Solothurn murder night

The Solothurn Murder Night or Murder Night of Solothurn was a warlike incident on the night of 10/11. November 1382 in today's Swiss city of Solothurn .

prehistory

The impoverished noble family Kyburg- Burgdorf wanted, among other things, the lordships of Altreu and Balm to Duke Leopold III. pledge from Habsburg . The free imperial city of Solothurn felt threatened by this possible Habsburg conquest in their vicinity and reported resistance against it. After the new Kyburgian tariffs in the area around the city had not been successful, the Kyburg-Burgdorf Count Rudolf II decided to force the city to reason.

The night of the murder

In Solothurn, Rudolf had allies in some of the canons of St. Ursenstift , who were supposed to make it easier for him to enter the city walls. He gathered his forces at Wiedlisbach . However, his plan was betrayed to the Solothurners prematurely, according to legend by Hans Roth von Rumisberg . This gave the people of Solothurn time to take defensive measures. When Rudolf's armed forces approached at night, they encountered an unexpected readiness to defend themselves and were unable to take the city. Instead, they murdered the peasant population living outside the city walls. The exact number of victims is not known. In the further course of the choir Rudolf's accomplices fled the city. One who could not save himself was murdered by the citizens.

consequences

The result of the Solothurn Murder Night was the Burgdorf War , where the allied places Bern and Solothurn sealed the fall of the House of Kyburg.

literature

• Bruno Amiet : History of Solothurn, Volume 1.