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Basel (canton)
Encyclopedia
Basel was a canton of Switzerland that was in existence between 1501 and 1833, when it was split into the two present-day 'half-cantons' of Basel-City
and Basel-Country
.
Βασιλεία, Basileía, "royal" (fem.). The name is documented from the year 374 AD. From 999 until the Protestant Reformation
, Basel was ruled by prince-bishop
s (see Bishop of Basel, whose memory is preserved in the crosier
shown on the Basel coat of arms
, as above). In 1019, the construction of the cathedral of Basel (known locally as the Münster) began under Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor
. In 1225–26, the bridge over the Rhine was constructed by Bishop Heinrich von Thun and lesser Basel (Kleinbasel) founded as a bridgehead to protect the bridge.
Basel became the focal point of western Christendom during the 15th century Council of Basel (1431–49), including the 1439 election of antipope Felix V
. In 1459, Pope Pius II
endowed the University of Basel
where such notables as Erasmus of Rotterdam
, Paracelsus
and Hans Holbein the Younger
taught. At the same time the new craft of printing
was introduced to Basel by apprentices of Gutenberg; the Schwabe publishing house was founded 1488 by Johannes Petri and is the oldest publishing house still in business. Johann Froben
also operated his printing house in Basel and was notable for publishing works by Erasmus.
By the 16th century, the Prince-Bishopric of Basel comprised:
The Prince-Bishopric also held the following territories, which were lost before 1527:
Imperial Circle
, the bishop sitting on the Bench of the Ecclesiastical Princes. As a direct consequence of the Swabian War
, resolved by the 1499 Treaty of Basel
, Basel and the Imperial City
of Schaffhausen
de facto separated from the Holy Roman Empire
and joined the Swiss Confederation
in 1501, as the confederacy's 11th and 12th states, with Appenzell
following suit 12 years later to complete the Dreizehn Orte that made up Switzerland until the French Revolutionary Wars
. The bishop continued to reside in Basel until the reformation of Oecolampadius
in 1527; the bishop's crook was however retained as the city's coat of arms.
Intended as a defence of Huguenots then persecuted in France, Calvin's Institutes
, authored in Basel, was a 1536 exposition of Protestant Christian doctrine which later became known as Calvinism
.
The 1648 Peace of Westphalia
finally brought about Imperial recognition of the independence of the Swiss cantons
, removing the de jure (but not de facto) overlordship of the Holy Roman Empire
rejected by the then–Prince-Bishopric nearly 150 years earlier.
In 1792, the Rauracian Republic
, a revolutionary French client republic
, was created, lasting for a few months into the following year before being partitioned between a restored canton of Basel, later within the Helvetic Republic
, and the First French Republic.
and the municipalities of the countryside sitting in the Kantonsparlament. The cantonal parliament was dominated by members from the city, though its population was less than that of the combined countryside. This had not previously been a source of grievance, but in 1830 the Baselbieter, or citizens from the countryside, grew increasingly distrustful of the city. At a meeting in Bad Bubendorf
on 18 October 1830, 25 Baselbieter wrote to the "esteemed gentlemen and noblemen in Basel", demanding equal rights between city and countryside and a representation in parliament in proportion to their numbers.
When the city rejected this demand, resentment from the landscape grew still larger to the extent that the city feared an attack. In Liestal
a few men of the countryside formed a new provincial government protected by an army of 3,000. The government was however short-lived as on 16 January 1831 a force from Basel occupied Liestal, driving out the new government. A number of villages, such as Gelterkinden
, Reigoldswil
, Anwil
and Bubendorf
remained loyal to Basel, though coming under threat from the rebels. The unrest in the countryside persisted into 1832 and both sides committed injustices upon the other.
On 3 August 1833 over 1200 troops of the city armed with 14 cannon
s marched on Liestal, but at the Battle of Hülftenschanz, which took place between Pratteln
and Frenkendorf
, the city's troops were forced back to Basel by the superior numbers of the rebels. Their route back to the city was ambushed and the city forces took heavy losses.
, was petitioned on 17 August 1833 to separate the canton of Basel; nine days later, the partition was effected. From the country municipalities it allocated only Riehen
, Bettingen
and Kleinhüningen — which would otherwise have been an exclave of Basel-Country
between Basel-City
and the Grand Duchy of Baden
— to the new canton of Basel-City. The remaining municipalities formed the new canton of Basel-Country.
Several attempts have been made to reunite Basel-City and Basel-Country, the last one in 1969, when the citizens of Basel-Country defeated the motion in a referendum. The two cantons have since concluded a number of co-operation agreements, such as joint financing and governance of Basle University
.
Basel-City
Basel-Stadt is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland. The city of Basel and the municipalities of Bettingen and Riehen form its territory.-History:...
and Basel-Country
Basel-Country
Basel-Landschaft , is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland. The capital is Liestal...
.
Background
The town of Basel was called "Basilia" in Latin, this from the GreekGreek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
Βασιλεία, Basileía, "royal" (fem.). The name is documented from the year 374 AD. From 999 until the Protestant Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
, Basel was ruled by prince-bishop
Prince-Bishop
A Prince-Bishop is a bishop who is a territorial Prince of the Church on account of one or more secular principalities, usually pre-existent titles of nobility held concurrently with their inherent clerical office...
s (see Bishop of Basel, whose memory is preserved in the crosier
Crosier
A crosier is the stylized staff of office carried by high-ranking Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and some Lutheran and Pentecostal prelates...
shown on the Basel coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
, as above). In 1019, the construction of the cathedral of Basel (known locally as the Münster) began under Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry II , also referred to as Saint Henry, Obl.S.B., was the fifth and last Holy Roman Emperor of the Ottonian dynasty, from his coronation in Rome in 1014 until his death a decade later. He was crowned King of the Germans in 1002 and King of Italy in 1004...
. In 1225–26, the bridge over the Rhine was constructed by Bishop Heinrich von Thun and lesser Basel (Kleinbasel) founded as a bridgehead to protect the bridge.
Basel became the focal point of western Christendom during the 15th century Council of Basel (1431–49), including the 1439 election of antipope Felix V
Antipope Felix V
-External links:*...
. In 1459, Pope Pius II
Pope Pius II
Pope Pius II, born Enea Silvio Piccolomini was Pope from August 19, 1458 until his death in 1464. Pius II was born at Corsignano in the Sienese territory of a noble but decayed family...
endowed the University of Basel
University of Basel
The University of Basel is located in Basel, Switzerland, and is considered to be one of leading universities in the country...
where such notables as Erasmus of Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
, Paracelsus
Paracelsus
Paracelsus was a German-Swiss Renaissance physician, botanist, alchemist, astrologer, and general occultist....
and Hans Holbein the Younger
Hans Holbein the Younger
Hans Holbein the Younger was a German artist and printmaker who worked in a Northern Renaissance style. He is best known as one of the greatest portraitists of the 16th century. He also produced religious art, satire and Reformation propaganda, and made a significant contribution to the history...
taught. At the same time the new craft of printing
Printing press
A printing press is a device for applying pressure to an inked surface resting upon a print medium , thereby transferring the ink...
was introduced to Basel by apprentices of Gutenberg; the Schwabe publishing house was founded 1488 by Johannes Petri and is the oldest publishing house still in business. Johann Froben
Johann Froben
Johann Froben, in Latin: Johannes Frobenius , was a famous printer and publisher in Basel...
also operated his printing house in Basel and was notable for publishing works by Erasmus.
-
BaselBaselBasel or Basle In the national languages of Switzerland the city is also known as Bâle , Basilea and Basilea is Switzerland's third most populous city with about 166,000 inhabitants. Located where the Swiss, French and German borders meet, Basel also has suburbs in France and Germany... -
Abbey of BellelayBellelay AbbeyBellelay Abbey is a former Premonstratensian monastery in the Bernese Jura in Switzerland, now a psychiatric clinic.-History:According to the legend, the monastery was founded in 1136 by Siginand, prior of the abbey of Moutier-Grandval, who got lost in the deep forest of the High Jura while hunting... -
BettingenBettingenBettingen is a municipality in the canton of Basel-Stadt in Switzerland.-Geography:Bettingen has an area, , of . Of this area, or 34.1% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 44.8% is forested. Of the rest of the land, or 18.8% is settled .Of the built up area, housing and buildings made... - Amt of BirseckBurg BirseckBirseck Castle is located in the municipality of Arlesheim in the canton of Basel-Country. Birseck Castle is also called "Untere Burg Birseck" or "Vordere Burg Birseck" and is one of four castles on a slope called Birseck that confines the plain of the Birs river.The Eremitage building group that...
- Barony of ElsgauPorrentruyPorrentruy is a Swiss municipality and seat of the district of the same name located in the canton of Jura.-Geography:The municipality lies on both sides of the Allaine River, in Ajoie at the foot of the Jura Mountains on the north...
- Barony of Erguel
- Amt of HombergHomberg, SwitzerlandHomberg is a municipality in the administrative district of Thun in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.-Geography:Homberg has an area, , of . Of this area, or 63.2% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 32.0% is forested...
-
Istein -
Amt of LiestalLiestalLiestal is the capital of the canton of Basel-Country in Switzerland, south of Basel.It is an industrial town with a cobbled-street Old Town.-History:... -
Provostry of Moutier-GrandvalMoutier (district)Moutier District was one of the 3 French-speaking districts of the Bernese Jura in the canton of Bern with the seat being Moutier. It had a population of about 23'098 in 2004.-References:... -
Barony of OrvinOrvinOrvin is a municipality in the Jura bernois administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is located in the French-speaking Bernese Jura . Above it, there is a small year round resort, called les "Prés-d'Orvin".... - Barony of Pfäffingen
-
RiehenRiehenRiehen is a municipality in the canton of Basel-Stadt in Switzerland. Together with the city of Basel and Bettingen, Riehen is one of three municipalities in the canton.... - Vogtei of St UrsanneSaint-UrsanneSaint Ursanne is a city and a former municipality of the district of Porrentruy in the canton of Jura, Switzerland which has preserved its medieval character. The city contains many historical curiosities, including collegiate churches, a cloister, ruins of a castle, and a hermitage...
- Vogtei of SaugernSoyhièresSoyhières is a municipality in the district of Delémont in the canton of Jura in Switzerland.-References:...
-
SchliengenSchliengenSchliengen is a town in southwestern Germany in the state of Baden-Württemberg, in the Kreis of Lörrach. Schliengen's claim to international fame is the Battle of Schliengen, fought between forces of the French Revolutionary army under Jean-Victor Moreau and the Austrian army under Karl von... -
Barony of TessenburgDiesseDiesse is a municipality in the Jura bernois administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland, located in the French-speaking Bernese Jura .-History:... -
Amt of WaldenburgWaldenburg (district)Waldenburg District is one of the five districts of the largely German-speaking canton of Basel-Country in Switzerland. The district lies to the south of Basel-Country, bordering the canton of Solothurn. Its capital is the town of Waldenburg. It has a population of . In average 150 persons live in... -
Amt of Zwingen-LaufenLaufen (district)Laufen District or Laufental District is one of the five districts of the largely German-speaking canton of Basel-Country, Switzerland. Its capital is the town of Laufen....
The Prince-Bishopric also held the following territories, which were lost before 1527:
- Landgraviate of Buchsgau
-
Landgraviate of Sisgau -
Barony of ValanginValanginValangin is a municipality in the district of Val-de-Ruz in the canton of Neuchâtel in Switzerland.-Geography:Valangin has an area, , of . Of this area, or 39.4% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 49.7% is forested...
Establishment
In 1495, Basel was incorporated in the Upper RhenishUpper Rhenish Circle
The Upper Rhenish Circle was an Imperial Circle of the Holy Roman Empire established in 1500 on the territory of the former Duchy of Upper Lorraine and large parts of Rhenish Franconia including the Swabian Alsace region and the Burgundian duchy of Savoy....
Imperial Circle
Imperial Circle
An Imperial Circle comprised a regional grouping of territories of the Holy Roman Empire, primarily for the purpose of organizing a common defensive structure and of collecting the imperial taxes, but also as a means of organization within the Imperial Diet and the Imperial Chamber Court.Each...
, the bishop sitting on the Bench of the Ecclesiastical Princes. As a direct consequence of the Swabian War
Swabian War
The Swabian War of 1499 was the last major armed conflict between the Old Swiss Confederacy and the House of Habsburg...
, resolved by the 1499 Treaty of Basel
Treaty of Basel (1499)
The Treaty of Basel of 22 September 1499 was an armistice following the Battle of Dornach, concluding the Swabian War, fought between the Swabian League and the Old Swiss Confederacy. The accession of Basel to the confederacy in 1501 is a direct consequence of the treaty....
, Basel and the Imperial City
Imperial City
-Places:* Imperial City, Beijing, the central section of Beijing* Imperial City , a walled fortress and palace in the former capital of Vietnam.* Free imperial city, city formally responsible only to the emperor in the Holy Roman Empire,....
of Schaffhausen
Schaffhausen
Schaffhausen is a city in northern Switzerland and the capital of the canton of the same name; it has an estimated population of 34,587 ....
de facto separated from the Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
and joined the Swiss Confederation
Old Swiss Confederacy
The Old Swiss Confederacy was the precursor of modern-day Switzerland....
in 1501, as the confederacy's 11th and 12th states, with Appenzell
Appenzell
Appenzell is a region and historical canton in the northeast of Switzerland, entirely surrounded by the Canton of St. Gallen....
following suit 12 years later to complete the Dreizehn Orte that made up Switzerland until the French Revolutionary Wars
French Revolutionary Wars
The French Revolutionary Wars were a series of major conflicts, from 1792 until 1802, fought between the French Revolutionary government and several European states...
. The bishop continued to reside in Basel until the reformation of Oecolampadius
Johannes Oecolampadius
Johannes Œcolampadius was a German religious reformer. His real name was Hussgen or Heussgen .-Life:He was born in Weinsberg, then part of the Electoral Palatinate...
in 1527; the bishop's crook was however retained as the city's coat of arms.
Intended as a defence of Huguenots then persecuted in France, Calvin's Institutes
Institutes of the Christian Religion
The Institutes of the Christian Religion is John Calvin's seminal work on Protestant systematic theology...
, authored in Basel, was a 1536 exposition of Protestant Christian doctrine which later became known as Calvinism
Calvinism
Calvinism is a Protestant theological system and an approach to the Christian life...
.
The 1648 Peace of Westphalia
Peace of Westphalia
The Peace of Westphalia was a series of peace treaties signed between May and October of 1648 in Osnabrück and Münster. These treaties ended the Thirty Years' War in the Holy Roman Empire, and the Eighty Years' War between Spain and the Dutch Republic, with Spain formally recognizing the...
finally brought about Imperial recognition of the independence of the Swiss cantons
Cantons of Switzerland
The 26 cantons of Switzerland are the member states of the federal state of Switzerland. Each canton was a fully sovereign state with its own borders, army and currency from the Treaty of Westphalia until the establishment of the Swiss federal state in 1848...
, removing the de jure (but not de facto) overlordship of the Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
rejected by the then–Prince-Bishopric nearly 150 years earlier.
In 1792, the Rauracian Republic
Rauracian Republic
The Rauracian Republic was a state that included parts of modern France and Switzerland around the Jura mountains. It was created from the northern portion of the Prince-Bishopric of Basel, which was part of the Holy Roman Empire....
, a revolutionary French client republic
French client republic
During its occupation of neighboring parts of Europe during the French Revolutionary Wars, France established republican regimes in these territories...
, was created, lasting for a few months into the following year before being partitioned between a restored canton of Basel, later within the Helvetic Republic
Helvetic Republic
In Swiss history, the Helvetic Republic represented an early attempt to impose a central authority over Switzerland, which until then consisted mainly of self-governing cantons united by a loose military alliance, and conquered territories such as Vaud...
, and the First French Republic.
Unrest and insurrection
Until 1830, Basel was a unified canton, with citizens from both the cityBasel
Basel or Basle In the national languages of Switzerland the city is also known as Bâle , Basilea and Basilea is Switzerland's third most populous city with about 166,000 inhabitants. Located where the Swiss, French and German borders meet, Basel also has suburbs in France and Germany...
and the municipalities of the countryside sitting in the Kantonsparlament. The cantonal parliament was dominated by members from the city, though its population was less than that of the combined countryside. This had not previously been a source of grievance, but in 1830 the Baselbieter, or citizens from the countryside, grew increasingly distrustful of the city. At a meeting in Bad Bubendorf
Bubendorf
Bubendorf is a municipality in the district of Liestal in the canton of Basel-Country in Switzerland.-Geography:Bubendorf has an area, , of . Of this area, or 38.1% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 46.1% is forested...
on 18 October 1830, 25 Baselbieter wrote to the "esteemed gentlemen and noblemen in Basel", demanding equal rights between city and countryside and a representation in parliament in proportion to their numbers.
When the city rejected this demand, resentment from the landscape grew still larger to the extent that the city feared an attack. In Liestal
Liestal
Liestal is the capital of the canton of Basel-Country in Switzerland, south of Basel.It is an industrial town with a cobbled-street Old Town.-History:...
a few men of the countryside formed a new provincial government protected by an army of 3,000. The government was however short-lived as on 16 January 1831 a force from Basel occupied Liestal, driving out the new government. A number of villages, such as Gelterkinden
Gelterkinden
Gelterkinden is a municipality in the district of Sissach in the canton of Basel-Country in Switzerland.-Geography:Gelterkinden has an area, , of . Of this area, or 34.2% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 47.4% is forested...
, Reigoldswil
Reigoldswil
Reigoldswil is a municipality in the district of Waldenburg in the canton of Basel-Country in Switzerland.-Geography:Reigoldswil has an area, , of . Of this area, or 46.2% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 45.1% is forested...
, Anwil
Anwil
Anwil is a municipality in the district of Sissach in the canton of Basel-Country in Switzerland.-Geography:Anwil has an area, , of . Of this area, or 63.6% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 27.8% is forested...
and Bubendorf
Bubendorf
Bubendorf is a municipality in the district of Liestal in the canton of Basel-Country in Switzerland.-Geography:Bubendorf has an area, , of . Of this area, or 38.1% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 46.1% is forested...
remained loyal to Basel, though coming under threat from the rebels. The unrest in the countryside persisted into 1832 and both sides committed injustices upon the other.
On 3 August 1833 over 1200 troops of the city armed with 14 cannon
Cannon
A cannon is any piece of artillery that uses gunpowder or other usually explosive-based propellents to launch a projectile. Cannon vary in caliber, range, mobility, rate of fire, angle of fire, and firepower; different forms of cannon combine and balance these attributes in varying degrees,...
s marched on Liestal, but at the Battle of Hülftenschanz, which took place between Pratteln
Pratteln
Pratteln is a municipality in the canton of Basel-Country in Switzerland, located in the district of Liestal.-Geography:Pratteln has an area, , of . Of this area, or 27.6% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 28.1% is forested...
and Frenkendorf
Frenkendorf
Frenkendorf is a municipality in the district of Liestal in the canton of Basel-Country in Switzerland.-Geography:Frenkendorf has an area, , of . Of this area, or 27.6% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 42.0% is forested...
, the city's troops were forced back to Basel by the superior numbers of the rebels. Their route back to the city was ambushed and the city forces took heavy losses.
Partition
After this conflict, the highest Swiss authority, the TagsatzungTagsatzung
The Swiss Tagsatzung was the legislative and executive council of the Swiss confederacy from the beginnings until the formation of the Swiss federal state in 1848. It was a meeting of delegates of the individual cantons...
, was petitioned on 17 August 1833 to separate the canton of Basel; nine days later, the partition was effected. From the country municipalities it allocated only Riehen
Riehen
Riehen is a municipality in the canton of Basel-Stadt in Switzerland. Together with the city of Basel and Bettingen, Riehen is one of three municipalities in the canton....
, Bettingen
Bettingen
Bettingen is a municipality in the canton of Basel-Stadt in Switzerland.-Geography:Bettingen has an area, , of . Of this area, or 34.1% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 44.8% is forested. Of the rest of the land, or 18.8% is settled .Of the built up area, housing and buildings made...
and Kleinhüningen — which would otherwise have been an exclave of Basel-Country
Basel-Country
Basel-Landschaft , is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland. The capital is Liestal...
between Basel-City
Basel-City
Basel-Stadt is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland. The city of Basel and the municipalities of Bettingen and Riehen form its territory.-History:...
and the Grand Duchy of Baden
Grand Duchy of Baden
The Grand Duchy of Baden was a historical state in the southwest of Germany, on the east bank of the Rhine. It existed between 1806 and 1918.-History:...
— to the new canton of Basel-City. The remaining municipalities formed the new canton of Basel-Country.
Reuniting the half-cantons
University of Basel
The University of Basel is located in Basel, Switzerland, and is considered to be one of leading universities in the country...
.