Switzerland's 1847 Sonderbund War: The 26-Day Civil War

In 1847, Switzerland fought a brief civil war that reshaped its future. The Sonderbund, a league of seven Catholic cantons, opposed centralization and the expulsion of the Jesuits. General Guillaume-Henri Dufour led federal troops in a campaign of just 26 days, with minimal casualties, defeating the separatists. This episode explores the key battles—Geltwil, Fribourg, Lucerne—and the aftermath that led to the 1848 Constitution. We discuss Dufour's humanitarian tactics, the role of the Tagsatzung, and how the war set the stage for modern Swiss federalism. Names like Ulrich Ochsenbein and Jonas Furrer appear as political architects. The episode also touches on the Jesuit controversy and the Reduit strategy. A concise look at a pivotal moment when Switzerland nearly fractured but instead forged unity. #Sonderbund #SwissCivilWar #GuillaumeHenriDufour #Tagsatzung #1847 #Jesuitenartikel #Eidgenossenschaft #Geltwil #Fribourg #Lucerne #UlrichOchsenbein #JonasFurrer #FederalConstitution #Neutrality #History #FexingoHistory #Switzerland #War Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo