District Administrator of the Valais

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As a legislature, the District Administrator of Valais was the most important political institution of the Republic of the Seven Zends of Valais . The district administrator has been in the Valais since 1301 at the latest. For the time being, the district administrator, consisting of the nobility and representatives of the parishes and communities, had an advisory role for the bishop and the cathedral chapter of the diocese of Mores . Later around 1400 the district administrator changed into a people's assembly of country people who had broken out of the feudal structures and saw themselves as free citizens. In the course of the wars against the Duchy of Savoy in the 14th and 15th centuries and under the influence of the Swiss Confederation, the bishop, as imperial prince of the county of Valais, had to accept the district administrator as the most important political force for the first time in 1384.

District councils' meetings were held twice a year, the May and Christmas district councilors. Representatives from each Zenden were sent to these meetings . Several hundred people were present for important business transactions. These meetings were mostly held in the open air in Sion , but also in other places, for example in Gampel in 1431 .

The German Zenden des Wallis ( Goms , Brig , Visp , Raron and Leuk ) also elected a captain since 1388. Its original military function merged increasingly with the Office of the episcopal bailiff (governor). From 1420 the captain called himself the governor . The governor was elected by the district administrator and confirmed by the bishop in Sion.

The jurisdiction of the governor comprised jurisdiction in the 16th century . From 1631, the district administrator was no longer convened by the bishop, but only by the governor. The governor became head of state of the republic of the seven Zenden .

The governor was elected for two years, from the 17th century for up to ten years. In the 17th century, the bishop's political influence was finally cut off, leaving him only to chair the council days.

Since 1848 the Grand Council has taken on the function of the former district administrator in the canton of Valais .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Philipp Kalbermatter: Governor (Wallis). In: Historical Lexicon of Switzerland .
  2. ^ Philipp Kalbermatter: District Administrator (VS). In: Historical Lexicon of Switzerland .