Switzerland was born in Romagna
The book, the History
“Switzerland was born in Romagna” is the latest book by Alteo Dolcini (Forlì 1923 – Faenza 1999). Published posthumously in 2000, it narrates a historically proven and documented event: in December 1240, Faenza’s unexpected and tenacious resistance to the siege by Frederick II’s troops induced the emperor to sign a document of fundamental importance for the history of Switzerland. Faenza was besieged in August 1240. Frederick II, as part of the struggle against Pope Gregory IX, intended to then proceed to the conquest of Bologna. Faenza was therefore intended to be a brief stop on the approach march to Bologna. Despite the obvious disparity in forces, the people of Faenza repelled the attacks, and the onset of winter slowed down the war operations.
Frederick could no longer pay his troops, and in December 1240, the soldiers from the territories of Uri, Schwytz, and Unterwald received, in exchange for their services, a letter that was equivalent to their enfranchisement from any other authority (except the Emperor) governing their lands. Specifically, the document was intended to free those people from the oppression of the Counts of Habsburg. The Letter of Faenza was drafted in December 1240, likely by the renowned jurist Pier delle Vigne, also mentioned by Dante in his Divine Comedy. The siege ended on April 12, 1241, with the surrender of Faenza: it was later said that Faenza had to fall for Switzerland to be born. Alteo Dolcini, in the dialogue style so dear to him, describes the events of the Letter of Faenza and calls it “the seed of Swiss freedom.” Indeed, in 1291, in early August, it was the inhabitants of the territories of Uri, Schwytz, and Unterwald (known as the “primitive cantons”) who signed the Confederal Pact (known as the “Rütli Pact” after the place where it was signed), which formed the basis for the unification of the territories that now comprise Switzerland, then aligned against the Counts of Habsburg.
On August 1st of each year, Switzerland celebrates Swiss National Day in commemoration of the Battle of Morgarten, which on November 15, 1315, saw the confederate populations defeat the Habsburgs: this was the act of independence of the Helvetic Confederation.
Faenza’s role was neither accidental nor marginal. The Museum of the Federal Pacts in Schwytz houses the Faenza Letter, along with the most important founding documents of Switzerland. On the walls of Schwytz’s Town Hall, a fresco commemorates the delivery of the letter to Faenza by Emperor Frederick II.
There are also well-founded hypotheses that point to the location (the hill on Via Germana) where Frederick II’s troops were encamped in Faenza: here the Letter of Faenza was delivered, and here Alteo Dolcini placed a plaque commemorating the historic event.
