Common rule

Map of the common lordships in the Old Confederation in the 18th century

Until 1798, areas in the Old Confederation were referred to as common lordships that were conquered jointly by several of the XIII ruling old towns and administered jointly as bailiffs . The number and the combination of ruling places varied greatly. After the Second Villmerger War in 1712, the reformed cantons forced a new composition of the ruling places in the German common bailiwicks .

German common bailiwicks

The "German Common Bailiffs" were in Aargau and Eastern Switzerland. They were acquired by the Confederation in connection with the Swiss Habsburg Wars.

Free offices (1415); VII Orte (excluding Bern), after 1712 Upper Freiamt: VIII Orte, Lower Freiamt: Zurich, Bern, Glarus
County of Baden (1415); VIII Orte, after 1712 Zurich, Bern, Glarus
County Sargans (1460/83); VII Orte (excluding Bern), after 1712 VIII Orte
Landgraviate of Thurgau (1460); VII Orte (excluding Bern), after 1712 VIII Orte
Rule of the Rhine Valley (1490); VIII Orte (excluding Bern with Appenzell), after 1712 VIII Orte and Appenzell

Ennetbirgische or Welsche Vogteien

Map of the Ennetbirgischen Bailiwicks of the Old Confederation

The Ennetbirgischen or Welschen Vogteien were in today's Canton Ticino . They were acquired by the Duchy of Milan during the Ennetbirgian campaigns . The federal rule over the valleys Travaglia and Cuvio as well as over the Ashen valley was controversial and only lasted for a short time. The bailiwicks were ruled by those places that were involved in the conquest. In the case of the southern bailiwicks, these were all places except Appenzell.

Under Uri, Schwyz and Nidwalden

Reffier (Riviera) (1403-1422, 1495)
Bollenz (Blenio) (1477–80, 1495)
Bellenz (Bellinzona) (1500)

Among the XII places

Maiental (Val Maggia) (1512)
Lauis (Lugano) (1512)
Luggarus (Locarno) (1512)
Mendris (Mendrisio) (1512)
Val Travaglia (1512-15)
Cuvio (1512-15)
Ashenvale (1512-15)

Two-part bailiffs

Common rulers whose rulership was shared only by two federal locations were referred to as “two-part bailiwicks”. In this way, the city of Bern dominated areas conquered jointly with Solothurn and, in the longer term, with Freiburg. The cantons of Schwyz and Glarus also shared control of the former Toggenburg and Habsburg possessions in the Linth Plain, which were fiercely contested during the Old Zurich War .

Bern and Solothurn

Reign of Büren (1388-1393)
Landgraviate Buchsgau (1428–1463)

Bern and Freiburg

Grasburg / Schwarzenburg rule (1423)
Murten (1475)
Grandson (1475)
Orbe and Echallens (1475)

Schwyz and Glarus

Zurich, Glarus and Bern

Hurdles (1712)

Common rule with relatives

In 1538–69, the seven tens of Valais and Bern shared control over part of what is now Haute-Savoie. Until the 18th century, only rule over Tessenberg remained, which was shared by a ruling place with a relative , here Bern and the Principality of Basel.

Lordship of Tessenberg / Montagne de Diesse (1388); Bern, Principality of Basel
Landvogtei Hochtal (1538–1569); Wallis, Bern

Other common lordships and umbrella bailiffs

Some of the protectorates of the Old Confederation are also often referred to as “common dominions” because several places shared the patronage.

Village of Gersau (1332); Lucerne, Uri, Schwyz, Unterwalden
Bellelay Abbey (1414); Bern, Biel, Solothurn. Is under the sovereignty of the Principality of Basel .
Engelberg abbey (1425); Lucerne, Uri, Schwyz, Unterwalden
Prince Abbey of St. Gallen (1451); Zurich, Lucerne, Schwyz, Glarus. At the same time, the prince abbey is a dedicated place.
Rapperswil rule (1458); until 1712: Uri, Schwyz, Unterwalden, Glarus, from 1712 Zurich, Bern, Glarus
County of Toggenburg (1436); until 1718: Schwyz, Glarus, then Zurich, Bern. At the same time, Toggenburg is subject to the Prince Abbey of St. Gallen.
Pfäfers Abbey (1460–1483); Zurich, Lucerne, Uri, Schwyz, Unterwalden, Zug, Glarus; 1483 to the county of Sargans
County of Neuchâtel (1512–1529); XII places