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Many cities, including Berne, Lucerne, and Fribourg, were created. This enabled trade between craftsmen and farmers. It was also possible for the first time to cross the Alps, which separated Central Europe from Italy and the Mediterranean Sea.
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The official date of birth of the Old Swiss Confederation is August 1st, 1291. Uri, Schwyz, and Unterwalden were exempt from the jurisdiction of counts and dukes due to their help in war expeditions to Italy. Therefore, when the successor to the throne died, the cantons swore to protect each other from the counts of Habsburg. This was called the Oath on Rütli. The Federal Charter dates to August 1st, 1291.
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Lucerne entered the confederacy.
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Zürich entered the confederacy.
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Zug entered the confederacy.
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Berne and Glarus entered the confederacy.
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The German king, Sigismund, supported the pope and catholics and won against Duke Friedrich IV of Habsburg (who supported the antipope). Sigismund encouraged the confederate states to conquer Habsburg in Aargau.
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A civil war broke out between Schwyz, Glarus, and Zürich after the last Count of Toggenburg died without heirs. Schwyz and Glarus won and, in 1446, expanded their territory.
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Pope Pius II excommunicated Sigismund of Habsburg, which meant the duke's property was available, without intervention from authorities of the empire, to any powerful individuals. The confederacy created Thurgau and Sargans, extending the boarders of Switzerland to the Rhine. Zürich also bought Winterthur.
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The rural cantons of Uri, Schwyz , Unterwalden, Zug, and Glarus allied themselves to the bishop of Constance. Berne, Lucerne, and Zürich (the urban cantons) came into accordance with Fribourg and Solothurn. The countryside of Switzerland were discontent with expanding the confederacy, as they felt the cities would hold dominance over the country. In the Stanser Verkommnis, Niklaus of Flüe helped the cantons come to an agreement and assisted the admission of Fribourg and Solothurn.
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The German king Maximilian I of Habsburg desired the bond of all regions of the German Empire to secure its strength and collect new taxes. The Swiss confederacy refused to obey and defeated the king in several skirmishes. Basel and Schaffhausen joined the confederation in 1501, and Appenzell in 1513, strengthening the Swiss power.
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Swiss expansion was brought to a halt when the troops of central Switzerland attempted to assist Italian dukes against the French king. Bern, Fribourg, and Solothurn refused to join the risky battle, which led to disagreements among the cantons. The battle was eventually lost in Marignano.
Assisting other nations in foreign affairs could lead to defeat and take its toll on Switzerland. Many believe that this event inspired Swiss neutrality. -
In a peace treaty (Peace of Westphalia) between all European powers, the Swiss delegation claimed and reached formal independence for Switzerland from the Holy Roman Empire.
