Canton of Baden
Encyclopedia
The Canton of Baden was a canton
of the Helvetic Republic
(a Napoleonic-era precursor of modern-day Switzerland
). Its capital was the town of Baden
.
The canton was created in 1798 from the merger of the County of Baden with the Freie Ämter
(free bailiwicks), both of which had until then been condominiums
(gemeine Herrschaften) of the Old Swiss Confederation.
The canton was divided into five districts — Baden
, Bremgarten
, Muri
, Sarmenstorf
and Zurzach
. The canton, like the others of the Helvetic Republic, was administered by a governor and an administrative chamber , a vice-governor in each district, as well as agents in the municipalities. In 1799, there were 45,982 residents, though the Jewish population was not counted in the census.
Since the majority of Roman Catholic, conservative population were indifferent to the new state, officials and politicians had to be imported from neighboring cantons. The canton was divided and some municipalities sought affiliations with other cantons: the Lutheran congregations in the Limmat
tal wanted to affiliate with Zürich
, the Amt of Hitzkirch
with Lucerne
, and the upper Freiamt with Zug
or Schwyz
.
The canton was not politically viable, notably due to its the lack of an economic base; in both 1801 (Constitution of Malmaison) and 1802 (Second Helvetic Constitution), it was decided to merge the canton into the Aargau
, but the move was not completed. Napoleon Bonaparte signed the Act of Mediation
on 19 February 1803 and, in the process, the canton of Baden was dissolved and united with the cantons of Aargau
and Fricktal
. The Amt of Hitzkirch was added to the canton of Lucerne, whilst Hüttikon
, Oetwil an der Limmat
, Dietikon
and Schlieren
went to Zürich. In return, Lucerne's Amt of Merenschwand
was transferred to the Aargau.
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...
of 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...
(a Napoleonic-era precursor of modern-day Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
). Its capital was the town of Baden
Baden, Switzerland
Baden is a municipality in the Swiss canton of Aargau, on the west bank of the river Limmat, located in the Limmat Valley , northwest of Zürich. It is the seat of the district of Baden...
.
The canton was created in 1798 from the merger of the County of Baden with the Freie Ämter
Freie Ämter
The Freiamt or Freie Ämter is a region in Switzerland and is located in the southeast of Canton of Aargau. It comprises the area between the Lindenberg and Heitersberg and from the terminal moraine at Othmarsingen to Reuss river in Dietwil. Today the area of the Bremgarten and Muri Districts are...
(free bailiwicks), both of which had until then been condominiums
Condominium (international law)
In international law, a condominium is a political territory in or over which two or more sovereign powers formally agree to share equally dominium and exercise their rights jointly, without dividing it up into 'national' zones.Although a condominium has always been...
(gemeine Herrschaften) of the Old Swiss Confederation.
The canton was divided into five districts — Baden
Baden, Switzerland
Baden is a municipality in the Swiss canton of Aargau, on the west bank of the river Limmat, located in the Limmat Valley , northwest of Zürich. It is the seat of the district of Baden...
, Bremgarten
Bremgarten, Switzerland
Bremgarten is a municipality in the Swiss canton of Aargau. It serves as seat of the district of Bremgarten. The medieval old town is listed as a heritage site of national significance.-History:...
, Muri
Muri
Muri, Formerly known as Muri , is a municipality in southeastern Swiss Canton Aargau and is the capital of same district. The present municipality of Muri was created in 1816 from the merging of the four municipalities Langdorf, Egg, Hasli and Wey....
, Sarmenstorf
Sarmenstorf
Sarmenstorf is a municipality in the district of Bremgarten in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland.-History:The earliest settlement in the municipality built the neolithic burial mound at Zigiholz. The next known settlement was a Roman era villa with a portico and bath house from the 1st Century AD...
and Zurzach
Bad Zurzach
Bad Zurzach is a municipality in the district of Zurzach in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland. It is the seat of the district.Bad Zurzach was previously known as Zurzach; the population voting for the official name change in a referendum of 21 May 2006. Located on the Rhine, Bad Zurzach has a...
. The canton, like the others of the Helvetic Republic, was administered by a governor and an administrative chamber , a vice-governor in each district, as well as agents in the municipalities. In 1799, there were 45,982 residents, though the Jewish population was not counted in the census.
Since the majority of Roman Catholic, conservative population were indifferent to the new state, officials and politicians had to be imported from neighboring cantons. The canton was divided and some municipalities sought affiliations with other cantons: the Lutheran congregations in the Limmat
Limmat
The Limmat is a river in Switzerland. It is the continuation of the Linth river, known as Limmat from the point of effluence from Lake Zurich, in the city of Zurich. From Zurich it flows in a northwesterly direction, after 35 km reaching the river Aare...
tal wanted to affiliate with Zürich
Canton of Zürich
The Canton of Zurich has a population of . The canton is located in the northeast of Switzerland and the city of Zurich is its capital. The official language is German, but people speak the local Swiss German dialect called Züritüütsch...
, the Amt of Hitzkirch
Hitzkirch
Hitzkirch is a municipality in the district of Hochdorf in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland. On 1 January 2009, Gelfingen, Hämikon, Mosen, Müswangen, Retschwil and Sulz joined Hitzkirch.-Geography:...
with Lucerne
Canton of Lucerne
Lucerne is a canton of Switzerland. It is located in the centre of Switzerland. The population of the canton is . , the population included 57,268 foreigners, or about 15.8% of the total population. The cantonal capital is Lucerne.-History:...
, and the upper Freiamt with Zug
Canton of Zug
The Canton of Zug is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland. It is located in central Switzerland and its capital is Zug. With 239 km² the canton is one of the smallest of the cantons in terms of area. It is not subdivided into districts.- History :The earlier history of the canton is...
or Schwyz
Canton of Schwyz
Schwyz is a canton in central Switzerland between the Alps in the south, Lake Lucerne in the east and Lake Zurich in the north, centered around and named after the town of Schwyz....
.
The canton was not politically viable, notably due to its the lack of an economic base; in both 1801 (Constitution of Malmaison) and 1802 (Second Helvetic Constitution), it was decided to merge the canton into the Aargau
Aargau
Aargau is one of the more northerly cantons of Switzerland. It comprises the lower course of the river Aare, which is why the canton is called Aar-gau .-History:...
, but the move was not completed. Napoleon Bonaparte signed the Act of Mediation
Act of Mediation
The Act of Mediation was issued by Napoleon Bonaparte on 19 February 1803 establishing the Swiss Confederation. The act also abolished the previous Helvetic Republic, which had existed since the invasion of Switzerland by French troops in 1798. After the withdrawal of French troops in July 1802,...
on 19 February 1803 and, in the process, the canton of Baden was dissolved and united with the cantons of Aargau
Aargau
Aargau is one of the more northerly cantons of Switzerland. It comprises the lower course of the river Aare, which is why the canton is called Aar-gau .-History:...
and Fricktal
Canton of Fricktal
Fricktal was a canton of the Helvetic Republic from February 1802 to February 1803, consisting of that part of the Breisgau south of the Rhine...
. The Amt of Hitzkirch was added to the canton of Lucerne, whilst Hüttikon
Hüttikon
Hüttikon is a municipality in the district of Dielsdorf in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland.-Geography:Hüttikon has an area of . Of this area, 52.2% is used for agricultural purposes, while 36% is forested. The rest of the land, is settled....
, Oetwil an der Limmat
Oetwil an der Limmat
Oetwil an der Limmat is a municipality in the district of Dietikon in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland, located in the Limmat Valley .-Geography:...
, Dietikon
Dietikon
Dietikon is the fifth biggest city of the canton of Zürich in Switzerland, after Zürich, Winterthur, Uster and Dübendorf. It is the capital of the same-named district of Dietikon and part of the Zürich metropolitan area.- Geography :...
and Schlieren
Schlieren, Zurich
Schlieren is a municipality in the district of Dietikon in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland.- History :The oldest artifact discovered in the Canton of Zürich is a Stone Age Neanderthal hand axe which was found in Schlieren, and dates back to approximately 100,000 BCE.Until 1415, Schlieren...
went to Zürich. In return, Lucerne's Amt of Merenschwand
Merenschwand
Merenschwand is a municipality in the district of Muri in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland.-History:The earliest evidence of human settlement is a lake side village from the Late Bronze Age. The lake has since silted up and is now part of the Rütiweid meadow...
was transferred to the Aargau.