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. Modern meaning from the times of the French Revolution onward.

See also: Germany and Italy -

Helvetia
The Helvetic Confederation is a federal republic in Europe. It consists of 168 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. However the cantons of the Helvetic Republic had merely the status of an administrative subdivision with no sovereignty.

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. The Peace of Vienna dissolved and restored them back to Helvetia along Geneva and Neuchâtel. 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. The centralized constitution was replaced by more confederate one that restored cantonal sovereignty. Though it did not address the issues of coordination between the cantons and equal rights to all its citizens, 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
Each canton has its own constitution, legislature, government and courts. Most of the cantons' legislatures are unicameral parliaments. A few legislatures are general assemblies known as Landsgemeinden. The cantonal governments consist of either five or seven members, depending on the canton. Current cantons:
 * 1) Aargau (Capital: Aarau)
 * 2) Basel (Basel). Former independent Rauracian Republic.
 * 3) Bern (Bern)
 * 4) Fribourg (Fribourg)
 * 5) Geneva (Geneva)
 * 6) Léman or Vaud (Lausanne). Territories of former independent Rhodanic Republic
 * 7) Linth (Glarus). Merger of the cantons of Glarus and the Sarganserland
 * 8) Lucerne (Lucerne)
 * 9) Neuchâtel (Neuchâtel)
 * 10) Raetia (Chur), Corresponding to Graubünden/Grisons.
 * 11) Säntis (or Appenzell) Capital St. Gallen. Merger of the cantons of Appenzell and St. Gallen.
 * 12) Schaffhausen (Schaffhausen)
 * 13) Solothurn (Solothurn)
 * 14) Thurgau (Thurgau)
 * 15) Ticino (Bellinzona) Merger of Bellinzona and Lugano
 * 16) Waldstätten (Schwyz). Merger of the cantons of Uri, Schwyz, Zug and Unterwalden.
 * 17) Valais (Sion). Territories of former independent Rhodanic Republic
 * 18) Zürich (Zurich)

Former cantons
 * 1) Bellinzona (Bellinzona). Merged into Ticino
 * 2) Oberland (Thun). Created from territories of Bern. Dissolved and returned to Bern
 * 3) Lugano (Lugano). Merge into Ticino.

Former Client French republics created from Helvetian territories. Peace of Vienna restored them to their former cantons.
 * 1) Rauracian Republic (Capital Porrentruy)
 * 2) Lemanic Republic (Capital Lausanne) integrated to the Rhodanic Republic
 * 3) Flag of the Rhodanic Republic.svg Rhodanie or Rhodanic Republic (Capital Sion)

Scandinavian Republic
The Republic of Scandinavia was a unitary state formed after the overthrow of the monarchy of the United Kingdom of Denmark, Sweden and Norway and it claimed sovereignty over its territories.

Though the republic's effective control was confined to Denmark, parts of Sweden (including Stockholm), areas around Oslo, Turku, Bergen, Tampere, Helsinki and all of Iceland. The uncontrolled areas, the Faroe Islands and the colonies of Greenland were in rebellion and shortly afterwards occupied by the British Navy, providing a base for monarchist and dissidents of the republican government.

The newly proclaimed regime became sister republic of France. An elected National Assembly elected by universal suffrage thru electoral assemblies replaced the previous Riksdag of the Estates. Its executive power was Executive Committee, later changed to the National Directory, both elected by the National Assembly and assisted by a council of ministers. The judiciary was reorganized creating a national high court of justice for all of Scandinavia.

The Republicans became divided in federalist and unitarist. Also the status of the national churches divided republicans in the majority that were upholders of a republican State Church, partisans of absolute religious freedom and a faction that called for the disestablishment of the Churches. Once the compromised project of the Constitution of National Churches of Scandinavia was enacted rural worshipers and parishes rebelled against its premises of strict governmental control and appointed of priest, obligatory of loyalty to the republic, and removal of priests not loyal to the republic or of any credential associated with the old regime. This purge mostly affected the rural zones.

Later the state of affairs of the newly created sister republic was drastically revised, under French auspices and military pressure, being the Republic refounded as the Scandinavian Union, a customs and military alliance of republics. Thought the previous name, Scandinavian Republic, was still keep more of habit and convenience. However disputes between federalist and unitarist blocked the definitive establishment of the Scandinavian Union and the only at national level functioning institutions were the National Directory, National Assembly and the governor-generals of the future republics assisted by Provincial Assemblies. The later only created in Denmark, Norway and Sweden. In the rest of the provinces the Governor general had absolute powers. The planned Senate were the republics were to be represented was not opened.

The British and Russian naval blockades hampered trade in the North and Baltic Sea. The profits from the toll for passing the Straits drastically shrunk, along the enactment of free passage for French ships. A major military blow to for the republicans and French was the recapture by the British Navy and Marines of Iceland.

Thought Holstein-Schleswig were definitely integrated despite the protests and minor skirmishes from the German state of Hanover-Westphalia. More troublesome was the lose of the former Swedish Pomerania when it was occupied by Prussian troops and its administration taken over by the invaders. with this Prussia gained a base in the Baltic that enable it to put additional pressure on the navy of Scandinavia that lost a ports of call.

Provinces of Scandinavia
The previous kingdoms and territories were reorganized in provinces under the direction of a Governor general named by the government. Each province, was subdivided in departments (prefect) and districts (inspector), The new six provinces and two national territories were the following:
 * Denmark (Capital: Copenhagen),
 * Norway (Oslo),
 * Sweden (Stockholm),
 * Finland (Turku),
 * Iceland (Reykjavík). Lost to Britain in the Battle of Iceland,
 * Faroe Islands (Tórshavn). Claimed by the republic and in rebellion. Occupied by the British Navy,
 * The National Territory of Pomerania and Wismar. Occupied by the Prussians. Later recreated as an independent republic by the Agreement of Stockholm and recognized as a state by the Peace of Vienna, and
 * the National Territory of Greenland (Godthåb). Claimed by the republic. Occupied by the British Navy.
 * The former duchies of Holstein and Schleswig were incorporated to the province of Denmark as departments.

The planned Republics of the Scandinavian Union
On the formation of the Scandinavian Union the provinces under republican control were to be reformed as member republics of the federation. The proposal was the following:
 * Denmark (Capital: Copenhagen). Transformed in the Jutland Republic (capital Copenhagen) including Schleswig-Holstein.
 * Norway (Oslo), keep as the republic of Norway (Oslo).
 * Sweden (Stockholm). Dissolved and subdivided in the republics of Scania (Malmö), Götaland (Gothenburg), Svealand (Stockholm) and Norland (Umeå).
 * Finland (Turku). Dissolved and subdivided in the republics Karelia (Turku) and Suomi (Kokkola).