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Sigmund von Erlach (1614-1699)
Encyclopedia
Sigmund von Erlach was a Swiss
military commander and a politician of Bern.
A member of one of the foremost families of the city of Bern, Sigmund von Erlach initially pursued a military career as a mercenary
commander, first in the services of Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar
and later in France
. At his return to Bern in 1645, he became a member of the canton's Grand Council
and seven years later, a member of the city council (Kleiner Rat).
Sigmund von Erlach commanded the Bernese troops in the Swiss peasant war of 1653
, putting down the rebellion of the rural population with force. He also commanded the troops of Bern in the First war of Villmergen, a religiously motivated civil war in the Old Swiss Confederacy
that the Protestant cantons lost. Although he was criticized heavily for his failure in this conflict he continued his political career in Bern, which culminated in 1675 with his election to the post of Schultheiss (mayor
).
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....
military commander and a politician of Bern.
A member of one of the foremost families of the city of Bern, Sigmund von Erlach initially pursued a military career as a mercenary
Swiss mercenaries
Swiss mercenaries were notable for their service in foreign armies, especially the armies of the Kings of France, throughout the Early Modern period of European history, from the Later Middle Ages into the Age of the European Enlightenment...
commander, first in the services of Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar
Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar
Bernard of Saxe-Weimar was a German prince and general in the Thirty Years' War.-Biography:Born in Weimar within the Duchy of Saxe-Weimar, Bernard was the eleventh son of Johann, Duke of Saxe-Weimar, and Dorothea Maria of Anhalt.Bernard received an unusually good education and studied at the...
and later in 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...
. At his return to Bern in 1645, he became a member of the canton's Grand Council
Grand Council of Bern
The Grand Council is the parliament of the Swiss canton of Bern.It consists of 160 members elected by proportional representation for a four-year term of office...
and seven years later, a member of the city council (Kleiner Rat).
Sigmund von Erlach commanded the Bernese troops in the Swiss peasant war of 1653
Swiss peasant war of 1653
The Swiss peasant war of 1653 was a popular revolt in the Old Swiss Confederacy at the time of the Ancien Régime. A devaluation of Bernese money caused a tax revolt that spread from the Entlebuch valley in the Canton of Lucerne to the Emmental valley in the Canton of Bern and then to the cantons of...
, putting down the rebellion of the rural population with force. He also commanded the troops of Bern in the First war of Villmergen, a religiously motivated civil war in the Old Swiss Confederacy
Old Swiss Confederacy
The Old Swiss Confederacy was the precursor of modern-day Switzerland....
that the Protestant cantons lost. Although he was criticized heavily for his failure in this conflict he continued his political career in Bern, which culminated in 1675 with his election to the post of Schultheiss (mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
).