Eternal Bond of Brothers -- Between Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden (August 1291; Transcription of Latin original)To all of you researchers trying to find your Swiss roots. Here is a source you should include in your family tree: The first steps to a Swiss Nation, taken in the summer of 1291! Walter Boppart Eternal Bond of Brothers -- Between Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden (August 1291; English translation of Latin original) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This English translation, for which both the Latin original and a modern German translation are available, was translated by Richard Hacken of Brigham Young University. Nary a word about "...wir wollen seyn eyn einzig Volk von Brüdern," (..."We shall be a single fraternal people,") orally transmitted as a part of the Oath made on the Rüetli, is to be found in this written covenant of the same year. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In the name of God Amen. Public esteem and welfare demand that agreements be anchored in a foundation of peace. Let it be known to all that the people of the Uri Valley and those living in the Schwyz Valley, and those of Unterwalden, Lower Valley, in light of the treachery of the age, in order to protect themselves and their own, and to be able better to retain their proper status, have sworn in good faith to assist one another reciprocally, with aid, with appropriate counsel and favors, with personnel and with goods, both within and without the valleys, with all strength and effort against any and every foe that might bring violence, difficulty or insult against them or any one of them; [and to likewise oppose] any who would have evil designs against their persons or goods. Each community has promised to the other to assist in any eventuality, to offer aid to any degree necessary that might be necessary and at its own expense, to resist attack from those of evil intent and to avenge insults, by having sworn an oath bodily [with oath fingers raised], without thoughts of personal gain, thus having renewed and updated the old sworn oath of confederacy [of 1241?]. In such a manner, however, that each shall hold to the conditions of his family line, obeying and serving his Lord as appropriate. In common council and unanimously, we have also sworn, determined and designated to each other that we will neither accept nor recognize any judge in the aforementioned valleys who had bought that office at some price or for money, nor any who is not our inhabitant and one of our people. If, however, dissent should arise between any confederates [of Uri, Schwyz or Unterwalden], the wisest from among the confederates should step forward to quiet the dispute between the parties as appears most expeditious, and that portion that would speak ill of that decision should henceforth be considered contrary to the rest of the confederacy. In addition, however, it has been set down between [the parties] that whosoever with premeditation kills another in the absence of the latter's guilt, shall, when he is seized, lose his life insofar as he is unable to prove his innocence of the named misdeed, as the heinousness of his guilt demands it. Should he flee, then he shall never be allowed to return. Those who abet and defend the malefactor shall be banned from the valleys until they are expressly called on by the allies to return. If someone, by day or in the still of the night, would premeditate to damage one of the confederates by arson, he shall nevermore be considered one of the people. And if someone should protect and defend said malefactor within the valleys, then the latter shall recompense the victim with ample reparation. Further, if one of the confederates should rob another of his goods or should cause damage in any manner, the property of the guilty party, insofar as it is to be found within the valleys, shall be held in receivership in order to provide the victim with just compensation. Moreover, no person should indebiture himself to another, save he should be an obvious debtor or stand as security for another, and even this should only occur with express permission by his judge. Besides, each shall obey his judge and, in case it becomes necessary, shall name that judge within the valley before whose judgements he is compelled to stand. And if someone should resist the legal pronouncements of his judge and should the former, as a consequence of his obstinancy, cause damage to one of the confederates, then all allies are obliged to force the named rebel to provide compensation. However, if war or discord should arise among any of the confederates and a portion of the combatants refuses to accept justice or reparations, then the allies are obligated to protect the others. The designed pronouncements, written above and designed for the common health and safety, shall be of eternal duration if God wills it. Attesting the same at the desire of the aforementioned parties, this document is presented and validated by affixing the seals of the three aforementioned communities and valleys. Effective the Year of our Lord 1291, in the first half of the month of August. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to "Switzerland -- Primary Documents" Home Page -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to "EuroDocs" Home Page -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EuroDocs Weaver: Richard Hacken, European Studies Bibliographer, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA. Suggestions, corrections and comments are welcome: [email protected] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Last Updated: June 9, 1999. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------