Melchior Russ
Encyclopedia
Melchior Russ was born of an old noble family in Lucerne
.
In 1473, after having studied for at least two years in Basle, Russ left the University of Basle for the University of Pavia
with the intention to study law.
After his studies at the University of Pavia, Russ served as a soldier in the Burgundian Wars
, participating in the battles of Grandson
, Murten
and Nancy. In 1478, Russ was furthermore involved in a campaign of his hometown Lucerne against the city of Bellinzona
. On occasion of the following peace negotiations between the Swiss Confederation and the Dukes of Milan
, Russ probably seized the chance to make a journey to France
.
According to the Swiss historian Jean-François Bergier
, Russ was appointed magistrate and diplomat of the city of Lucerne around 1476. After his election to the council of Lucerne in 1480, Russ was furthermore promoted to the position of bailiff of Ebikon
and Rotsee
and, later on, to the position of bailiff of Malters
and Littau
.
In 1480, Russ, who had never resigned from his post as a chronicler, was commissioned by the council of Lucerne to chronicle the history of his hometown.
As Russ neared completion of his Chronicle of the City of Lucerne
, he was appointed to a three-men delegation sent to the Hungurian King Matthias Corvinus, whose service Russ entered in 1488. After King Matthias’ sudden death in 1491, the heavily indebted Melchior Russ, who had never been recompensed for his work at the Hungarian court, was deprived of his two possessions Sins and Rüssegg.
Deeply in despair, Russ entered the services of the elector palatine Philipp the Upright in 1491. After having signed a contract beyond the scope of his power, Russ was dismissed as Philipp’s ambassador after only two years of service.
In 1496, Melchior Russ, who had resumed his post as a magistrate of the city of Lucerne, became involved in a lawsuit with the influential mayor Ludwig Seiler. As a result of this lawsuit, Russ was permanently banned from his hometown Lucerne on May 18, 1498.
During his exile from Lucerne, Russ, who had found a new place of residence in the canton of Uri
, participated in the war between the Swiss Confederation and the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation. Despite repeated petitions of his comrades in arms to revoke his banishment from the city of Lucerne, Russ was never allowed to return to his hometown .
Melchior Russ was killed in an ambush by the earl Eitelfritz von Zollen near Rheineck
.
Lucerne
Lucerne is a city in north-central Switzerland, in the German-speaking portion of that country. Lucerne is the capital of the Canton of Lucerne and the capital of the district of the same name. With a population of about 76,200 people, Lucerne is the most populous city in Central Switzerland, and...
.
In 1473, after having studied for at least two years in Basle, Russ left the University of Basle for the University of Pavia
University of Pavia
The University of Pavia is a university located in Pavia, Lombardy, Italy. It was founded in 1361 and is organized in 9 Faculties.-History:...
with the intention to study law.
After his studies at the University of Pavia, Russ served as a soldier in the Burgundian Wars
Burgundian Wars
The Burgundian Wars were a conflict between the Dukes of Burgundy and the Kings of France, later involving the Old Swiss Confederacy, which would play a decisive role. Open war broke out in 1474, and in the following years the Duke of Burgundy, Charles the Bold, was defeated three times on the...
, participating in the battles of Grandson
Grandson
Grandson has multiple meanings:*Grandson *Grandson, Switzerland, a municipality in Switzerland*Grandson , a district in Switzerland...
, Murten
Murten
Murten is a municipality in the See district of the canton of Fribourg in Switzerland.It is located on the southern shores of Lake Morat. Morat is situated between Bern and Lausanne and is the capital of the Lake District of the canton of Fribourg....
and Nancy. In 1478, Russ was furthermore involved in a campaign of his hometown Lucerne against the city of Bellinzona
Bellinzona
Bellinzona is the administrative capital of the canton Ticino in Switzerland. The city is famous for its three castles that have been UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 2000....
. On occasion of the following peace negotiations between the Swiss Confederation and the Dukes of Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
, Russ probably seized the chance to make a journey to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
According to the Swiss historian Jean-François Bergier
Jean-François Bergier
Jean-François Bergier was a Swiss historian. He was a professor at the University of Geneva from 1963 to 1969 and at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich until his retirement in 1999....
, Russ was appointed magistrate and diplomat of the city of Lucerne around 1476. After his election to the council of Lucerne in 1480, Russ was furthermore promoted to the position of bailiff of Ebikon
Ebikon
Ebikon is a municipality in the district of Lucerne in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland.-Geography:Ebikon has an area of . Of this area, 38.4% is used for agricultural purposes, while 23.9% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 30.3% is settled and the remainder is non-productive...
and Rotsee
Rotsee
The Rotsee is a natural rowing lake on the northern edge of Lucerne, Switzerland. It is 2,400 m long with virtually no current and protected from winds by nearby hills making it an ideal rowing venue....
and, later on, to the position of bailiff of Malters
Malters
Malters is a municipality in the district of Lucerne in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland.-History:Malters is first mentioned in second half of the 9th Century as in Maltrensi marcha. In 1238 it was mentioned as villa Malters.-Geography:...
and Littau
Littau
Littau is a former municipality, and now part of the city of Lucerne, in the district of Lucerne in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland. On 1 January 2010 the municipality of Littau merged into the municipality of Lucerne.-History:...
.
In 1480, Russ, who had never resigned from his post as a chronicler, was commissioned by the council of Lucerne to chronicle the history of his hometown.
As Russ neared completion of his Chronicle of the City of Lucerne
Chronicle of the City of Lucerne
The Chronicle of the City of Lucerne is the oldest existing chronological account of the history of the city of Lucerne.- Composition :...
, he was appointed to a three-men delegation sent to the Hungurian King Matthias Corvinus, whose service Russ entered in 1488. After King Matthias’ sudden death in 1491, the heavily indebted Melchior Russ, who had never been recompensed for his work at the Hungarian court, was deprived of his two possessions Sins and Rüssegg.
Deeply in despair, Russ entered the services of the elector palatine Philipp the Upright in 1491. After having signed a contract beyond the scope of his power, Russ was dismissed as Philipp’s ambassador after only two years of service.
In 1496, Melchior Russ, who had resumed his post as a magistrate of the city of Lucerne, became involved in a lawsuit with the influential mayor Ludwig Seiler. As a result of this lawsuit, Russ was permanently banned from his hometown Lucerne on May 18, 1498.
During his exile from Lucerne, Russ, who had found a new place of residence in the canton of Uri
Canton of Uri
Uri is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland and a founding member of the Swiss Confederation. It is located in Central Switzerland. The canton's territory covers the valley of the Reuss River between Lake Lucerne and the St. Gotthard Pass. German is the primary language spoken in Uri...
, participated in the war between the Swiss Confederation and the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation. Despite repeated petitions of his comrades in arms to revoke his banishment from the city of Lucerne, Russ was never allowed to return to his hometown .
Melchior Russ was killed in an ambush by the earl Eitelfritz von Zollen near Rheineck
Rheineck
Rheineck is a municipality in the Wahlkreis of Rheintal in the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland.-History:Rheineck is first mentioned about 1163 as castellum Rinegge. In 1218 it was mentioned as Rinegg...
.