What is the Federal Charter of 1291? Google Doodle marks Switzerland National Day with Swiss flag illustration
Google Doodle is celebrating Switzerland National Day. According to it, on this day in 1291, the three forest cantons of Uri, Schwyz, and Unterwalden signed the Federal Charter and unified in the struggle against Habsburg rule.
To mark the celebration of August 1, which is a national public holiday in Switzerland, Google Doodle's latest illustration honors the day with an image of a waving Swiss flag, a white cross on a red field. The annual celebration of Swiss National Day witnesses locals gathering in the streets waving flags that represent communities and cantons. According to the Doodles Archive, which also includes the past artwork of the national day, Swiss people commemorate the day with family gatherings, barbecues, and parades. Rütli field, where the Federal Charter was signed, hosts an official celebration where the President of the Swiss Confederation addresses the nation before fireworks and bonfires.
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According to Myswissclub, it was in 1891 that the date of Swiss National Day was first decided upon. However, it became an official federal holiday in 1994.
What is the Federal Charter of 1291?
The Federal Charter or Letter of Alliance is one of the oldest constitutional documents of Switzerland. According to Swiss' Federal Council, the Federal Charter has been officially regarded as the founding document of the Swiss Confederation only since the end of the 19th century. A treaty of alliance from 1291 between the cantons of Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden, the Charter is one of a series of alliances from which the Old Swiss Confederacy emerged.
Written in Latin, the Charter makes reference to a previous pact. As per the center for rule of law, the Charter was probably intended to ensure legal certainty after the death of Rudolf I of Habsburg on 15 July 1291. The first two paragraphs commit all three communities to the joint defense of the three valleys. The remainder of the Charter concerns judicial matters. It calls for arbitration in the case of conflicts, rejects foreign judges, establishes the death penalty for murderers and exile for arsonists, and commands obedience to judges and judicial verdicts.
According to BYU Scholars Archive, the Federal Charter is certainly no constitution that created a new state. It is simple and direct, and explains the nature of the alliance,
but it has some aspects that have long puzzled historians.