Dec 21, 2009
Article abstract: At issue: Swiss autonomy from Austrian rule. Result: Swiss victory secured the de facto independence of Switzerland.
During the Middle Ages, Switzerland was under the nominal control of the Holy Roman emperor, but his rule on the Swiss was lightly felt. The first Habsburg emperor, Rudolf I, used his position, however, to establish his family as the dukes of Austria in 1282. He thereby claimed lands in eastern Switzerland in addition to those claimed by his family in northern Switzerland, causing conflict with the Swiss. In...
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