Alternative History
Swiss Confederacy
Eidgenossenschaft (German)
Res publica Helvetiorum (Latin)
Timeline: Merveilles du Monde (Map Game)
History: 1291 - present
Early Swiss cross
CapitalNone (de jure)
Schwyz (de facto)
Largest Zürich
Common language Alemannic German, Middle French
Religion Roman Catholic
Demonym Swiss
Government Confederation
History
 -  Established 1291 

The Swiss Confederacy is a nation comprised of several small states in the Alps region in an alliance of mutual defence and trade. The central government consists of a council of representatives from each state/canton to resolve disputes between states and decide foreign policy positions, but each canton is allowed to manage their own internal affairs. The central council primarily meets in Schwyz since 1332, making that city the de facto capital.

The Swiss Confederacy was formed in 1291 by a charter between the cantons of Schwyz, Unterwalden and Uri. The title Count of Lenzburg was restored in 1382 and in 1450 the holder of this title was given a position akin to chairman of the Central Council, making them the effective most powerful noble in the nation, if not a monarch. Lenzburg was elevated to a Duchy in 1473 by Holy Roman Emperor Wenceslaus. The House of Lenzburg went into exile in 1489 as a result of French and Bohemian invasions during the War of the Spider's Web.

Members[]

  • Wappen des Kantons Schwyz Canton of Schwyz (joined 1291)
  • Wappen Unterwalden alt Canton of Unterwalden (joined 1291)
  • Uri-coat of arms Canton of Uri (joined 1291)
  • Lucerne-coat of arms Canton of Lucerne (joined 1329)
  • Glaris-coat of arms Canton of Glarus (joined 1330)
  • Wappen Chur (CH-GR) Canton/Bishopric of Chur (joined 1331)
  • Zug-coat of arms Canton of Zug (joined 1334; trade allies since 1328)
  • Wappen Gersau Canton of Gersau (joined 1335)
  • Zurich-coat of arms Canton of Zürich (joined 1338; trade allies since 1333)
  • Berne-coat of arms Canton of Bern (joined 1339; trade allies since 1323; joint defence since 1336)
  • Engelberg-coat of arms Canton/Abbey of Engelberg (joined 1342)
  • Sion-coat of arms Canton/Prince-Bishopric of Sion (joined 1344)
  • Wappen Aargau Canton of Aargau (joined 1349; trade allies since 1341)
  • Wappen Toggenburger2 Canton/County of Toggenburg (joined 1355)
  • Bale-coat of arms Canton of Basel-City (joined 1356)
  • Wappen Bistum Basel Canton of Basel-Bishopric (joined 1360)
  • Coa Abbey Saint Gall Canton/Prince-Abbacy of St. Gallen (joined 1362)
  • Wappen Reichsabtei Salem Canton/Abbey of Salem (joined 1364)
  • Wappen Werdenberger2 Canton of Sargans (conquered 1365)
  • Wappen Werdenberger1 Canton of Werdenberg (conquered 1366)
  • Wappen Montforter Canton of Montfort (conquered 1367)
  • Wappen Solothurn matt Canton of Solothurn (joined 1373)
  • Wappen Freiburg matt Canton of Fribourg (joined 1377)
  • Wappen Thurgau matt Canton of Thurgau (joined 1380)
  • Wappen Bistum Konstanz Canton/Prince-Bishopric of Constance (joined 1383)
  • Wappen Kyburgerr Canton of Kyburg (joined 1386)
  • Disentis Muster wappen Canton/Abbey of Disentis (joined 1388)
  • Wappen Neuenburg Canton/County of Neuchâtel (joined 1395; political allies since 1382)
  • Wappen Lausanne Canton/Prince-Bishopric of Lausanne (joined 1398)
  • Wappen Schaffhausen matt Canton of Schaffhausen (joined 1401)
  • Blason ville fr La Roche-sur-Foron (Haute-Savoie) Canton/County of Geneva (joined 1406; political allies since 1365)
  • Blason ville fr Pontarlier Canton of Pontarlier (gained by treaty 1413)
  • Wappen Augsburg Canton/Prince-Bishopric of Augsburg (joined 1421)
  • Wappen Kempten Canton/Princely Abbey of Kempten (joined 1429)

Special members on central council: Bishops of Chur and Sion (separate from Cantons), patriarch of Restored House of Lenzburg.

Special territory:

  • Personal fief of Duke of Lenzburg (separated from Aargau 1382, elevated from County to Duchy 1473)

Trade allies[]

  • Imperial City of Mulhouse (since 1381)
  • Lordship of Breisgau (since 1436)
  • Imperial City of Badenweiler (since 1437)
  • Imperial City of Lindau (since 1439)
  • Imperial City of Augsburg (since 1442)
  • Lordship of Sundgau (since 1450)
  • County of Fürstenberg (since 1455)
  • Electoral Archbishopric of Mainz (since 1482)

Political allies[]

  • Kingdom of Arles (since 1356)
  • Papal States (since 1356)
  • County of Savoy (since 1377; trade allies since 1353)
  • Republic of Trent (since 1394)
  • County of Württemberg (since 1419)
  • Republic of Genoa (since 1431)

Former trade allies[]

  • Republic of Milan/Kingdom of Padania (from 1333 to 1432; annexed by Modena)

Former political allies[]

  • Duchy of Bavaria:
    • Lower Bavaria (1343 to 1363)
    • Unified Bavaria (1363 to 1392)
    • Bavaria-Landshut (1392 to 1477)
    • Unified Bavaria (1477 to 1484; betrayed Confederacy in the War of the Spider's Web)

Religious institutions[]

  • Cathedrals
    • Basel Cathedral, Canton of Basel-Bishopric
    • Chur Cathedral, Canton of Chur
    • Constance Cathedral, Canton of Constance
    • See of Dillingen an der Donau, Canton of Augsburg
    • Lausanne Cathedral, Canton of Lausanne
    • Sion Cathedral, Canton of Sion
    • St. Pierre Cathedral, Canton of Geneva
  • Special churches
    • Western Church of Unterwalden, Canton of Unterwalden (Western/Basque rite)
  • Abbeys, monasteries and priories
    • Abbey of Bellelay, Canton of Basel-Bishopric (Norbertine, O.Praem.) (White Canons)
    • Abbey of Churwalden, Canton of Chur (Norbertine, O.Praem.) (White Canons)
    • Abbey of Disentis, Canton of Disentis (Benedictine, O.S.B.) (Black Monks)
    • Abbey of Einsiedeln, Canton of Schwyz (Benedictine, O.S.B.) (Black Monks)
    • Abbey of Engelberg, Canton of Engelberg (Benedictine, O.S.B.) (Black Monks)
    • Priory of Feldkirch, Canton of Montfort (Mercedine, O.D.M.) (Blue Monks/Friars)
    • Abbey of Fischingen, Canton of Thurgau (Benedictine, O.S.B.) (Black Monks)
    • Abbey of Kempten, Canton of Kempten (Benedictine, O.S.B.) (Black Monks)
    • Beguinage of Lucerne, Canton of Lucerne (Beguines)
    • Abbey of Muri, Canton of Aargau (Benedictine, O.S.B.) (Black Monks)
    • Abbey of Moutier-Grandval, Canton of Bern (Benedictine, O.S.B.) (Black Monks)
    • Abbey of Pfäfers, Canton of Sargans (Benedictine, O.S.B.) (Black Monks)
    • Abbey of Rheinau, Canton of Kyburg (Benedictine, O.S.B.) (Black Monks)
    • Monastery of Rüti, Canton of Zürich (Norbertine, O.Praem.) (White Canons)
    • Abbey of Saint Gall, Canton of St. Gallen (Benedictine, O.S.B.) (Black Monks)
    • Abbey of Saint-Maurice d'Agaune, Canton of Sion (Augustinian, C.R.S.A.) (Black Canons)
    • Abbey of Salem, Canton of Salem (Cistercian, O.Cist.) (White Monks)
    • Priory of Schwyz, Canton of Schwyz (Mercedine, O.D.M.) (Blue Monks/Friars)
    • Priory of Uri, Canton of Uri (Carmelite, O.Carm.) (White Friars)

Bishops of Augsburg[]

  • 1413-1423: Anselm von Nenningen (died)
  • 1423-1437: Ulrich of Anjou-Lenzburg, O.Carm. (became Bishop of Sion)
  • 1437-1440: David of Geneva-Lenzburg, O.D.M. (became Bishop of Chur)
  • 1440-1447: Jean Heysterbach, O.P. (died) (Cardinal 1440-1447)
  • 1447-1450: Wilhelm Mader, O.Praem. (died) (Cardinal 1449-1450)
  • 1450-1471: Jodok Seitz, O.Praem. (died) (Cardinal 1451-1471, Grand Inquisitor 1457-1471)
  • 1471-1473: Jakob Goffredi (died)
  • 1473-....: Ulrich Geislinger, O.F.M. (incumbent) (Cardinal since 1478) (OTL died 1493)

Bishops of Basel[]

  • 1335-1365: Johann II von Munsingen (died) (Cardinal 1360-1365)
  • 1365-1372: Jean III de Vienne (deposed)
  • 1372-1400: Ludovico Mazzo, O.D.M. (died)
  • 1400-1418: Humbrecht von Neuenburg (died) (Cardinal 1402-1418)
  • 1418-1423: Hartmann II von Munchenstein (died)
  • 1423-1436: Johann IV von Fleckenstein (died)
  • 1436-1451: Friedrich von der Pfalz (died)
  • 1451-1458: Arnold von Rothburg (died) (Cardinal 1453-1458)
  • 1458-1478: Johann V von Venningen (died) (Cardinal 1462-1478)
  • 1478-....: Caspar von Mühlhausen (incumbent) (OTL died 1502)

Bishops of Chur[]

  • 1325-1331: Johann I von Pfefferhart (died) (Cardinal 1329-1331)
  • 1331-1352: Ulrich V von Lenzburg (became Pope Victor IV, 1352-1355) (Cardinal 1332-1352)
  • 1352-1367: Peter Gelyto (deposed) (Cardinal 1356-1367)
  • 1367-1396: Frederick Capet, O.Cist. (died) (Cardinal 1367-1396)
  • 1396-1420: Henry of Geneva-Lenzburg, O.D.M. (died)
  • 1420-1440: Johann Naso (died) (Cardinal 1432-1440)
  • 1440-1467: David of Geneva-Lenzburg, O.D.M. (died)
  • 1467-1480: Ortlieb von Brandis (became Pope Innocent VII, since 1480) (Cardinal 1471-1480, Grand Inquisitor 1472-1480) (OTL died 1491)
  • 1480-....: Aymon von Lenzburg, O.S.B. (incumbent) (Cardinal and Grand Inquisitor since 1482)

Bishops of Constance[]

  • 1357-1383: Heinrich von Brandis, O.S.B. (died)
  • 1383-1385: sede vacante
  • 1385-1411: Kuno von Stoffeln, O.S.B. (died) (Cardinal 1400-1411)
  • 1411-1431: Otto von Lenzburg, O.D.M. (became Pope Victor V, 1431-1435) (Cardinal 1414-1431)
  • 1431-1462: Heinrich von Hewen (died) (Cardinal 1451-1462)
  • 1462-1466: Burkhard von Randegg (died)
  • 1466-1474: Hermann von Breitenladenburg (died)
  • 1474-1479: Ludwig von Freiburg (died)
  • 1479-1484: Otto von Sonnenberg (died mysteriously during Kingly Contest)
  • 1484-....: Daniel Zehender, O.F.M. (incumbent) (OTL died 1500)

Bishops of Geneva[]

  • 1388-1408: Guillaume di Lornay (died)
  • 1408-1418: Jean de Bertrand (died)
  • 1418-1437: Jean de la Rochetaillée (died) (Cardinal 1418-1437)
  • 1437-1459: Thomas Lowen (died)
  • 1459-1482: Jean-Louis de Savoie (died)
  • 1482-....: François de Savoie (incumbent) (Cardinal since 1482) (OTL died 1490)

Bishops of Lausanne[]

  • 1394-1406: Guillaume de Menthony (died)
  • 1406-1431: Guillaume of Challant (died) (Cardinal 1411-1431)
  • 1431-1451: Louis de La Palud (died) (Cardinal 1432-1451)
  • 1451-1461: Georges of Saluces (died)
  • 1461-1466: Guillaume de Varax (died)
  • 1466-1468: Jean Michel (died)
  • 1468-1480: Aymon von Lenzburg, O.S.B. (became Bishop of Chur)
  • 1480-....: Benoît of Montferrand (incumbent) (OTL died 1491)

Bishops of Sion[]

  • 1342-1375: Guichard Tavelli (murdered) (Cardinal 1365-1375)
  • 1375-1395: Édouard of Savoy (died) (Cardinal 1376-1395)
  • 1395-1402: Guillaume IV of Raron (died) (Cardinal 1395-1402)
  • 1402-1413: Guillaume V of Raron (deposed)
  • 1413-1437: André dei Benzi of Gualdo (died)
  • 1437-1453: Ulrich of Anjou-Lenzburg, O.Carm. (murdered) (Cardinal 1438-1453)
  • 1453-1457: Henri Asperlin (died)
  • 1457-1482: Walter Supersaxo (died) (Cardinal 1458-1482)
  • 1482-....: Jost of Silenen (incumbent) (OTL died 1498)

Head Priests of the Western Church of Unterwalden[]

  • 1343-1363: Mikel Mendoza (became Western Patriarch) (1297-1371)
  • 1363-1386: Martin Etcheverry (died) (1311-1386)
  • 1386-1406: Markel Mendoza (became Western Patriarch) (1352-1429)
  • 1406-1412: Hans Zubiria (died) (1358-1412)
  • 1412-1449: Iñigo Arrieta (died) (1370-1449)
  • 1449-1464: Johann Zubiria (died) (1402-1464)
  • 1464-1470: Federico Fernández (became Western Patriarch) (1425-1498)
  • 1470-1485: Humberto Fernández (fled see during war) (1422-1495)

Patriarchs of the Western Church[]

Note: this title is based in Tudela, Navarre, but listed here for convenience; see also Western Catholic Church

  • 1315-1323: Federico Goikoetxea (murdered) (1256-1323) (Cardinal 1318-1323) (canonised 1388 by Pope Clement VI)
  • 1323-1363: Loren Velásquez (died) (1280-1363) (Cardinal 1324-1363)
  • 1363-1371: Mikel Mendoza (died) (1297-1371) (Cardinal 1363-1371)
  • 1371-1398: Lluis Urrutia (died) (1321-1398) (Cardinal 1371-1398)
  • 1398-1406: Diego Castro y Echeverría (died) (1342-1406) (Cardinal 1398-1406)
  • 1406-1429: Markel Mendoza (died) (1352-1429) (Cardinal 1406-1429)
  • 1429-1439: Juan Goicoechea (died) (1373-1439) (Cardinal 1429-1439)
  • 1439-1461: Fernando Estigarribia (died) (1389-1461) (Cardinal 1440-1461)
  • 1461-1470: Eneko Etcheverry (died) (1405-1470) (Cardinal 1461-1470)
  • 1470-1498: Federico Fernández (died) (1425-1498) (Cardinal 1471-1498)
  • 1498-1517: Iñigo Ramírez y Mendoza (died) (1450-1517) (Cardinal 1498-1517)
  • 1517-1537: Roberto Aroztegi (died) (1471-1537) (Cardinal 1517-1537)
  • 1537-....: Francis Xavier, S.J. (incumbent) (b. 1506) (Cardinal since 1538) (OTL died 1552)

Census results[]

  • 1345 (12 cantons): 663,400
  • 1395 (27 cantons): 730,840
  • 1446 (34 cantons): 756,940

Restored House of Lenzburg family tree[]

See House of Lenzburg (Merveilles du Monde Map Game)