Question 321 of 350 · Beginnings and the Old Swiss Confederacy
What does the Rütli commemorate?
An was erinnert das Rütli?
Correct answer: B
Why
According to tradition, men from Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden swore their alliance there. That is why the Rütli is a symbol of the alliance of the founding cantons.
Common mistakes
- C: a battlefield
- There was no battle on the Rütli; famous battlefields are, for example, Morgarten or Sempach.
- D: a peace treaty
- The Rütli stands for an alliance of mutual help, not for a peace treaty after a war.
Topic
1291, the Rütli and William Tell
At the beginning of August 1291, three valley communities on Lake Lucerne formed an alliance: Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden. They are called the founding cantons (Urkantone). Today Unterwalden is divided into two cantons: Obwalden and Nidwalden. The alliance is recorded in a document in Latin, the Federal Charter. In it, the valley communities promised each other mutual help and wanted to settle disputes peacefully.
History of Switzerland · Beginnings and the Old Swiss Confederacy
Sources
Official question of the Canton of Zurich (Gemeindeamt, May 2025). Translation and explanation: Swiss Passport.