Joseph Thomas Fassbind
Encyclopedia
Joseph Thomas Fassbind was a pastor and historiographer of Schwyz
.
He was educated at Einsiedeln, Bellinzona
, Como
and Besançon.
In 1798 he was convicted of treason for his refusal to vow loyalty to the Helvetic Republic
, and exiled to Engelberg
monastery.
He returned from exile in 1800 and became pastor of Schwyz in 1803.
Fassbind is best known for his vaterländische Profangeschichte, an account of the history of the canton of Schwyz
from the Roman
to the Napoleonic era
, published posthumously in five volumes as Geschichte des Kantons Schwyz during the 1830s (a new edition with commentary appeared in 2005). Of particular interest are his eyewitness accounts of the events of the War of the Second Coalition
during his own time.
Fassbind's anti-French opinions led him to welcome the Russian invasion of the Helvetic Republic, and his description of the troops of Alexander Suvorov
's army is decidedly favourable.
Schwyz
The town of is the capital of the canton of Schwyz in Switzerland.The Federal Charter of 1291 or Bundesbrief, the charter that eventually led to the foundation of Switzerland, can be seen at the Bundesbriefmuseum.-History of the toponym:...
.
He was educated at Einsiedeln, Bellinzona
Bellinzona
Bellinzona is the administrative capital of the canton Ticino in Switzerland. The city is famous for its three castles that have been UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 2000....
, Como
Como
Como is a city and comune in Lombardy, Italy.It is the administrative capital of the Province of Como....
and Besançon.
In 1798 he was convicted of treason for his refusal to vow loyalty to the Helvetic Republic
Helvetic Republic
In Swiss history, the Helvetic Republic represented an early attempt to impose a central authority over Switzerland, which until then consisted mainly of self-governing cantons united by a loose military alliance, and conquered territories such as Vaud...
, and exiled to Engelberg
Engelberg
Engelberg is a village in the canton of Obwalden in Switzerland. Engelberg has a population of . , 21.0% of the population was made up of foreign nationals.It is the leading mountain resort in central Switzerland...
monastery.
He returned from exile in 1800 and became pastor of Schwyz in 1803.
Fassbind is best known for his vaterländische Profangeschichte, an account of the history of the canton of Schwyz
Canton of Schwyz
Schwyz is a canton in central Switzerland between the Alps in the south, Lake Lucerne in the east and Lake Zurich in the north, centered around and named after the town of Schwyz....
from the Roman
Switzerland in the Roman era
The history of Switzerland in the Roman era encompasses the roughly six centuries during which the territory of modern Switzerland was a part of the Roman Republic and Empire...
to the Napoleonic era
Switzerland in the Napoleonic era
During the French Revolutionary Wars, the revolutionary armies marched eastward, enveloping Switzerland in their battles against Austria. In 1798 Switzerland was completely overrun by the French and became the Helvetic Republic. The Helvetic Republic encountered severe economic and political problems...
, published posthumously in five volumes as Geschichte des Kantons Schwyz during the 1830s (a new edition with commentary appeared in 2005). Of particular interest are his eyewitness accounts of the events of the War of the Second Coalition
War of the Second Coalition
The "Second Coalition" was the second attempt by European monarchs, led by the Habsburg Monarchy of Austria and the Russian Empire, to contain or eliminate Revolutionary France. They formed a new alliance and attempted to roll back France's previous military conquests...
during his own time.
Fassbind's anti-French opinions led him to welcome the Russian invasion of the Helvetic Republic, and his description of the troops of Alexander Suvorov
Alexander Suvorov
Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov , Count Suvorov of Rymnik, Prince in Italy, Count of the Holy Roman Empire , was the fourth and last generalissimo of the Russian Empire.One of the few great generals in history who never lost a battle along with the likes of Alexander...
's army is decidedly favourable.