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| 3. The Swiss Confederation |
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(See 1499)| The confederation, at the beginning of the 16th century, was still a loose union of practically independent cantons, each sending two representatives to a federal diet. There were, after 1513, thirteen cantons, of which six (Schwyz, Uri, Zug, Unterwalden, Glarus, and Appenzell) were rural and seven (Lucerne, Zürich, Bern, Solothurn, Fribourg, Basel, and Schaffhausen) were urban. The Aargau, Thurgau, Ticino, and parts of Vaud were governed by the confederation or one or more of its members. Franche-Comté was under Swiss protectorate. In addition various states allied with the confederation (St. Gall, Upper Valais, Neuchâtel, Rothweil, Mülhausen, Geneva). | 1 |
| Swiss military prestige had reached its zenith in the latter part of the 15th century. Swiss mercenaries took an important part in the Italian expedition of Charles VIII and continued to form a crucial part of the French and Italian armies. | 2 |
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| 1510 |
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| The Swiss joined in the Holy League against France. In partnership with the Venetians they restored the Sforza to the Milanese duchy (1512), taking for themselves Locarno, Lugano, and Ossola. Great victory of the Swiss over the French in the Battle of Novara (June 6, 1513). | 3 |
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| 1515, Sept. 13–14 |
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| In the Battle of Marignano (See 1515, Sept. 13–14) the French won a decisive victory over the Swiss and Venetians. This led to the conclusion of peace (Nov. 12, 1515): the Swiss retained most of the Alpine passes and received a French subsidy in return for the right of the French to enlist mercenaries. | 4 |
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| 1519, Jan. 1 |
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| Beginning of the REFORMATION IN SWITZERLAND, under the leadership of Ulrich Zwingli (b. 1484; educated at Basel and Bern; priest at Glarus, 1506; priest at Einsiedeln, 1516; preacher at Zürich, 1518). Zwingli denounced indulgences and other abuses in the Church and made a great impression in Zürich. In 1521 he denounced the hiring of mercenaries and in 1522 condemned fasts and celibacy (he himself married in 1524). The town, following his teaching, abolished confession (1524) and closed the monasteries. Zwingli acted independently of Luther, from whom he was separated chiefly by difference of opinion on transubstantiation. | 5 |
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| 1524 |
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| Five cantons (Lucerne, Uri, Schwyz, Unterwalden, and Zug) banded together against Zürich and the Reformation movement. | 6 |
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| 1528 |
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| Bern and Basel accepted the Reformation and were followed by three others. Fribourg and Solothurn remained Catholic and sided with the original five (rural) cantons. | 7 |
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| 1531 |
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| War of the Catholic cantons against Zürich. The Zürichers were defeated in the Battle of Kappel (Oct. 11) and Zwingli was killed. Thus the division of the confederation was complete; the weakness resulting therefrom made impossible all effective action in the ensuing century. | 8 |
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| 1536 |
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| Geneva (allied with Bern) adopted the Reformation, largely through the efforts of William Farel. In the same year John Calvin (See 1541) arrived in the city. His teaching made a deep impression but also aroused much opposition. In 1538 he was banished and retired to Strassbourg. | 9 |
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| 1536 |
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| Bern subdued Vaud, Chablais, Lausanne, and other territories of the duke of Savoy, thus laying the basis for a long-drawn duel between the two powers. | 10 |
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| 1541–64 |
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| CALVIN, recalled to Geneva, organized the town as a theocratic state (City of God). A consistory of twelve laymen and six clericals controlled the council and the government. Drastic suppression of everything at variance with Calvinist doctrine. | 11 |
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| 1553 |
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| Execution of the Spanish theologian Servetus, who had refugeed in Geneva, for denying the Trinity. | 12 |
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| 1555 |
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| Ruthless suppression of an anti-Calvinist uprising. Geneva a center for Protestant refugees from England and France and a radiating point for Calvinist doctrine. But the Protestant cantons of Switzerland remained predominantly Zwinglian. | 13 |
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