The First Battle of Ulrichen in 1211 was a decisive defeat of Bernese troops under Duke Berthold V of Zähringen by the army of the Canton of Valais under the Bishop of Sion Landrich von Mont. The battle took place near Ulrichen which is now part of Obergoms. Many details about the battle are uncertain or questioned by historians.[1]
Twenty years before the battle, in 1191, Berchtold V had established the city of Bern to expand his power into the lands of the County of Savoy. By 1211 he had quarreled with Thomas of Savoy and determined to use the new city as a base to expand into the Canton of Valais. Assembling an army of about 13,000 men he marched over the Grimsel pass. As they descended from the pass they burnt Oberwald and Obergesteln villages. The Valaisian army assembled under the command of the Bishop of Sion Landrich von Mont near Ulrichen.
Very little is recorded about the battle, but Berchtold's army suffered heavy casualties and the survivors retreated back over the Grimsel pass. They were closely followed by the victorious Valaisian army. At a small lake in the pass, Berchtold's army paused and attempted to rally the retreating soldiers. However, the Valaiser army fell on the survivors and destroyed most of the remaining soldiers. The lake is now known as Totensee or Lake of the Dead due to the slaughter that happened on the lake shore.
Impactedit
Berchtold's defeat at Ulrichen ended his expansion into the Canton of Valais. Over 200 years later, in 1419 during the Raron affair, a Bernese army crossed the Grimsel pass to support the claims of the Counts of Raron. According to tradition, Thomas [Brantschen][2] or [Riedie][3] a resident of Ulrichen, saw the invading army and declared;
What has become of Valais, the ancient hero-land? Did not our fathers formerly defeat the duke of Zähringen in a bloody battle near Ulrichen? Let us once again conquer her for the fatherland and our ancient liberty, or die a glorious death.
— Quoted by Heinrich Zschokke, The History of Switzerland, for the Swiss People
He then led 400 to 600 men against a Bernese army and defeated them, though he died in the process. Whether Thomas actually existed is uncertain since the first records of his attack are from over a century later. However, the two battles of Ulrichen and Thomas' attack are an important theme in Valaisian literature and folklore.[4]
Today there is a large granite cross on the supposed site of the battle.
first, battle, ulrichen, 1211, decisive, defeat, bernese, troops, under, duke, berthold, zähringen, army, canton, valais, under, bishop, sion, landrich, mont, battle, took, place, near, ulrichen, which, part, obergoms, many, details, about, battle, uncertain, . The First Battle of Ulrichen in 1211 was a decisive defeat of Bernese troops under Duke Berthold V of Zahringen by the army of the Canton of Valais under the Bishop of Sion Landrich von Mont The battle took place near Ulrichen which is now part of Obergoms Many details about the battle are uncertain or questioned by historians 1 First Battle of UlrichenDate1211LocationUlrichen Valais46 30 42 N 8 18 51 E 46 511589 N 8 314116 E 46 511589 8 314116ResultDecisive Valais victoryBelligerentsBernValaisCommanders and leadersBerthold V Duke of ZahringenLandrich von MontStrength13 000unknownclass notpageimage Location within SwitzerlandFor the 1419 battle see Second Battle of Ulrichen Contents 1 History 2 Impact 3 See also 4 ReferencesHistory editTwenty years before the battle in 1191 Berchtold V had established the city of Bern to expand his power into the lands of the County of Savoy By 1211 he had quarreled with Thomas of Savoy and determined to use the new city as a base to expand into the Canton of Valais Assembling an army of about 13 000 men he marched over the Grimsel pass As they descended from the pass they burnt Oberwald and Obergesteln villages The Valaisian army assembled under the command of the Bishop of Sion Landrich von Mont near Ulrichen Very little is recorded about the battle but Berchtold s army suffered heavy casualties and the survivors retreated back over the Grimsel pass They were closely followed by the victorious Valaisian army At a small lake in the pass Berchtold s army paused and attempted to rally the retreating soldiers However the Valaiser army fell on the survivors and destroyed most of the remaining soldiers The lake is now known as Totensee or Lake of the Dead due to the slaughter that happened on the lake shore Impact editBerchtold s defeat at Ulrichen ended his expansion into the Canton of Valais Over 200 years later in 1419 during the Raron affair a Bernese army crossed the Grimsel pass to support the claims of the Counts of Raron According to tradition Thomas Brantschen 2 or Riedie 3 a resident of Ulrichen saw the invading army and declared What has become of Valais the ancient hero land Did not our fathers formerly defeat the duke of Zahringen in a bloody battle near Ulrichen Let us once again conquer her for the fatherland and our ancient liberty or die a glorious death Quoted by Heinrich Zschokke The History of Switzerland for the Swiss People He then led 400 to 600 men against a Bernese army and defeated them though he died in the process Whether Thomas actually existed is uncertain since the first records of his attack are from over a century later However the two battles of Ulrichen and Thomas attack are an important theme in Valaisian literature and folklore 4 Today there is a large granite cross on the supposed site of the battle See also editBattles of the Old Swiss ConfederacyReferences edit Ulrichen in German French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland Zschokke Heinrich and Emil Zschokke 1855 The History of Switzerland for the Swiss People C S Francis amp Company pp 81 Colton Julia Maria 1897 Annals of Switzerland Barnes and Company In der Bunden Thomas in German French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title First Battle of Ulrichen amp oldid 1126101902, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
