The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-24
w.

The Development Of Switzerland after the Ala
mannan and Burgundian occupation was not un-
restrained tho Tsutonic peoples turning their
arms az ainst ono another. and a third Teutonic
race, the Franka succeeding in gaining an as
oendancy over the others Tho Alamanni were
overthrow BY Clovis In A. D. 400. in a battle
on the Upper Rhine. In 632, tho sons OF Clovis
completely routed tho Burg in the battle Of
Autun. -Four years later Coire- Rheta, now tho
Grisons was coded to the Franks by the Ostro
goths, to whose Kingdom II had belonged, and tho
Merovingans now reigned supreme throughout
Switzerland. The Franks, however, did not sub
vert the native institutions and customs, either in
Western Eastern Switzerland, so far as the civil
and military administration was concerned. but
they did their utmost to spread Christianity among
the Alamnnpi; tho Burg were already con-
verted. The principal factor in the conversion OF
the Alamanni was the influence exercised by Irish
monks, who devoted themselves with enthusiasm
TO missionary labors. Columbian and his follow
ers, driven out Of Gaul came to the Lake Of Zurich
about go whence they proceeded TO the neighbors
hood Of the Lake of Constance. Excess OF zeal
against the pagan rights practiced by the Ala
manni brought him and his companions into great
peril. Columbian escaped into Italy; Galus, ono
of his disciples, left behind account OF sickness
built himself cell in Ga on the wilds OF Stomach,
and gathered disciples about him. One hundred
and six years af.erward Othmar founded on
tho spot tho Benedictine monastery Of ST. Gall.
destined 10 become o beacon OF Christian culture
In eastern Switzerland.
About A. d. 800. tho whole Of Switzerland be-
pro vince and an integral part Of the empire
Of Charles tho Great II was then divided into
a number Of counties under royal governors,
who administered justice and mustered troops
In the Kings name but after Charles's death.
md
tho counties became hereditary fefs In tho
hands OF powerful families. In 9l7 arose
tho dukedom OF Alamannia, or Suabia, which
LASTED till tho thirteenth century. The people OF
Switzerland suffered much at this period Not only
did tho predatory Hungarians and Saracens,
the former advancing from tho east and tho latter
from strong holds in the south Of France penetrate
into towns, villages and monasteres devastate the
fields and stop trafic, but among the Swiss them
selves feuds and civil wars woye almost incessant
The condition Of the freemen became worse and
worOe they either had to yield themselves
as vassals. or copyhold tenants, to some
temporal or spiritual lord. or else to become
freedmen. OF bondmen OF the nobility A powerful
aristocracy was gradually developed. Notwith-
standing the dissolution Of tho political conditions
ecclesiastical learning hounshed signally about
the end OF tho ninth and the beginning of tho
tonth century. Tho rich monasteries Of St Gall
Zurich, Rheinau and Reichenau kept up tho
Intellectual life which had been awakened in the
time Of Charles the Great Especially distinguish
ed was the monastery Of St Gall, to which belong
cd the famous singer and composer, Notker the
Stammerer, or the Saint also Ratbert Of Zurich,
the historian Of tho monastery, and Tutlo, the
great master sculptor The ancient classics were
read; boys learned TO mako cxtempore Latin
hexameters and pentameters. All the arts and
sciences were taug hit and cultivated here the study
OF the German language received a powerful
stimulus, and hero was finished the first German
celestial globe Writing and painting were sedu-
lousy cultivated at St Gall. and tho production
Of illuminated manuscripts became an organized
industry. Compared with the neiRhborhood of
st Gail and eastern Switzerland in general, the
western, or Burgundian section, remained for
some centuries after Charles the Great intellect
ually dead; IL was the German element which. Al
this period. took the lead in tho development Of
element was considerably increased when the
German Emperor. Henry l. in 1888 united Bur
Eundy with AlamAnnia and CORE Rhueua From
the eleventh century. Germans are found in great
numbers in Romance territory; the Rhntian aris
tocrsoy was chiefly formed of Germans The Ger
mAns also advanced 10 the southwest: the Bernese
oberland and Engleberg were colonized from
AlamAnnia, and later Upper VAlais was also
peoplod by men OF tho Same stock Germans
pushed forward even TO the valley Of the Same
River. which bisects the canton Of Fribourr, Thu
tho predominant character Of SWitzerland b.
came GermA9