Burgundian Confederation

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Alliance treaty between Bern and Freiburg, 1243

The Burgundian Confederation was an alliance between different cities, regions and noble lords in the area of ​​the then Landgraviate of Aarburgund and Burgundy .

The imperial city of Bern was the leader in the Burgundian Confederation . It was at the center of a complex network of alliances between cities, landscapes and noble lords. The main goal was to preserve the independence gained after the Dukes of Zähringen died out from the emerging great territorial rulers of Savoy and Habsburg . Through alliances between Bern, Solothurn and the Rhenish (1327) and the Swabian League of Cities (1385), the Burgundian Confederation gained strong backing in the empire. The city of Bern finally concluded various alliances with the Swiss Confederation (1323, 1341 and 1353) as well as with the Savoy and the Habsburgs in changing coalitions.

Within the Burgundian Confederation, there were repeated tensions over the partially contradicting alliances. Between the cities of Bern and Freiburg in particular, there was at times a strong rivalry that escalated during the Laupenkrieg . As a result of this conflict, Bern definitely entered the Swiss Confederation in 1353. Many of the former partners later became subjects of the city of Bern or also joined the Swiss Confederation as members or associated places .

Members of the Burgundian Confederation

(In brackets the year of the alliance with Bern)

Cities and Landscapes

Secular noble lords

Clergy

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