Switzerland: Polity Style: 1798-2024 |
| 12 Apr 1798 |
the proclamation of independence of the Swiss nation and the establishment of one, indivisible, democratic and representative republic are approved by the Senat (Senat|Sénat) and Grand Council (Grosser Rat|Grand Conseil), representing 10 cantons, at the sessions held in Aargau, canton of Aargau, on 12 Apr 1798 (Journal des deux Conseils, No. 1, pp. 3-4; Tageblatt, I. Heft, 1798, p. 3; Bulletin des lois, I. Cahier, 1798, p. 3; ASHR, 1:630-632) [1] |
| 12 Apr 1798 - 10 Mar 1803 |
Helvetische Republik :: République Helvétique |
| 19 Feb 1803 |
Acte de médiation including a federal constitution (Acte fédéral) is issued under the authority of the First Consul of the French Republic in Paris, France, on 30 Pluviôse, Year XI (19 Feb 1803), establishing the confederation of 19 cantons of Switzerland (Moniteur universel, No. 151, 1 Ventôse, Year XI (20 Feb 1803), Supplement 1, pp. 109-112; Supplement 2, pp. 613-616; Supplement 3, pp. 617-620; Repertorium 1803-1813, pp. 395-494) [2][3] |
| 10 Mar 1803 |
the commencement of Acte de médiation is announced in the proclamation of the Landammann of Switzerland of 10 Mar 1803, Fribourg (Republikaner, No. 132, 18 Mar 1803, p. 525; Repertorium 1803-1813, p. 496; ASHR, 9:1231) |
| 10 Mar 1803 - |
Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft :: Confédération suisse :: Confederazione Svizzera [4][5] |
| 29 Dec 1813 |
the federal constitution of 1803 is declared invalid in accordance with an agreement of 10 cantons of Switzerland approved by a confederate assembly (Eidgenössische Versammlung) in Zürich on 29 Dec 1813 (Schweizerisches Bundesarchiv, D0#1000/3#24*, f. 11v-13v; Repertorium 1814-1848, 1:323-324) [6] |
| 7 Aug 1815 |
the federal treaty (Bundesvertrag) is signed by the representatives of 22 cantons of Switzerland in Zürich on 7 Aug 1815 (Schweizerisches Bundesarchiv, D0#1000/3#26*, f. 1948-1959) |
| |
| [1] |
The German text in Tageblatt proclaimed the independence of "schweizerische Nation", while the French text in Bulletin des lois referred to "République Helvétique". The next proclamation addressed to the people was approved by the Senate (Senat|Sénat) and Grand Council (Grosser Rat|Grand Conseil) on 18 Apr 1798 and referred to "eine und unteilbare helvetische Republik" and "République Helvétique, une, indivisible, démocratique, représentative" (Tageblatt, I. Heft, 1798, pp. 7-9; Bulletin des lois, I. Cahier, 1798, pp. 7-9). |
| [2] |
Full title: (French): Acte de médiation | Fait par le Premier Consul de la République française, entre les partis qui divisent la Suisse; (German): Vermittlungsacte des Ersten Consuls der fränkischen Republik zwischen den Parteien, in welche die Schweiz getheilt ist. |
| [3] |
The official translation of Acte de médiation into German was published as a brochure and was disrtibuted by the office of the Landammann of Switzerland to the German-speaking cantons starting from 23 May 1803 (ASHR, 9:1233). |
| [4] |
"Confédération suisse" is not the name of the confederation included in Acte de médiation. However, the Diet of the Confederation (Tagsatzung|Diète) passed a resolution (5 Jul 1803), creating the seal of the state with inscription "Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft" (Repertorium 1803-1813, p. 8). |
| [5] |
Latin (in limited official use without Constitutional status): Confoederatio Helvetica. Rhaeto-Romansh: Confederaziun svizra; Rhaeto-Romansh became one of the four national languages upon the enactment of a Constitutional amendment effective 29 Apr 1938 (based on the results of popular referendum 20 Feb 1938). |
| [6] |
Original signatories (cantons): Uri, Schwyz, Lucerne, Zürich, Glarus, Zug, Freiburg, Basel, Schafhausen und Appenzell; joined the agreement: St. Gallen, Aargau, Thurgau and Vaud (29 Dec 1813); ratification: Zürich, Zug, Schaffhauſen, Aargau (31 Dec 1813), Appenzell, Thurgau (2 Jan 1814), Unterwalden ob und nid dem Wald, Basel, Lucerne, Uri (4 Jan 1814), Vaud, Glarus (7 Jan 1814), St. Gallen (9 Jan 1814), Ticino (31 Jan 1814). The agreement nullified the Constitution of 1803, but retained the "old confederate union" (alter eidsgenössischer Verband), pending the adoption of a new constitution. |
