chain collar
A secret society of 31 Bündner officers and statesmen at the time of the Bündner turmoil is referred to as a chain league . The alliance was concluded on February 6, 1637 in Chur in the house of the mayor Gregor Meyer with the aim of expelling the French from Graubünden and winning back the Veltlin .
prehistory
In 1635 the Valtellina was conquered by the Duke of Rohan on behalf of France. Graubünden officers in the French service were annoyed that the negotiations about the return of the Veltlin to the Three Leagues were dragging on. In addition, many officers had financial problems due to outstanding pay payments.
In the autumn of 1636, the first plans to expel the French were made. However, the people of Graubünden were dependent on outside help; Contacts with Spain and Austria were intensified. Jörg Jenatsch , who was still officially in the service of Duke Henri de Rohan, played a major role in this , but in reality was playing a double game.
At the end of 1636 the Bundner Bundestag sent a delegation to Innsbruck. Superficially to discuss the neighborly situation, but actually to negotiate the expulsion of the French and the return of Veltlin.
chain collar
On February 6, 1637, Jenatsch reported to the members of the chain union founded on the same day. 31 influential personalities from all political camps were represented in the association. Jenatsch himself was not a member of the association, but worked behind the scenes to promote its goals. With the exception of the von Salis family, who clung to France by family tradition , there was little opposition to the alliance with the enemy and the betrayal that accompanied it.
expulsion of Rohan
On March 21, 1637, Jenatsch moved with a troop of 3000 men to the Rohanschanze near Landquart. On March 26, Rohan, who was defeated with his troop of around 1000 men, surrendered. On May 5th he was bid farewell in Chur as a friend of the people of Graubünden with all honours. In his document of capitulation he returned the subject lands of Valtellina, Bormio and Chiavenna to the Grisons. The last French troops left the Three Leagues on the same day.
web links
- Adolf Collenberg: Chain Bund. In: Historical Lexicon of Switzerland .
itemizations
- ↑ Jürg Simonett (ed.): Handbook of Bündner history. Volume 2: Early modern times. Bündner Month publishing house, Chur 2000, ISBN 3-905342-02-2 .
- ↑ Bündner church history