37. Switzerland, Internet references to its history and "Confoederatio Helvetica"

We are in Switzerland, staying awhile.   Though this blogsite is for the purpose of telling family history, we need to know some Swiss history and culture, for which the Internet is a rich source of information.   

An excellent overview is this website, "The History of Switzerland." 

http://history-switzerland.geschichte-schweiz.ch

Here is concise but not overwhelming summaries of the prehistoric era, Helvetian period (500 B.C. to 400 A.D.), Roman times (58 B.C.-400 A.D.), Middle ages (400-800 A.D.), the Old Swiss Confederacy (1291-1515), Reformation period (from mid-15th century), the Swiss Revolution and the Helvetic Republic (1798), the Swiss Federal Constitution of 1848, Napoleonic wars, World War II, to post-modern times.  There is a timeline to major events, and description of the Swiss flag (originating from 1848), and Cantonal coats of arms.

Thus we can place our early ancestors, Bartolome and Katharina Treuthardt, in later Reformation times, and during the political upheaval of the Swiss Revolution and Helvetic Republic.

For centuries young Swiss men had served as mercenary troops in foreign countries, especially France and Italy.    The mighty Swiss military force was admired and respected by all of Europe.    However, at the time of the French Revolution, on August 10, 1792 approximately 800 Swiss mercenary troops who were defending the French king at Paris, "ran low on ammunition" and were killed at the Tuileries (the palace of King Louis XVI).  This symbolized the end of ancient Swiss fighting techniques, but not the end of battles or wars.  

In the 1790's within Switzerland, many revolts by the rural folks against the rich landowning families were gaining ground for freedom and liberty of the individual.   The Helvetic Republic was established in 1798.    It was not lasting in success for numerous reasons, however, and in 1802 the frustrated but ill-equipped rural population of the northern areas engaged in a "stäcklichrieg" or civil war of the sticks, using wooden clubs as weapons against the forces of the Helvetic Republic.    The Republic collapsed (fragile indeed to succumb to sticks).    Napoleon came in as "mediator" in 1803.   (And this is where we will stop with politics now).      

Be aware that the "label" or keyword HELVETIA "can be found on Swiss coins and postal stamps, while the abbreviation "ch" stands for Confoederatio Helvetica, the Latin version of 'Swiss Confederation'."    Helvetia, or CH, is a generic term for Switzerland that avoids favoring any single language group of people.   The CH decal on Swiss cars, applies to someone who may speak German, French or Italian.  "Switzerland's top level internet domain" is .ch.  

All of the above information is from the History of Switzerland website, and there is much, much more.