Swiss Associates

Swiss Associates, also known as Associated Places, Zugewandte Orte (Facing Places),Andreas Würgler: "Facing Places", in: ''Historical Lexicon of Switzerland (HLS)'' , version from February 26, 2014. Online: https://hls-dhs-dss.ch/de/articles/009815/2014-02-26/ , consulted on January 9, 2024. or Pays Alliés (Allied Countries), were associate states of the Old Swiss Confederacy, with some form of alliance agreement with either the entire Confederation or individual cantons.

The associates were extremely heterogeneous. They had no institution that bound them together, other than their alliances with the Swiss Confederacy. Some had extremely close bonds with the Confederation, whereas others were only bound with one or two cantons. Generally, all nations that were related to the Confederation that were not subjects nor fully fledged cantons were considered associates.

Whereas members of the Swiss Confederacy were not permitted to form alliances or ties with outside states without consent of all cantons, the associates were permitted to form their own alliances and conduct their own diplomacy. Grisons for example even had their own delegates at the Congress of Vienna. Following the creation of the Federal Diet, associate states were also permitted to send delegates as representatives in the diet. However, not all associate states were not granted the right vote.Würgler, A.: ''Tagsatzung'' in German, French and Italian in the online '' Historical Dictionary of Switzerland''.; September 1, 2004 Over time, many associates were gradually absorbed into the cantons, or became cantons themselves. By 1815, the remaining associates would become part of the modern Swiss Confederacy.

Etymology

The origin of the German term ''Zugewandte Orte'' (literally meaning Facing Places) is unknown, but it was used in 15th century Swiss sources to refer to certain secular and ecclesiastical