Raron affair
Encyclopedia
The Raron affair was a 15th Century rebellion in the Valais
region against the power of a local noble family, the Raron family. The rebellion brought several cantons of the Swiss Confederation
into conflict with each other and threatened a civil war in the Confederation. While Bern was initially successful, they were eventually forced to surrender most of their gains.
of Raron
rapidly rose to the highest ecclesiastical and secular offices in the Valais
. After the death of Bishop William I of Raron in 1402 and his father Peter of Raron in 1413, a rebellious party formed in the Upper Valais. They were opposed to the new Prince-Bishop
Wilhelm II of Raron and the power claims of his uncle Witschard of Raron. Emperor
Sigismund
had granted Witschard sovereignty over the Valais in 1414 as a reward from his his military service in Lombardy. The rights over the Valais had been granted to the office of the Bishop of Sion in 999. The 1414 Imperial grant was supposed to transfer these rights from the office of the Bishop to the Raron family. The Zenden from Sierre
to Goms were not willing to have gained independence from Savoy to then lose it to a local noble. Throughout the Valais unrest turned into talk of rebellion. Under the leadership of the Dog Society (so called due to the dog in its banner) in Brig
, in 1415 this talk exploded into open rebellion.
The rebels besieged Witschard and his entourage at Seta Castle near Savièse
and forced his resignation as episcopal bailiff
along with the right to elect their own representatives in the government. A short peace was followed by additional fighting in 1416. Witschard allied himself with the House of Savoy, while Zenden of Goms entered into a treaty with Lucerne
, Uri
and Unterwalden
.
The Zenden troops destroyed Beauregard, Tourbillon and Montorge castles. Witschard then secured the support of Bern, which split the Swiss Confederation
. The neutral cantons, Schwyz
, Glarus
, Zurich
and Zug
attempted to intervene and restore peace. However, this was unsuccessful and in September 1417 Witschard and his family had to flee the country permanently. After another failed negotiations with Bern in 1418, Bern invaded over the Sanetsch Pass and plundered Sion
. In 1419, they attempted another invasion across the Grimsel Pass
. Bern repeatedly attempted to get Lucerne, Uri and Unterwalden to switch sides and prevent a civil war in the Confederation. Their failed invasion in 1420, convinced Bern to seek a peaceful resolution. In the Evian
peace Bern and Witschard agreed to repayments and returned the items stolen from the cathedral in 1418. However, the power of the family of Raron in Valais remained broken.
Valais
The Valais is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland in the southwestern part of the country, around the valley of the Rhône from its headwaters to Lake Geneva, separating the Pennine Alps from the Bernese Alps. The canton is one of the drier parts of Switzerland in its central Rhône valley...
region against the power of a local noble family, the Raron family. The rebellion brought several cantons of the Swiss Confederation
Old Swiss Confederacy
The Old Swiss Confederacy was the precursor of modern-day Switzerland....
into conflict with each other and threatened a civil war in the Confederation. While Bern was initially successful, they were eventually forced to surrender most of their gains.
History
At the end of the 14th and beginning of the 15th Centuries, the BaronBaron
Baron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
of Raron
Raron
Raron is a municipality in the district of Raron in the canton of Valais in Switzerland.-History:Raron is first mentioned around 1101-1200 as Rarogni...
rapidly rose to the highest ecclesiastical and secular offices in the Valais
Valais
The Valais is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland in the southwestern part of the country, around the valley of the Rhône from its headwaters to Lake Geneva, separating the Pennine Alps from the Bernese Alps. The canton is one of the drier parts of Switzerland in its central Rhône valley...
. After the death of Bishop William I of Raron in 1402 and his father Peter of Raron in 1413, a rebellious party formed in the Upper Valais. They were opposed to the new Prince-Bishop
Prince-Bishop
A Prince-Bishop is a bishop who is a territorial Prince of the Church on account of one or more secular principalities, usually pre-existent titles of nobility held concurrently with their inherent clerical office...
Wilhelm II of Raron and the power claims of his uncle Witschard of Raron. Emperor
Holy Roman Emperor
The Holy Roman Emperor is a term used by historians to denote a medieval ruler who, as German King, had also received the title of "Emperor of the Romans" from the Pope...
Sigismund
Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor
Sigismund of Luxemburg KG was King of Hungary, of Croatia from 1387 to 1437, of Bohemia from 1419, and Holy Roman Emperor for four years from 1433 until 1437, the last Emperor of the House of Luxemburg. He was also King of Italy from 1431, and of Germany from 1411...
had granted Witschard sovereignty over the Valais in 1414 as a reward from his his military service in Lombardy. The rights over the Valais had been granted to the office of the Bishop of Sion in 999. The 1414 Imperial grant was supposed to transfer these rights from the office of the Bishop to the Raron family. The Zenden from Sierre
Sierre
Sierre is the capital of the district of Sierre in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. It has a population of 14,355.It is situated on the French–German language border of the canton of Wallis...
to Goms were not willing to have gained independence from Savoy to then lose it to a local noble. Throughout the Valais unrest turned into talk of rebellion. Under the leadership of the Dog Society (so called due to the dog in its banner) in Brig
Brig, Switzerland
Brig, officially Brig-Glis is a municipality in the district of Brig in the canton of Valais in Switzerland.The current municipality was formed in 1972 through the merger of Brig , Brigerbad and Glis.-History:...
, in 1415 this talk exploded into open rebellion.
The rebels besieged Witschard and his entourage at Seta Castle near Savièse
Savièse
Savièse is a municipality in the district of Sion in the canton of Valais in Switzerland.-History:Savièse is first mentioned in 1200 as Saviesi. In 1224 it was mentioned as Savisia. The municipality was formerly known by its German name Safiesch, however, that name is no longer...
and forced his resignation as episcopal bailiff
Bailiff
A bailiff is a governor or custodian ; a legal officer to whom some degree of authority, care or jurisdiction is committed...
along with the right to elect their own representatives in the government. A short peace was followed by additional fighting in 1416. Witschard allied himself with the House of Savoy, while Zenden of Goms entered into a treaty with Lucerne
Lucerne
Lucerne is a city in north-central Switzerland, in the German-speaking portion of that country. Lucerne is the capital of the Canton of Lucerne and the capital of the district of the same name. With a population of about 76,200 people, Lucerne is the most populous city in Central Switzerland, and...
, Uri
Canton of Uri
Uri is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland and a founding member of the Swiss Confederation. It is located in Central Switzerland. The canton's territory covers the valley of the Reuss River between Lake Lucerne and the St. Gotthard Pass. German is the primary language spoken in Uri...
and Unterwalden
Unterwalden
Unterwalden is the old name of a forest-canton of the Old Swiss Confederacy in central Switzerland, south of Lake Lucerne, consisting of two valleys or Talschaften, now organized as two half-cantons, an upper part, Obwalden, and a lower part, Nidwalden.Unterwalden was one of the three participants...
.
The Zenden troops destroyed Beauregard, Tourbillon and Montorge castles. Witschard then secured the support of Bern, which split the Swiss Confederation
Old Swiss Confederacy
The Old Swiss Confederacy was the precursor of modern-day Switzerland....
. The neutral cantons, 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:...
, Glarus
Glarus
Glarus is the capital of the Canton of Glarus in Switzerland. Glarus municipality since 1 January 2011 incorporates the former municipalities of Ennenda, Netstal and Riedern....
, Zurich
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 Zug
Zug
Zug , is a German-speaking city in Switzerland. The name ‘Zug’ originates from fishing vocabulary; in the Middle Ages it referred to the right to ‘pull up’ fishing nets and hence to the right to fish.The city of Zug is located in the Canton of Zug and is its capital...
attempted to intervene and restore peace. However, this was unsuccessful and in September 1417 Witschard and his family had to flee the country permanently. After another failed negotiations with Bern in 1418, Bern invaded over the Sanetsch Pass and plundered Sion
Sion, Switzerland
Sion is the capital of the Swiss canton of Valais. it had a population of .Landmarks include the Basilique de Valère and Château de Tourbillon. Sion has an airfield for civilian and military use, which, because of its location in a valley, causes a reasonable amount of noise pollution. FC Sion...
. In 1419, they attempted another invasion across the Grimsel Pass
Grimsel Pass
Grimsel Pass is a Swiss high mountain pass.-Position:It connects the valley of the Rhone River in the canton of Valais and the Haslital in the canton of Bern....
. Bern repeatedly attempted to get Lucerne, Uri and Unterwalden to switch sides and prevent a civil war in the Confederation. Their failed invasion in 1420, convinced Bern to seek a peaceful resolution. In the Evian
Évian-les-Bains
Évian-les-Bains or Évian is a commune in the northern part of the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France...
peace Bern and Witschard agreed to repayments and returned the items stolen from the cathedral in 1418. However, the power of the family of Raron in Valais remained broken.