Author: Maarten Koning

The history of the Burgundians is intertwined with that of Switzerland, allowing us to reconstruct an important episode. Between 443 and 1032, the two Burgundian kingdoms were among the most distinctive of the barbarian kingdoms that emerged in the early Middle Ages following the fall of the Roman Empire.

The Burgundians

Who were the Burgundians? The Roman encyclopaedist Pliny the Elder first named this Germanic people. He places them on the river Oder in present-day Poland. They likely came from the island of Bornholm (now Danish territory) in the Baltic Sea.

In the 2nd century, they were located between the Oder and the Vistula. Over the next century, they moved south-westwards. At the end of the third century, the Burgundians settled on the Main, a tributary of the Rhine. In 359, they allied themselves with the Romans against the Alemanni.

Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld (1794-1872), Nibelungen, 1847, the death of  Siegfried. Image: Wikipedia/Nibelungen-Forum

Around 409, the Burgundians entered the Roman Empire in the region of Worms (Germany), where they enjoyed the status of federates (foederatus). The tribe founded its first kingdom at Worms (413-436) but was defeated by the Huns in 436. This battle was the origin of the Nibelungen saga. The Burgundians then moved further south, settling on the southern shores of Lake Geneva, in the Rhône valley and the Saône region.

The first Burgundian kingdom

The Burgundians founded a new kingdom that encompassed the regions of Besançon, Geneva, Lake Constance (Bodensee), and Saint-Maurice, extending as far south as Avignon.

Unlike other Germanic tribes, the Burgundians adopted the local language and culture, Gallo-Roman. It is remarkable because, although these newcomers were the new rulers, the Gallo-Roman population was much larger. It was at this time that the French-speaking Switzerland came to the fore. Gallo-Romanic became Franco-Provençal, the basis of the French spoken in French-speaking Switzerland.

The Alemanni, another German-speaking tribe, settled in other parts of Switzerland and introduced the Germanic language and culture, which replaced the Gallo-Roman language and culture within a few generations. 

The first Burgundian kingdom (443-534). Image: Wikiwand.com

It was during the 500s that Burgundian distinctiveness was forged. The inhabitants began to feel that they were subjects of the same king, living in the same entity and sharing a common destiny, in a complex historical period due to the religious situation (paganism, Arianism, the Church) and the ethnic, political and cultural situation (the bishops, the Franks, the Alamanni, the Ostrogoths, the Visigoths and other peoples and kingdoms).

This situation gave rise to Burgundian particularism and an identity that persisted even after the political entity’s breakup when the Frankish kings annexed the kingdom in 534.

Despite the fall of the Burgundian kingdom in 534, the Frankish conquerors (Merovingians and later the Carolingians) also called themselves kings of Burgundy (regnum Burgundiae), such was its prestige.

Burgundy was an accepted concept as a political entity, which was applied in various areas and to other political entities in later centuries.

Sapaudia around 475. Image: Marco Zanoli/Wikipedia

Sapaudia (Savoye)

Sapaudia consisted of the territory of Geneva (Genava).  Sapaudia means ‘pays des sapins’ (‘land of fir trees) in Celtic. Sapaudia formed the city and diocese of Geneva, adding the territories of Nyon and Avenches (a large part of today’s French-speaking Switzerland), as far as the Rhine and Lake Constance (Bodensee).

Treaty of Verdun

After the Frankish Empire (534-888) of the Merovingians and Carolingians, the division of the political legacy of Charlemagne’s Empire (748-814) in 843 (Treaty of Verdun) led to a period of unrest.

The three sons of Louis the Pious (778-840), Charlemagne’s son, divided the empire. The territory of the old Burgundian kingdom (443-543) was given to Lothair (795-855). This Middle Kingdom included the Low Countries, Alsace, Lorraine, Luxembourg, Switzerland and Italy.

The eastern part, ruled by Louis the German (804-876), became, roughly, present-day Germany and the core of the Holy Roman Empire (962-1806), while the western part, ruled by Charles the Bold (823-877), became, more or less, present-day France and the Kingdom of France (987-1789).

In the years 843, 879 and 887, there were four political entities named Burgundy, essentially areas of the old Kingdom of Burgundy (443-534):

• the Duchy of Burgundy in the north-west, roughly the area of present-day French Burgundy and the later administrative centre of the illustrious Dukes of Burgundy of the 14th and 15th centuries;
• the County of Burgundy, present-day Franche-Comté, with Besançon as its capital;
• the kingdom of Lower Burgundy in the south, which stretched from Geneva to the Rhône delta;
• the kingdom of Upper Burgundy stretched across the present-day cantons of Geneva, Vaud, Jura and the two Basel cantons (Basel-Stadt and Basel-Landschaft).
• 

  Payerne

The second kingdom and Burgundian distinctiveness

The Burgundian kingdom fell in 534, but the territory retained its identity until the Treaty of Verdun (843). The Burgundians’ first expansion determined the future and shape of the second kingdom (888-1032), an intermediate domain between Gaul and Italy. The Burgundians also took over the Rhône and Saône river basins.

The second Burgundian kingdom (in green). Image: Marco Zanoli/Wikipedia

The second kingdom of Burgundy extended from Basel to the Mediterranean in 1032, when it was incorporated into the Holy Roman Empire. The territory even gave rise to several entities known as Burgundy: the Duchy of Burgundy, the County of Burgundy, and the Duchy of Transjurane Burgundy, also referred to as Upper Burgundy.

Karl Giradet (1813-1871),  1857. The battle of Murten (1476). Collection: Museum Murten

The third Burgundian kingdom that never came

Burgundy has always remained a prestigious concept. Ironically, the Swiss Confederation prevented the creation of the third kingdom of Burgundy between 1474 and 1477. Establishing a third Burgundian kingdom was the ambition of the (last) Duke Charles the Bold (1433-1477).

He almost achieved his goal, and the powerless kingdom of France could have been consigned to history. In three battles (Grandson, Murten and Nancy), the Confederation defeated the Burgundian army and ended the last duke’s life and ambitions.

Conclusion

The Duchy and Kingdoms of Burgundy have long since ceased to exist, having been absorbed into France, Germany and Switzerland.

However, during this period, the current French-speaking part of Switzerland strengthened its linguistic and cultural identity. The French-German language border in Switzerland did not shift significantly after 1033.

Fribourg/Freiburg, la Sarine/ die Saane

Only the Burgundian Wars between 1474 and 1477 and the occupation of French-speaking Vaud in 1536 by the partly French-speaking canton and Catholic city of Fribourg (Freiburg) and the German-speaking Protestant city of Bern led to bilingualism and the prevalence of Catholicism or Protestantism in some towns and areas.

But what culture, colour, and lustre did the two Burgundian kingdoms and the Duchy of Burgundy give to Europe and Switzerland! Payerne, Saint-Maurice, and Neuchâtel are just a few of their notable heritage sites.

(Bron: J. Favrod, Les Burgondes. Un royaume oublié au cœur de l’Europe, Lausanne 2011; F. Demotz, L’an 888. Le royaume de Bourgogne. Une puissance européenne au bord du Léman, Lausanne 2012; F. Walter, Une histoire de la Suisse, Neuchâtel, 2016)

The canton of Basel-Stadt consists of three municipalities: Basel, Riehen, and Bettingen. Riehen and Bettingen are located on the right bank of the Rhine, surrounded by Germany. Riehen was already inhabited before the Roman occupation by the Celts. The Alemanni settled in the region after the Romans’ departure in the 5th century.

Reconstruction of a Roman farmhouse on the highest point of the Maienbühl. Model: Gemeinde Riehen

The name Riehen first appears in a document in 1113. The bishop of Basel and St. Gall, as well as the monasteries of St. Blasien and Wettingen, owned estates in the area and the village.

St. Martin Church, 11th century

The city of Basel acquired these estates by purchase in 1522 and 1540. Riehen was governed by a bailiff (Landvogt) and was part of a so-called Untertanengebiet. Riehen became a Protestant municipality in 1528. More and more (wealthy) citizens of Basel bought estates.

The new and the old Wettsteinhaus and Museum

After the French revolutionary troops invaded the village in 1798, it was granted the same rights as those of Basel. The (French) Mediation Act of 1803 assigned Riehen to the district of Liestal. In 1833, Riehen was transferred to the canton of Basel-City (Basel-Stadt) and became a municipality.

Riehen was a border town for refugees in the Second World War. The Eiserne Hand was a stroke of fate that crossed Swiss territory, encompassing hope, life, disillusionment, and death. 

The Fondation Beyeler is one of the village’s main attractions. (See also the villa Wenkenhof.)

Bettingen shares, to some extent, the same history. The canton’s only mountain and its Chrischona complex are another story.

Fondation Beyeler in Riehen

Bettingen

St. Chrischona

Source and further information: Gemeinde Bettingen; Gemeinde Riehen

The Viticulture in the Canton of Basel-Stadt

Viticulture in the Canton of Basel-Stadt has a tradition of over 1200 years. The first reference to viticulture appeared in 751. Viticulture experienced its heyday in the two hundred years between the Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648) and the mid-19th century.

The vineyards were located around Riehen and Bettingen. The vineyard area, spanning approximately 70 hectares, produced half a million litres of wine in its heyday.  However, this period was followed by a critical phase,  which significantly reduced viticulture, and in Bettingen it disappeared completely. Today, viticulture remains a presence in Riehen. Two vineyards are located at ‘am Schlipf‘ on the Tüllinger Berg.

That is to say, on the territory of the canton. German vineyards stretch over kilometres.  The four kilometer long Weiler Weinweg, the Tüllinger Weinweg of the Riehener Weinweg show the way in and around canton Basel-Stadt.

Vineyards in the canton of Basel-Stadt.

Two wineries currently cultivate the vineyards at the foot of the Tüllinger Berg ‘am Schlipf‘ around Riehen: Weingut Riehen (around 3.4 hectares) and Wyguet Rinklin (around 3.5 hectares).

As early as the 19th century, Weingut Riehen was recognised for its significant contribution to the local economy and its quality of wines. During this time, some historical buildings were constructed on the vineyards, which have been preserved to this day, along with the quality of the wines. In addition to some typical varieties, Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay are produced here. The Weingut Riehen is located in the village of Riehen near the Sarasin Park.

The second private winery is the “Wyguet Rinklin”. Their range includes various white, rosé, and red wines, as well as sparkling wine and spirits.

One of the smallest cantons in the country was once a significant producer of wine. Although the quantity sharply declined, the quality remains unquestionable. Autumn is the perfect time to explore the wine region of Canton Basel-Stadt, and a visit to Riehen, one of the only three municipalities in the canton.

Impressions from Riehen

Sarasinpark

Der Spittelmatthof

Palazzo Tondü (Tondü Palace) is the history of a family of chimney sweeps from Tessin. The history of the many Zuckerbäcker from Graubünden and their worldwide fame is well known. However, most of these emigrants had a poor existence. Only a tiny minority became wealthy through their hotels, restaurants, cafes, patisseries or, e.g. breweries in (capital) cities of Europe, North America and South America. A few returned to their village of origin in Graubünden and built city palaces.

The same story applies to Swiss mercenaries (Söldner), mainly from the Innerschweiz, Bern, Freiburg, Zurich and Solothurn. Especially the organisers, some prominent families in villages or towns, amassed great wealth, fame, (military) prestige and sometimes military rank up to the highest papal, imperial, royal, princely and colonial circles of Europe.

This industry was tightly organised. Organisers made contracts with rulers in other European countries. Most mercenaries, mainly from peasant and poor families, did not see their ‘Heimat’ again or returned as poor as ever. The word homesick (Heimweh in German) originates in this mercenary army of about a million and a half men from 1500 until its legal prohibition in 1848.

Chimney sweeps

The history of the Zuckerbäcker and mercenaries is a well-known part of Swiss history. It differs from the history of the spazzacamini, plural of spazzacamino, or chimney sweeps (Kaminfeger) from Tessin.

The emigration of chimney sweeps from Lombardy and Piedmont (Italy) is well known. However, the fact that many Italian-speaking chimney sweeps came from Tessin has yet to be brought to attention.

In Switzerland, this history was practically unknown until recently. After 1945, this industry was over, but (grand) parents and their descendants were ashamed of ‘selling’ their (young) sons, and the subject was taboo for a long time.

It is thanks to some Swiss museums (including Museo di Val Verzasca in Sonogno and Museo Regionale Centrovalli-Pedemonte in Intragna) that this history has been documented from 2000 onwards.

Lisa Tetzner (1894-1963) published the novel Die schwarzen Brüder. Abenteuer eines Tessiner Bergbauernjungen (Aarau, 1940)

Elisabeth Wenger (1946) wrote the history book ‘Als Lebender Besen im Kamin. Einer vergessenen Vergangenheit auf der Spur (Books on Demand, BoD 2010). 

Large families, with sometimes ten or more children, could not feed themselves. Even the fathers often worked as chimney sweeps in winter and as agricultural or factory workers in summer. With the money earned, the family in the village could be fed again for a while.

Boys aged six to eight were small and could easily descend narrow chimneys to clean them. Parents often had no choice but to have their (very) young sons work for Padroni, who sent the children to Lombardy, Piedmont, the Netherlands, Austria, France, England or even America and Russia to sweep chimneys under their supervision. The beginnings of this industry date back to the 15th century.

Chimney sweep with his padrone around 1870. Photo: Museum Museo di Val Verzasca in Sonogno 

Most chimney sweeps came from the valleys of Centovalli, Verzasca, Vigezzo and Maggia near Locarno. In 1538, the well-known chronicler Aegidius Tschudi of Glarus speaks of the valley Vigezzo (partly Tessin, partly Lombardy): “im Tal Vejetz sind alle Kaminfeger, die nach Neapel, Sizilien, Frankreich und Tütschland reisen“( Aegidius Tschudi, Die uralt wahrhaftig Rhetia, Basel 1538).

Another chronicler reports: “…das Kaemifaegertal, das man nennet Vallis Vegetia. Daraus kommend gemeinlich alle Kaeminfaeger, die durchziehend aller lender des gantzen Europae…” (Johannes Stumpf, Gemeiner loblicher Eydgenossenschaft Stetten, Landen und Völckeren Chronik wirdiger thaaten beschreibung (Zurich 1548).

Johannes Stumpf, Gemeiner loblicher Eydgenossenschaft Stetten, Landen und Völckeren Chronik wirdiger thaaten beschreibung (Zürich 1548). Collection: Zentralbibliothek Zürich

On a mid-16th-century map, Centovalli is even referred to as Kämifegertal (Giulio Rossi-Eligio Pometta, Storia del Cantone Ticino (Locarno, 1980). Tessin was a subject territory (Untertanengebiet) of the Confederation (Eidgenossenschaft) from 1512 to 1798, governed by bailiffs from the cantons.

The padroni were the organisers in this industry, say employment agencies for chimney sweeps. Like the mercenary branch, the branch was owned by a few families in villages. Parents concluded seasonal contracts for their sons in Lombardy or Piedmont from November to April. For countries further away, these were five-year contracts. During the summer, they worked on farms, (textile) factories, households or other destinations.

The parents received money, half of which was paid in advance and the other half at the end of the contract. Moreover, there were fewer mouths to feed at home.

One writer said of his childhood poverty, “we ate chestnuts in the morning, chestnuts in the afternoon and chestnuts in the evening”. It was child labour and slavery with seven-day working weeks, unhealthy and dangerous work with often ruthless padroni and commissioners. Many (very) young children did not survive. Only a few were able to improve their standard of living, and even fewer became wealthy.

Lionza

Palazzo Tondü in Lionza

And yet, there are also stories of social ascent and wealth. An example is the palace in Lionza of the Tondutti family in the Centovalli. Father Giuseppe Tondutti and two sons, Andrea, aged 13, and Antonio, aged 7, travelled to Parma in October 1630 to sweep chimneys. Fate brought them to the villa of wealthy banker Marini. However, Giuseppe choked on the chimney because a servant had lit the kitchen oven, unaware that the chimney sweep was active.

The childless banker and his wife decided to adopt Andrea and Antonio. It was the beginning of a rapid career move to the highest noble circles, and already in 1650, the brothers had built their palace in Lionza. Their descendants did not live there permanently, and in 1784, knight Ferdinando Tondü donated the palace to the municipality of Lionza. In 1984, the foundation (Fondazione) Casa Tondü was established to renovate the complex.

The Tondutti were not the only ones. City palaces were also built in other villages. The origins of these spazzacamini can be recognised by the many chimneys on their buildings. They or their descendants had started as chimney sweeps and became padroni. However, this background remained less prestigious than the success of Zuckerbäcker or mercenaries in foreign military service.

(Source: Bron: Elisabeth Wenger, Als Lebender Besen im Kamin. Einer vergessenen Vergangenheit auf der Spur, Books on Demand, BoD 2010; Guido Fiscalini, I Tondù di Lionza (Museo Regionale Centrovalli-Pedemonte in Intragna, 1998).

Lionza, the chapel of the Tondü family

The St. Antonio da Padova Church, 17th century, probably financed by the Tondü family.

Basel, Unterer Heuberg, the chimney sweep