian
components are just a dash compared to the larger German composition
of their collective ancestry.
In 1291, three small German communities in
modern central Switzerland join to form a strategic alliance to
protect common interests in region, giving birth to the Old Swiss
Confederacy. It officially still owed allegiance to the Holy Roman
Empire, but began to operate with de facto independence.
The confederacy continues to add communities
in the surrounding region through the 14th and 15th
centuries. The driving purpose behind the confederacy was to control
the strategic mountain passes throughout the Swiss Alps and
surrounding areas.
The Old Swiss Confederacy finally gained
independence in 1499 from the Holy Roman Empire, when fighting
commenced over control of key mountain passes. By this point, it
roughly approximated the modern Switzerland borders. The Rhine River
became natural border between Swiss Confederacy and Holy Roman
Empire, forming the northeast corner.
1648: Legal independence of Swiss Confederacy.
Recognized in the Peace Treaty of Westphalia ending the Thirty-Years
War that was largely fought on German ground, in which the Swiss
were neutral. It would achieve limited growth since.
Napoleon conquered Swiss Confederacy in 1798
as part of the Napoleonic Wars, reconstituting it as the Helvetic
Republic, slightly adjusting the borders.
During Congress of Vienna of 1815 after the
defeat of Napoleonic France, the leading powers of Europe redrew the
map of continent, expanding the Swiss Confederacy to its modern
borders, adding the small territories of Valais, Neuchatel and
Geneva.
1848:
Established as a Federal State following the civil war between
Catholic and Protestant cantons. The new government was instituted
to solve problem, by forming self-governing states/cantons united by
a central government), allowing each canton to select its own
official religion.
Derived from German word “Schwyz”, named after a
village in the region of modern, central Switzerland. Translates to
Swiss, traditionally official name of Switzerland (Swiss Confederation),
but often referred to as Switzerland (land of the Swiss).
Swiss culture is probably dictated as much as anything by its
geopolitical position as a central hub in West-Central Europe.
Switzerland was formed by cities in the German portion of the Alps
mountain range, as a way to leverage their inherent strategic advantage:
controlling the crucial mountain passes where the Holy Roman Empire,
France and Italy converged.
Its status as a major hub between various
nations and groups of people gave rise to the industry that has perhaps
defined Switzerland more than any other trait: banking - particularly
international banking.
Switzerland's geographical position has also made it dependent upon
not just one nation, but multiple nations. Landlocked in a
ruggedly mountainous area, it is highly reliant upon natural resources
from several neighbors. Plus, this has prevented it from developing the
type of military force necessary to project its will abroad, making it
dependent upon its neighbors for security as well.
This geopolitical reality has dictated that Switzerland remain
adamantly neutral, which has largely served it well. It was briefly
brought under French control during the Napoleonic Wars, along with most
of Europe, but has remarkably avoided occupation since. Even during
rapid German expansion in World War I, and World War II in particular,
Switzerland was spared. However, this was at least partly due to its
cooperation with the German regimes, including the Nazi regime (which
included accepting deposits from the Nazi government from wealth
disgorged from Jewish prisoners), but this cooperation was consistent
with its policy of neutrality, and proved instrumental in protecting
itself through the only viable security strategy amongst far more
militarily powerful neighbors.
Switzerland's neutrality and low tax
rate have made it a well-known tax haven, by resisting cooperation with
authorities from other countries, in order to maintain strict
neutrality.
Lacking in natural resources, Switzerland has found niches
for itself in other specialties as well, including such as clock- and
watch-making, which rely less on quantities of raw materials (per unit)
than trained labor. As a result, Switzerland has become famous for
specialty products such as Swiss watches and chocolate.
Economy: On a per capita basis,
its economy performs better than most other European states. Banking is
a key, since Switzerland maintains banking secrecy (not opening up to
law enforcement of other nations), making it an attractive place for
wealthy individuals and trans-national corporations to store liquid
capital and assets. Extremely low unemployment. Government: Federal Republic (democracy) Religion: Roman Catholic 41.8%, Protestant 35.3%, Muslim 4.3%.
Like most of Europe, growing secularist trend, but not as much so as
other states. Survey: 48% believe in God, 39% other form of intelligent
design, 9% atheist, 4% agnostic (don't know). Demographics: 65% Germanic lineage, 18% French, 10% Italian.
Historically, a confederation of Germanic “cantons” (provinces), with
German being the national language. A great deal of flux in western
border with France and southern border with Italy throughout centuries,
creating significant populations of respective peoples in west/southern
portions of Switzerland. Foreign Policy: Maintains strict neutrality. Population: 7,581,520 (2008)
How
Swiss as a people, and the country of Switzerland as a nation-state,
evolved and materialized into current form, in terms of ancestral
bloodlines, language, borders, culture, and even how they
received their name.
Development
of Swiss