A Constitutional Study of Foundation and Growth of the Swiss Confederation

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The object of this research is to attempt a constitutional study of foundation and growth of Swiss Confederation in the late middle ages. In the thirteenth century the ruling families of Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden renewed their Confederation to keep the public peace. This is foundation of the Swiss Confederation. According to the Legend of Wilhelm Tell, this Confederation was founded in 1291 on Rutli Meadow by the shore of Lake Lucerne. In 1332-1353 Lucerne, Zurich, Glarus, Zug and Berne entered into a League with the Forest Cantons. This is a complex of 8 Cantons. Under direct imperial protection 8 Cantons developed politically. One after another these Cantons magnated to win independence from their overlord, above all the Habsburgs and to assert their territorial sovereignty which controlled widely their land. In fifteenth century they began to acquire Subject and Joint Territories and also expanded their borders by military means. Between 1481 and 1513 Fribourg, Solothurn, Basel, Schaffhausen and Appenzell entered into 8 Cantons. Switzerland of the early sixteenth century is called as the 13 Old Cantons. On this Basis she developed close military and economic links within the old Confederation.Thus, I hereafter attempt to comprehend foundation and growth of the Swiss Confederation from the relation between Town and Country.