fjt_011109 - SWITZERLAND - CONFEDERATION OF HELVETIA - CANTON OF GRISONS F. BESSON Capitaine des Gardes Suisses 1673

SWITZERLAND - CONFEDERATION OF HELVETIA - CANTON OF GRISONS

The canton of Graubünden is the largest of the Swiss cantons. For two centuries, Switzerland exported mercenaries, considered the best soldiers in Europe. France made use of it and doubled this commercial agreement with a political agreement intended to prevent the Swiss from providing contingents to enemies of France The Helvetic Republic imposed by the French ended in 1803. Bonaparte, by the Act of mediation gave the Swiss cantons a new constitution which provided for military aid of 16,000 men in exchange for the creation of a federative republic where each canton had its government, almost universal suffrage was established, the army and the coin were common.