Gersau - a unique historical centre in Switzerland and Europe

1359
On 31 August 1359, Gersau concluded an alliance with Uri, Schwyz, Unterwalden and Lucerne as a "Zugewandter Ort", like the monastery of Engelberg or the towns of Biel, Mulhouse, Rottweil etc.. Gersau received protection and protection from these four central Swiss states, in return for which the small village faithfully and dutifully fulfilled its alliance obligations to the Confederation.

1390
On 3 June 1390, Gersau bought itself out of the Habsburg pledge and bailiwick authority with a sum of 690 pounds pfennigs. As a result, the rights of the bailiwick, tax rights and jurisdiction were transferred to the people of Gersau. Gersau became a free, unpledgeable municipality and at the same time belonged freely to the Confederation.

1433
On 31 October 1433, Gersau received documentary confirmation of the old freedoms and privileges from Emperor Sigismund. Gersau was placed directly under the protection of the German Emperor as a municipality with direct access to the empire. This actually marked the beginning of the history of the village of Gersau as a free state and republic in the Swiss Confederation and in Europe.

1436
On 28 June 1436, Gersau organised its communal state life with its own court and marriage law, which was only effective and applicable in the Republic of Gersau.

Gersau - early rulership Muri Abbey as ecclesiastical landlord

The first written mention of Gersau can be found in the founder's book of Muri Monastery, where it is recorded as "Gersouwe per totum" - Gersau in its entire area - at the consecration of the monastery church in 1054. Muri Abbey in Freiamt, founded in 1027 and abolished in 1841, was therefore the earliest known ecclesiastical lord of Gersau. The monastery had received the Gersau farm as an endowment from the Counts of Lenzburg. The farmers and fishermen of Gersau had to pay dues to Muri Abbey as farmers and clergymen: fish, cheese, cedar, sheep, wool, furs and nuts.

Collatur rights (parish election) and the church charter passed from Muri Monastery into the hands of Hermann von Buttikon; in 1483, the Ammann and parishioners of Gersau bought the ecclesiastical rights from him and thus the parish church and the parish benefice became the property of the people of Gersau, who also received the right to freely elect the parish.

Lenzburgs and Habsburgs as secular landlords

With the extinction of the Lenzburg (1172) and Kyburg (1264) dynasties, the power of the Habsburgs in the area around Lake Zug and Lake Lucerne grew threateningly. The collapse of royal imperial power and the strengthening and expansion of the Habsburg dynasty represented a significant danger and threat to the free peasants in the Waldstätten. With the election of the Habsburg Count Rudolf IV as German Emperor, this threat became even stronger. The struggle for independence against the Habsburgs initially culminated in the victorious battle of Morgarten (1315) for the Confederation and in the alliance of the three Waldstätten of Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden in Brunnen on 9 December 1315.
At this time, Gersau was in danger of being pawned off in a variety of ways, as the Habsburgs ruled Lucerne, Zug and Gersau. Gersau, the small, insignificant gem on the shores of Lake Lucerne, could be traded back and forth as a Habsburg pledge until the clever people of Gersau redeemed the pledge themselves in 1390.

Gersau as a republic

Own Landsgemeinde

It took place in the spring in the town hall square. Voters elected the mayor and the other 8 councillors for a two-year term and voted on substantive matters. Voting is based on the principle that "that which is done by the more shall be kept by the less".

Own dish

The Ammann was the chairman of the court and the supreme police authority, and "sworn judges" were also elected. Disobedience, breach of the peace and brawls were generally punished with a fine of 5 pounds. The court also decided on life or death. The gallows was a symbol of this high jurisdiction.

Own court and marriage law

In the court law of 28 June 1436, the free community life was regulated:

• The Landsgemeinde had the greatest power
• From the age of 14, all villagers and parishioners were obliged to attend the Landsgemeinde; non-attendance was penalised with a fine of 5 shillings.
• The Landammann was also the highest judge
• A bridegroom could leave a maximum of half of his estate to his bride as a legacy (and vice versa).
• If a man from Gersau married a woman from abroad, he had to pay a kind of "fine".

 
Own co-operative

Genossame is the term for a typical Alemannic system of utilisation of the Alps, meadows, pastures and forests, which belonged jointly to the long-established local citizens. The farm or village co-operatives of Gersau formed a kind of agricultural community corporation.

1798
French Revolution. Gersau belongs to the municipality of Schwyz and is assigned to the canton of Schwyz as a district in 1803.

1814-17
Gersau becomes a republic for another four years.

1815
Vienna Congress and Federal Treaty

1817
On 22 July 1817, the Tagsatzung decided to unite the village and countryside of Gersau with the Canton of Schwyz.

1818
From 1 January, Gersau is definitively a municipality and district of the Canton of Schwyz with its own jurisdiction and school sovereignty.