A History of Switzerland Trivia Quiz

Answer: French Revolutionary Wars

In March, 1798, French troops overran Switzerland and imposed a centralized government. Many Swiss citizens were resentful of the new regime, being used to the looser confederation that had been in place. Armed resistance to the new regime was unsuccessful, but unrest continued until Napoleon restored the Confederation in 1803 and French troops withdrew.

Answer: Helvetii

The Helvetii tribe of Celts were living on what is now the Swiss plateau when the Romans arrived in the area in the first century BCE. In 58 BCE, the tribe attempted to migrate westward into Gaul, but were defeated by Julius Caesar and forced to return to their homes. The Helvetii eventually became allies of the Romans.

Answer: 1291

Around 1200 CE, most of Switzerland was controlled by various noble families. In 1291, the three central cantons, Uri, Schwyz, and Unterwalden, signed the alliance to protect their common interests. This document formed the Old Swiss Confederacy, which lasted until the French invasion of 1798.

Answer: Four

The four official languages of Switzerland are German, spoken by over 60% of the population; French, with over 20%; Italian, almost 10%; and Romansh, a language based on Latin, at less than 1%.

Answer: Circa 1000 CE to 1648 CE

The Habsburgs, rulers of the Holy Roman Empire from the 1440s to the 1740s, were one of several noble families that ruled parts of Switzerland from about 1000 CE. The 1499 Treaty of Basel, which ended the Swabian War between the Swiss and the Holy Roman Duchy of Swabia, ended Habsburg claims on Swiss territory. Switzerland was nominally still a part of the Empire until the 1648 Peace of Westphalia finally severed those ties.

Answer: Army and Air Force

While the Swiss Air Force is made up of long term professionals, the bulk of the Swiss Army is composed of conscripts. All Swiss males aged 19-34 are subject to compulsory military service, while women can volunteer. Swiss reservists keep their uniform and personal equipment at home for quickness of mobilization and deployment.

Answer: The Pope

In the Middle Ages, most professional soldiers were mercenaries rather than members of a state sponsored army, and the Swiss were some of the most well regarded troops in Europe. In 1506, Pope Julius II officially created the Swiss Guard, a volunteer force of mercenary soldiers to protect the Pope.

The size of the Guard has varied through the years, and the force has been disbanded and reactivated several times. The Guard is well known for their ceremonial uniforms, reportedly designed by the artist Michelangelo.

Answer: No official capital

A confederation made up of 26 cantons, Switzerland does not have an official capital city. Bern, sometimes referred to as "Federal City", is the seat of government and most Federal institutions are located there, while the courts and some other branches of government are spread out among several different cities.

Answer: Never, he is fictional

According to the legend, William Tell was an expert Swiss archer who defied the Habsburg official in charge of Tell's village in the canton of Uri. For the crime of not bowing to the official's hat in his absence, Tell was sentenced to death, but avoided that punishment by showing his prowess with the crossbow by shooting an apple off of his young son's head. Tell had readied two arrows, and told the official that the second arrow was for him if Tell's son had been injured.

The tale was used to inspire the Swiss people to throw off the Habsburg yoke.

While it is still debated in some circles, it is generally accepted that Tell was a fictional character.

Answer: Armed neutrality

While plans to violate Swiss neutrality existed on both sides during both World Wars, neither side officially attacked the country. Numerous violations of Swiss territory occurred in both conflicts, especially during World War II, when Swiss airspace was violated by both sides on an almost daily basis and several Swiss cities were bombed in error.

The Swiss Air Force either shot down planes that violated their airspace or forced them to land and interned the pilots, while escaped Allied prisoners of war were likewise held by the Swiss.

The Swiss made it known that they would resist any major attack on the country by either side.