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1291		Formation of Switzerland. Federation of the cantons Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden through the “Rütlischwur” (oath taken on the mountain meadow Rütli).

1315		Battle of Moorgarten. The Austrian attacks were successfully defeated.

1332-1353		The eternal confederation is joined by the cantons of Lucerne (1332), Zurich (1351), Glarus and Zug (1352), and Bern (1353).

1386-1388		Battles of Sempach (1386) and Näfels (1388). The Austrian attacks were successfully defeated.


1440-1446		Old Zürich War.

1474-1476		Bern expands its territory after successful wars against Burgundy. The Swiss Confederation becomes a great power.

1499		The Swiss stand their ground in the Swabian War. Final separation from the German Reich.

1481-1513		The confederation is expanded by 5 additional cantons: Basel, Schaffhausen, Appenzell, Fribourg and Solothurn join.

1519-1541		In the German part of Switzerland, the reformation is spread by H. Zwingli from Zurich, in the French part by J. Calvin from Geneva.

1653		The miserable state of the economy after the Thirty Year’s War leads to a peasant uprising.

1700-1798		The industrialization grows steadily – in the beginning 19th century, Switzerland is one of the most industrialized countries in Europe.

1798-1803		French troops invade Switzerland, which leads to the collapse of the old Swiss Confederation. The Helvetic Republic becomes a republican centralized state, which is under the strong control of France.

1803		Napoleon Bonaparte tries to stabilize Switzerland and secure the French influence. He gives Switzerland the Act of Mediation, which restitutes some autonomy to the cantons. New cantons evolve: Vaud, Ticino, Thurgau, St. Gallen, Aargau; Graubünden joins.

1815		Congress of Vienna. The great powers of Europe acknowledge the neutrality of Switzerland.

1847		Sonderbund War. Tension between the liberal and the catholic cantons lead to a war. Under the command of General Dufour, the army defeated the Catholics, and the Sonderbund surrendered.

1848		Federal Constitution of the Swiss Confederation

1914-1919		Switzerland remains neutral during World War I. However, the German part of Switzerland sympathizes with Germany, while the French part is drawn towards France. This puts the inner strength of Switzerland at test.

1939-1945		With a mixture of resistance and conformance, Switzerland manages to stay out of World War II.

1959		The composition of the federal council is determined through the “magic formula”.

1963		Joining of the Council of Europe

1971		On a national level, women receive the right to vote.

1978		Foundation of the canton of Jura

1986		Rejection of attempts to join the UN

2000		The Swiss people accepts the bilateral treaties between Switzerland and the EU.

2002		Switzerland joins the UN

History of the Swiss flag

Even the old Swiss used the Swiss cross as a common military flag. During the Helvetic Republic (1798-1803), there was already a flag for the whole of Switzerland. It was modeled after the French example: a green-red-yellow tricolour.

1815, the Swiss cross became the official emblem of Switzerland.
The Swiss parliament defined its exact shape in 1889, which is still current:

«The emblem of the Swiss Confederation is an upright, free-standing white cross on red ground, whose arms are all equal and the sixth part longer than wide..»


		Official flag introduced in 1799. Consisted of the colors green/red/yellow. Other variations were used as well.				Official flag of Switzerland since 1889.

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Hotel Continental • Zeughausgasse 27 • CH-3011 Bern • Phone +41 031 329 21 21 • Fax +41 031 329 21 99