Modern European States (Cromwell the Great)

Some relevant Modern European States, also includes former republics established by invading French armies or by local revolutionaries and assisted by the French Republic during the European Revolutionary Wars.

- =Helvetia=

The Helvetic Confederation is a federal republic in Europe. It consists of 16 cantons, and the city of Bern is the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western-Central Europe, and is bordered by Italian states to the south, France to the west, German lands to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland is a landlocked country geographically divided between the Alps, the Swiss Plateau and the Jura,

The Confederation succeeded the Helvetic Republic that represented an early attempt to impose a central authority over Switzerland, which until then had consisted of self-governing cantons united by a loose military alliance (and ruling over subject territories such as Vaud). The Helvetic Republic was a French creation when the old Swiss Confederation was invaded and turned into a client state.

Client State of France
The French interference with localism and traditional liberties was deeply resented, although some modernizing reforms took place. Reforms such as common helvetic citizenship opposed to just citizenship of one's canton of birth, freedom of worship (a contentious issue in the Catholic cantons), freedom of speech, abolished cantonal sovereignty and feudal rights, and national currency.

Territorial reorganization of the Helvetic Republic also followed. From the cantons of Vaud, Raetia and Valais, the Lemanic, Rauracian and Rhodanic republics were respectively established. Some cantons were merged: Uri, Schwyz, Zug and Unterwalden together became the canton of Waldstätten; Glarus and the Sarganserland became the canton of Linth, and Appenzell and St. Gallen combined as the canton of Säntis.

Civil War and Mediation
After the Peace of Vienna it was declared independent and its historical neutrality assured. However a Civil War followed between the Confederates (partisans of the old Swiss Confederacy) and Republicans (partisans of the Helvetic Republic).

After the mediation of Flanders the Helvetic Confederation was established, with the mediation flag as a symbol of compromise, and a new Federal Constitution.

The origin of the Mediation Flag: + =

Helvetic Cantons
Existing cantons:
 * 1) Aargau (Capital: Aarau)
 * 2) Basel (Basel). Former independent Rauracian Republic.
 * 3) Bern (Bern)
 * 4) Fribourg (Fribourg)
 * 5) Léman or Vaud (Lausanne). Former independent Lemanic Republic
 * 6) Linth (Glarus). Merge of the cantons of Glarus and the Sarganserland
 * 7) Lucerne (Lucerne)
 * 8) Raetia (Chur), Corresponding to Graubünden/Grisons.
 * 9) Säntis (or Appenzell) Capital St. Gallen. Merge of the cantons of Appenzell and St. Gallen.
 * 10) Schaffhausen (Schaffhausen)
 * 11) Solothurn (Solothurn)
 * 12) Thurgau (Thurgau)
 * 13) Ticino (Bellinzona) Merge of Bellinzona and Lugano
 * 14) Waldstätten (Schwyz). Merge of the cantons of Uri, Schwyz, Zug and Unterwalden.
 * 15) Valais (Sion). Former independent Rhodanic Republic
 * 16) Zürich (Zurich)

Former cantons
 * 1) Bellinzona (Bellinzona). Merged into Ticino
 * 2) Oberland (Thun). From territories of Bern.
 * 3) Lugano (Lugano). Merge into Ticino.