In some
cantons
A canton is a type of administrative division of a country. In general, cantons are relatively small in terms of area and population when compared with other administrative divisions such as counties, departments, or provinces. Internationally, t ...
of
Switzerland
). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...
, the
bourgeoisie
The bourgeoisie ( , ) is a social class, equivalent to the middle or upper middle class. They are distinguished from, and traditionally contrasted with, the proletariat by their affluence, and their great cultural and financial capital. They ...
is both a form of local community right and a personal right.
The
system of bourgeoisie stems from medieval urban law which was common to all the cities of
Western Europe
Western Europe is the western region of Europe. The region's countries and territories vary depending on context.
The concept of "the West" appeared in Europe in juxtaposition to "the East" and originally applied to the ancient Mediterranean ...
(see:
Bourgeois of Brussels
In City of Brussels, Brussels, as in most European cities, one needed the capacity of Bourgeoisie, bourgeois (equivalent to German Burgher (title), burgher or English Burgess (title), burgess; in French ''bourgeois'' or ''citoyen'' ''de Bruxelle ...
). The bourgeoisie, or bourgeois
''commune'' (i.e. municipality), is a local "community" that still exists in certain cantons, in which inhabitants originating from that specific ''commune'', called "old bourgeois", as opposed to the new inhabitants, participate. This current bourgeoisie system, which can be traced back to the law on the communes of 1866, has gradually lost importance. However, these institutions still manage some hospitals and, in some cantons, confer a "right to bourgeoisie", sometimes prior to Swiss
naturalization
Naturalization (or naturalisation) is the legal act or process by which a non-citizen of a country may acquire citizenship or nationality of that country. It may be done automatically by a statute, i.e., without any effort on the part of the in ...
. This system is linked to the
place of origin In Switzerland, the place of origin (german: Heimatort or Bürgerort, literally "home place" or "citizen place"; french: Lieu d'origine; it, Luogo d'origine) denotes where a Swiss citizen has their municipal citizenship, usually inherited from prev ...
.
There is a "Swiss Federation of Bourgeoisies and Corporations" whose roles include the defence of "maintenance of bourgeois institutions".
In Switzerland, there was a "right to ''bourgeoisie''" (a sort of city right), which was a charter of freedoms and rights contracted between the
nobility
Nobility is a social class found in many societies that have an aristocracy (class), aristocracy. It is normally ranked immediately below Royal family, royalty. Nobility has often been an Estates of the realm, estate of the realm with many e ...
and the bourgeoisie. The prerequisite for belonging to this bourgeoisie was possession of real estate in the heart of the city.
Cantonal particularities
In the canton of
Valais
Valais ( , , ; frp, Valês; german: Wallis ), more formally the Canton of Valais,; german: Kanton Wallis; in other official Swiss languages outside Valais: it, (Canton) Vallese ; rm, (Chantun) Vallais. is one of the cantons of Switzerland, 26 ...
, there are still many active bourgeoisies. Along with the ''municipal'' commune that deals with resident citizens, one generally finds the ''bourgeois'' commune, whose scope particularly affects the citizens who originate from the municipality with regard to the law on nationality. Thus, one can be Swiss and residing in a municipality, without having the right of bourgeoisie.
In contrast, in the canton of
Geneva
Geneva ( ; french: Genève ) frp, Genèva ; german: link=no, Genf ; it, Ginevra ; rm, Genevra is the List of cities in Switzerland, second-most populous city in Switzerland (after Zürich) and the most populous city of Romandy, the French-speaki ...
(which replaced the
Republic of Geneva
The Canton of Geneva, officially the Republic and Canton of Geneva (french: link=no, République et canton de Genève; frp, Rèpublica et canton de Geneva; german: Republik und Kanton Genf; it, Repubblica e Cantone di Ginevra; rm, Republica e ...
), the
bourgeoisie of Geneva
The inhabitants of the ''seigneurie'' and the Republic of Geneva were divided into four orders of people:Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Collection complète des œuvres de J.J. Rousseau : Œuvres mêlées, 1776, p. 451 the Citoyens, the Bourgeois, the Habi ...
have had no influence since 1798. The title of bourgeois in Geneva has no value and gives no additional rights since that date.
Honorary bourgeoisie
Honorary bourgeoisie is given to certain people, who strive for the well-being of the country or a municipality. It is not hereditary and has no effect on nationality.
Napoleon III
Napoleon III (Charles Louis Napoléon Bonaparte; 20 April 18089 January 1873) was the first President of France (as Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte) from 1848 to 1852 and the last monarch of France as Emperor of the French from 1852 to 1870. A nephew ...
was a bourgeois of the municipality of
Salenstein
Salenstein is a Municipalities of Switzerland, municipality in Kreuzlingen District in the Cantons of Switzerland, canton of Thurgau in Switzerland.
Salenstein was the home village of Napoleon III, who lived at Castle Arenenberg in his youth.
H ...
.
The
former king of Sweden Gustave IV Adolphe was a bourgeois of the commune of
Basel
, french: link=no, Bâlois(e), it, Basilese
, neighboring_municipalities= Allschwil (BL), Hégenheim (FR-68), Binningen (BL), Birsfelden (BL), Bottmingen (BL), Huningue (FR-68), Münchenstein (BL), Muttenz (BL), Reinach (BL), Riehen (BS ...
.
['']Nouvelle Biographie Générale
The ''Nouvelle Biographie Générale''Its full title was ''Nouvelle Biographie Générale, depuis les temps les plus reculés jusqu'a nos jours, avec les renseignements bibliographiques et l'indication des sources a consulter'' ("New General Biog ...
'' by Ferdinand Hoefer
Jean Chrétien Ferdinand Hoefer (German: ''Ferdinand Höfer'', 21 April 1811, Döschnitz – 4 May 1878) was a German-French physician and lexicographer. He is now known for his many works on the history of science.
Selected works
*''Élément ...
Notable bourgeoisie families
*
Federer family
The Federer family is an old Swiss family that is part of the bourgeoisie of Berneck, St. Gallen. The family originated in the 5th century and rose to prominence in the Middle Ages, with members holding local government offices under the Prince- ...
*
Indermaur family
See also
*
Bourgeoisie of Geneva
The inhabitants of the ''seigneurie'' and the Republic of Geneva were divided into four orders of people:Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Collection complète des œuvres de J.J. Rousseau : Œuvres mêlées, 1776, p. 451 the Citoyens, the Bourgeois, the Habi ...
*
Swiss nobility
Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a collection of semi-autonomous cantons. As membership of the confederation has fluctuated throughout history, each of these cantons has its own unique history and nobility. Typically, each canto ...
*
Place of origin In Switzerland, the place of origin (german: Heimatort or Bürgerort, literally "home place" or "citizen place"; french: Lieu d'origine; it, Luogo d'origine) denotes where a Swiss citizen has their municipal citizenship, usually inherited from prev ...
*
Bourgeois of Brussels
In City of Brussels, Brussels, as in most European cities, one needed the capacity of Bourgeoisie, bourgeois (equivalent to German Burgher (title), burgher or English Burgess (title), burgess; in French ''bourgeois'' or ''citoyen'' ''de Bruxelle ...
*
Bourgeois of Paris
A bourgeois of Paris was traditionally a member of one of the corporations or guilds that existed under the Ancien Régime. According to Article 173 of the Custom of Paris, a bourgeois had to possess a domicile in Paris as a tenant or owner fo ...
References
{{reflist
History of Switzerland
Social class in Europe
Bourgeoisie