Battle of Sörenberg
Encyclopedia
The battle of Sörenberg was fought in 1380, between the Entlebuch (at the time subject to the house of Habsburg
) and Obwalden
(a canton of the early Swiss Confederacy
). It was the culmination of a conflict over the right to alpine pastures (alps). The immediate cause was a cattle raid at an alp now known as Schlachtalp, at the slope of the Brienzer Rothorn
, above the village Sörenberg.
According to legend, the invading people of Obwalden threw the local tenant into his cauldron of boiling rennet
, killing him. They then collected the cattle and drove it away. The alp's landlord Peter of Thorberg is reported to have convinced the invaders to turn back.
The tenant of the neighboring Blattalp, a man named Ring-Rüeg and nicknamed Windtrüeb, caught up with the invaders at Mörhalp, back in Obwalden territory beyond the Glaubenbühl Pass
, who were drunk celebrating their successful raid. Wintrüeb entered the stable unnoticed and managed to steal back the cattle. The legend goes on to report a deception carried out by Windtrüeb involving cow bells, which for the 14th century is an anachronism
.
The Obwalden party pursued their lost booty in vain and vowed revenge. Several weeks later, they re-appeared in Entlebuch in arms. In the ensuing battle, the Entlebuch gained the upper hand, Windtrüeb killing the Obwalden banner bearer. In 1384, Windtrüeb was assassinated by the Obwalden party at Steinibach, as he was on his way from Sörenberg to Schüpfheim
. He has a monument dedicated to him at Flühli
, and a memorial stone marks the site of his assassination. A plaque at the Schlachtalp commemorates the event in explanation of the alp's name Schlacht "battle".
In the aftermath of the battle, the Entlebuch sought an alliance with Lucerne
, and became a subject territory of that city, and by extension part of the Swiss Confederacy, in 1385. At the Battle of Sempach
in 1386, Obwalden and Entlebuch fought side by side.
The memorial stone to Windtrüeb at Steinibach remained standing into the 17th century. In the Swiss peasant war of 1653, as the peasants were uniting under Christian Schybi, the people of Flühli rallied at the stone for their battle prayer, vowing to build a chapel at the spot should they return victorious. They were defeated and killed without exception, and the stone has since been weathered away.
Habsburg
The House of Habsburg , also found as Hapsburg, and also known as House of Austria is one of the most important royal houses of Europe and is best known for being an origin of all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1438 and 1740, as well as rulers of the Austrian Empire and...
) and Obwalden
Obwalden
Obwalden is a canton of Switzerland. It is located in the centre of Switzerland. The population is 33,997 of which 4,043 are foreigners. Its capital is Sarnen. The canton contains the geographical centre of Switzerland.-History:...
(a canton of the early Swiss Confederacy
Old Swiss Confederacy
The Old Swiss Confederacy was the precursor of modern-day Switzerland....
). It was the culmination of a conflict over the right to alpine pastures (alps). The immediate cause was a cattle raid at an alp now known as Schlachtalp, at the slope of the Brienzer Rothorn
Brienzer Rothorn
The Brienzer Rothorn is a mountain in the Swiss Alps on the border between the cantons of Lucerne, Berne and Obwalden. The summit can be reached from Brienz by the Brienz Rothorn Bahn and from Sörenberg by a cable car.-External links:*...
, above the village Sörenberg.
According to legend, the invading people of Obwalden threw the local tenant into his cauldron of boiling rennet
Rennet
Rennet is a complex of enzymes produced in any mammalian stomach to digest the mother's milk, and is often used in the production of cheese. Rennet contains many enzymes, including a proteolytic enzyme that coagulates the milk, causing it to separate into solids and liquid...
, killing him. They then collected the cattle and drove it away. The alp's landlord Peter of Thorberg is reported to have convinced the invaders to turn back.
The tenant of the neighboring Blattalp, a man named Ring-Rüeg and nicknamed Windtrüeb, caught up with the invaders at Mörhalp, back in Obwalden territory beyond the Glaubenbühl Pass
Glaubenbühl Pass
Glaubenbühlen Pass is a mountain pass in the Swiss Alps between the Entlebuch region and the canton of Obwalden.It connects Giswil in Obwalden and Flühli in the Entlebuch. It divides the basins of the Kleine Emme and the Sarner Aa, both within the Reuss basin.The pass road has a maximum grade of...
, who were drunk celebrating their successful raid. Wintrüeb entered the stable unnoticed and managed to steal back the cattle. The legend goes on to report a deception carried out by Windtrüeb involving cow bells, which for the 14th century is an anachronism
Anachronism
An anachronism—from the Greek ανά and χρόνος — is an inconsistency in some chronological arrangement, especially a chronological misplacing of persons, events, objects, or customs in regard to each other...
.
The Obwalden party pursued their lost booty in vain and vowed revenge. Several weeks later, they re-appeared in Entlebuch in arms. In the ensuing battle, the Entlebuch gained the upper hand, Windtrüeb killing the Obwalden banner bearer. In 1384, Windtrüeb was assassinated by the Obwalden party at Steinibach, as he was on his way from Sörenberg to Schüpfheim
Schüpfheim
Schüpfheim is a municipality in the district of Entlebuch in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland. It is part of the UNESCO Entlebuch Biosphere Reserve since 2001.-Geography:...
. He has a monument dedicated to him at Flühli
Flühli
Flühli is a municipality in the district of Entlebuch in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland. The municipality consists of the villages of Flühli and Sörenberg, which form independent parishes...
, and a memorial stone marks the site of his assassination. A plaque at the Schlachtalp commemorates the event in explanation of the alp's name Schlacht "battle".
In the aftermath of the battle, the Entlebuch sought an alliance with Lucerne
Lucerne
Lucerne is a city in north-central Switzerland, in the German-speaking portion of that country. Lucerne is the capital of the Canton of Lucerne and the capital of the district of the same name. With a population of about 76,200 people, Lucerne is the most populous city in Central Switzerland, and...
, and became a subject territory of that city, and by extension part of the Swiss Confederacy, in 1385. At the Battle of Sempach
Battle of Sempach
An armistice was agreed upon on 12 October, followed by a peace agreement valid for one year, beginning on 14 January 1387.The battle was a severe blow to Austrian interests in the region, and allowed for the further growth of the Old Swiss Confederacy....
in 1386, Obwalden and Entlebuch fought side by side.
The memorial stone to Windtrüeb at Steinibach remained standing into the 17th century. In the Swiss peasant war of 1653, as the peasants were uniting under Christian Schybi, the people of Flühli rallied at the stone for their battle prayer, vowing to build a chapel at the spot should they return victorious. They were defeated and killed without exception, and the stone has since been weathered away.