Stecklikrieg
Encyclopedia
The Stecklikrieg of 1802 resulted in the collapse of the Helvetic Republic
, the renewed French occupation of Switzerland
and ultimately the Act of Mediation
dictated by Napoleon on 10 March 1803.
The conflict itself was between federalist insurgents, mostly of the rural population, and the official Helvetic Republic. The name "wooden club" refers to the improvised weaponry of the insurgents.
Following the Treaty of Lunéville
, the French troops left Switzerland during the summer of 1802, resulting in rapid destabilization of the country. The insurgence originated in Central Switzerland
, the cities of Zürich
and Bern as well as rural parts of the Swiss plateau
(Aargau
and Solothurn
).
After several hostile clashes with the official forces of the Helvetic Republic, which were lacking both in equipment and motivation (Renggpass at Pilatus
on 28 August, artillery attacks on Bern and Zürich during September, and a skirmish at Faoug
on 3 October), the central government at first capitulated militarily (on 18 September, retreating from Bern to Lausanne) and then collapsed entirely. It was succeeded by cantonal governments, and a Tagsatzung
in Schwyz
led by Alois von Reding
.
Napoleon was concerned that the instability of Switzerland could infect Europe at large, and re-occupied Switzerland immediately after the collapse of the central government. His Act of Mediation
however made concessions to the demands of the insurgents, abandoning the centralist structure of the Helvetic Republic in favour of a more federalist approach. French intervention constituted a breach of the Treaty of Lunéville
, which was taken as a pretext by the United Kingdom
to declare war on France on 18 May 1803.
William Wordsworth
's poem Thought of a Briton on the Subjugation of Switzerland is directly inspired by the events of the Stecklikrieg.
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...
, the renewed French occupation of Switzerland
Switzerland in the Napoleonic era
During the French Revolutionary Wars, the revolutionary armies marched eastward, enveloping Switzerland in their battles against Austria. In 1798 Switzerland was completely overrun by the French and became the Helvetic Republic. The Helvetic Republic encountered severe economic and political problems...
and ultimately 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,...
dictated by Napoleon on 10 March 1803.
The conflict itself was between federalist insurgents, mostly of the rural population, and the official Helvetic Republic. The name "wooden club" refers to the improvised weaponry of the insurgents.
Following the Treaty of Lunéville
Treaty of Lunéville
The Treaty of Lunéville was signed on 9 February 1801 between the French Republic and the Holy Roman Emperor Francis II, negotiating both on behalf of his own domains and of the Holy Roman Empire...
, the French troops left Switzerland during the summer of 1802, resulting in rapid destabilization of the country. The insurgence originated in Central Switzerland
Central Switzerland
Central Switzerland is the region of the Alpine foothills geographically the heart and historically the origin of Switzerland, with the cantons of Uri, Schwyz, Obwalden, Nidwalden, Lucerne and Zug....
, the cities of Zürich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
and Bern as well as rural parts of the Swiss plateau
Swiss plateau
The Swiss Plateau or Central Plateau constitutes one of the three major landscapes in Switzerland alongside the Jura mountains and the Swiss Alps. It covers about 30% of the Swiss surface...
(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 Solothurn
Solothurn
The city of Solothurn is the capital of the Canton of Solothurn in Switzerland. The city also comprises the only municipality of the district of the same name.-Pre-roman settlement:...
).
After several hostile clashes with the official forces of the Helvetic Republic, which were lacking both in equipment and motivation (Renggpass at Pilatus
Pilatus (mountain)
Pilatus is a mountain near Lucerne, Switzerland. Jurisdiction over the mountain is divided between the cantons of Obwalden, Nidwalden, and Lucerne...
on 28 August, artillery attacks on Bern and Zürich during September, and a skirmish at Faoug
Faoug
Faoug is a municipality in the district of Broye-Vully in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland.-Geography:Faoug has an area, , of . Of this area, or 55.1% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 25.2% is forested...
on 3 October), the central government at first capitulated militarily (on 18 September, retreating from Bern to Lausanne) and then collapsed entirely. It was succeeded by cantonal governments, and a Tagsatzung
Tagsatzung
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...
in Schwyz
Schwyz
The town of is the capital of the canton of Schwyz in Switzerland.The Federal Charter of 1291 or Bundesbrief, the charter that eventually led to the foundation of Switzerland, can be seen at the Bundesbriefmuseum.-History of the toponym:...
led by Alois von Reding
Alois von Reding
Alois von Reding was a Swiss patriot, military officer and politician. He is best known for leading an early revolt against the Helvetic Republic....
.
Napoleon was concerned that the instability of Switzerland could infect Europe at large, and re-occupied Switzerland immediately after the collapse of the central government. His 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,...
however made concessions to the demands of the insurgents, abandoning the centralist structure of the Helvetic Republic in favour of a more federalist approach. French intervention constituted a breach of the Treaty of Lunéville
Treaty of Lunéville
The Treaty of Lunéville was signed on 9 February 1801 between the French Republic and the Holy Roman Emperor Francis II, negotiating both on behalf of his own domains and of the Holy Roman Empire...
, which was taken as a pretext by the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
to declare war on France on 18 May 1803.
William Wordsworth
William Wordsworth
William Wordsworth was a major English Romantic poet who, with Samuel Taylor Coleridge, helped to launch the Romantic Age in English literature with the 1798 joint publication Lyrical Ballads....
's poem Thought of a Briton on the Subjugation of Switzerland is directly inspired by the events of the Stecklikrieg.