Arnold von Melchtal: Difference between revisions
m adding citation, corected a spelling error |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{unref}}{{context}}{{importance}} |
{{unref}}{{context}}{{importance}} |
||
'''Arnold von Melchtal''' was one of the three [[Eidgenosse| |
'''Arnold von Melchtal''' was one of the three [[Eidgenosse|Eidgenossen]], the legendary founding fathers of [[Switzerland]]. He representet the Canton of [[Unterwalden]] at the [[Rütlischwur]] |
||
[[Aegidius Tschudi]] in his [[Chronicon Helveticum]] tells Arnolds story as follows: |
[[Aegidius Tschudi]] in his [[Chronicon Helveticum]] tells Arnolds story as follows: |
||
| Line 13: | Line 13: | ||
Even tough there is no contemporary sources supporting this story, and altough Tschudi heavily relied on folklore when he wrote down this story more then 250 years later, this is still tought as historical fact in Swiss schools. <ref>Müller, Otto "Denkwürdige Vergangenheit", p.88f. Kantonaler Lehrmittelverlag Aarau 1968/<ref> |
Even tough there is no contemporary sources supporting this story, and altough Tschudi heavily relied on folklore when he wrote down this story more then 250 years later, this is still tought as historical fact in Swiss schools. <ref>Müller, Otto "Denkwürdige Vergangenheit", p.88f. Kantonaler Lehrmittelverlag Aarau 1968/<ref> |
||
==Notes:== |
|||
{{Reflist}} |
{{Reflist}} |
||
Revision as of 19:21, 29 April 2008
 |
 | This article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject. |
Arnold von Melchtal was one of the three Eidgenossen, the legendary founding fathers of Switzerland. He representet the Canton of Unterwalden at the Rütlischwur
Aegidius Tschudi in his Chronicon Helveticum tells Arnolds story as follows:
At the beginning of the 14th century, Landenberger was Vogt of Obwalden for Habsburg. He was know for his cruelty, and enjoyed to torment his subordinates with cruel jests. One day, the Vogt Landenberger decided, that Heinrich von Melchtal had forfeitet his yoke of oxen, since he did not pay his taxes on time. He send out armed mens to confiscate the oxen. When they arrived at the home of Heinrich von Melchtal, he and his son Arnold were right then plowing the meager fields they had. Heinrich tried to pleade with the minions of the Vogt, arguing that he would need the oxen to plow, and if the oxen were indeed to be confiscated, he surely could not pay the taxes and would probably starve.
To this the was answered: "If you need to plow, you can have your son pull the plow". Enraged by this, Arnold von Melchtal grabed the stick he used to guide the oxen and beat the minion over his hands, breaking him his fingers. After that, he had of course to flee the dominion of Vogt Landenberger and found refuge with Walter Fürst in Uri.The Vogt took cruel revenge on the poor old father of Arnold, having him torutured and blinded, and confiscating all his property.
This case, among other similar event, gave the people of Uri, Schwyz and Underwalden ample reasons to form a pact against their cruel overlords. This pact was the Rütlischwur which in the end led to the overthrow of the foreign magistrats, and the independence of the Switzerland.
Even tough there is no contemporary sources supporting this story, and altough Tschudi heavily relied on folklore when he wrote down this story more then 250 years later, this is still tought as historical fact in Swiss schools. <ref>Müller, Otto "Denkwürdige Vergangenheit", p.88f. Kantonaler Lehrmittelverlag Aarau 1968/<ref>
 | This Swiss biographical article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |