Geschichten Schweizerischer Eidgenossenschaft

work by Müller

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June 29, 2026

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Geschichten Schweizerischer Eidgenossenschaft (History of the Swiss Confederation) is the seminal work by Johannes von Müller, an 18th-century Swiss scholar and public official. Published between 1786 and 1808, this history combined extensive knowledge of chronicle sources with an elegant style, earning Müller the moniker "the Swiss Tacitus".1

Müller's idealistic and patriotic portrayal of the ancient Swiss constitution significantly shaped 19th-century European perceptions of Switzerland. The work even served as inspiration for Friedrich Schiller's famous play, Wilhelm Tell. This historical account is considered a foundational text for understanding the development and identity of the Swiss Confederation.12

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Johannes von Müller
His most important work was Geschichten Schweizerischer Eidgenossenschaft (1786–1808; “History of the Swiss Confederation”). In it he combined a comprehensive knowledge of chronicle sources (especially Aegidius Tschudi) with a terse elegance that earned him the title of the Swiss Tacitus; Tacitus, the 1st-century-ad Roman historian, was indeed his model. His…
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His most important work was Geschichten Schweizerischer Eidgenossenschaft (1786–1808; “History of the Swiss Confederation”). In it he combined a comprehensive knowledge of chronicle sources (especially Aegidius Tschudi) with a terse elegance that earned him the title of the Swiss Tacitus; Tacitus, the 1st-century-ad Roman historian, was indeed his model. His…
Read More