The ancient free peasant communities of Unterwalden - divided into Nid- and
Obwalden - became subject to the Habsburgs (the future rulers of Austria) in 1173.
During these period those of Nidwalden (Stans and Buochs) were united and organized
as a selfgoverning policy (1), which, in 1291, became a founding member of the
Swiss League. Soon afterwards Obwalden - which had remained divided - also joined,
at the same time uniting with Nidwalden.
United Unterwalden became directly dependent (Reichsunmittelbar) of the Emperor in
1324 after the battle of Morgarten (1315) and the confiscation of the Habsburg
possessions in the region (1324) (2)
In the middle of the 14th century Unterwalden was again divided in its two original
components. (3)(1) This unity had been achieved by 1261, when a separate seal was used.
(2) In the course of the following centuries other surrounding territories
were also annexed to the canton. The last of these was the Abbey of
Engelberg which became part of Nidwalden in 1805, being transferred to
Obwalden in 1815.
(3) The split occured before 1363 as in that year Nidwalden again used the
former separate seal. The relation between the two parts of Unterwalden
remained unclear for some centuries : they continued to undertake some
common military expeditions, a yearly reunion of delegates of both diets
was held until 1432, etc.
Furthermore Obwalden seems to have become predominant (the banner of
Nidwalden had to be lowered in presence of that of Obwalden, Obwalden
appointed the highest military leader, etc.)
A first agreement granting equal rights in some matters to Nidwalden was
reached in 1691 after an intervention of Schwyz and Uri, but it lasted
until 1815 before full equality between the two policies was formally
established.
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CHIEF EXECUTIVES
Landammänner
(Since 1850 the Landammann chaired the meetings of the Regierungsrat/Council of
Government - a collective leadership - and performed some representative duties)
1847 - 1848 Stanislaus Achermann (9x) 1780 - 1858
1848 - 1850 Franz Alois Wyrsch (3x) 1793 - 1858
1850 - 1851 Franz Durrer 1790 - 1857
1851 - 1852 Franz Alois Wyrsch (4x)
1852 - 1853 Franz Durrer (2x)
1853 - 1854 Franz Alois Wyrsch (5x)
1854 - 1855 Franz Durrer (3x)
1855 - 1856 Franz Alois Wyrsch (6x)
1856 - 1857 Franz Durrer (4x)
1857 - 1858 Franz Alois Wyrsch (7x)
1858 - 1859 Jakob Kaiser 1818 - 1876
1859 - 1860 Louis Wyrsch 1825 - 1888
1860 - 1861 Jakob Kaiser (2x)
1861 - 1862 Louis Wyrsch (2x)
1862 - 1863 Jakob Kaiser (3x)
1863 - 1864 Louis Wyrsch (3x)
1864 - 1865 Jakob Kaiser (4x)
1865 - 1866 Louis Wyrsch (4x)
1866 - 1867 Jakob Kaiser (5x)
1867 - 1868 Louis Wyrsch (5x)
1868 - 1869 Jakob Kaiser (6x)
1869 - 1870 Louis Wyrsch (6x)
1870 - 1871 Jakob Kaiser (7x)
1871 - 1872 Louis Wyrsch (7x)
1872 - 1873 Jakob Kaiser (8x)
1873 - 1874 Louis Wyrsch (8x)
1874 Walter Zelger 1826 - 1874
1874 - 1876 Louis Wyrsch (9x)
1876 - 1878 Robert Durrer 1836 - 1889
1878 - 1879 Louis Wyrsch (10x)
1879 - 1880 Robert Durrer (2x)
1880 - 1881 Louis Wyrsch (11x)
1881 - 1882 Robert Durrer (3x)
1882 - 1883 Louis Wyrsch (12x)
1883 - 1884 Robert Durrer (4x)
1884 - 1885 Louis Wyrsch (13x)
1885 - 1886 Robert Durrer (5x)
1886 - 1887 Louis Wyrsch (14x)
1887 - 1888 Robert Durrer (6x)
1888 - 1889 Jakob Wyrsch 1842 - 1933
1889 - 1890 Robert Durrer (7x)
1890 - 1891 Jakob Wyrsch (2x)
1891 - 1892 Ferdinand Businger 1839 - 1909
1892 - 1893 Jakob Wyrsch (3x)
1893 - 1894 Ferdinand Businger (2x)
1894 - 1895 Jakob Wyrsch (4x)
1895 - 1896 Ferdinand Businger (3x)
1896 - 1897 Jakob Wyrsch (5x)
1897 - 1898 Ferdinand Businger (4x)
1898 - 1899 Jakob Wyrsch (6x)
1899 - 1900 Ferdinand Businger (5x)
1900 - 1901 Jakob Wyrsch (7x)
1901 - 1902 Ferdinand Businger (6x)
1902 - 1903 Jakob Wyrsch (8x)
1903 - 1904 Ferdinand Businger (7x)
1904 - 1905 Jakob Wyrsch (9x)
1905 - 1906 Ferdinand Businger (8x)
1906 - 1907 Jakob Wyrsch (10x)
1907 - 1908 Ferdinand Businger (9x)
1908 - 1909 Jakob Wyrsch (11x)
1909 - 1910 Ferdinand Businger (10x)
1910 - 1911 Jakob Wyrsch (12x)
1911 - 1912 Jakob Wyrsch junior 1862 - 1926
1912 - 1913 Jakob Wyrsch (13x)
1913 - 1914 Jakob Wyrsch junior (2x)
1914 - 1915 Jakob Wyrsch (14x)
1915 - 1916 Jakob Wyrsch junior (3x)
1916 - 1917 Jakob Wyrsch (15x)
1917 - 1918 Jakob Wyrsch junior (4x)
1918 - 1919 Jakob Wyrsch (16x)
1919 - 1920 Jakob Wyrsch junior (5x)
1920 - 1921 Hans von Matt 1869 - 1932
1921 - 1922 Jakob Wyrsch junior (6x)
1922 - 1923 Hans von Matt (2x)
1923 - 1924 Jakob Wyrsch junior (7x)
1924 - 1925 Hans von Matt (3x)
1925 - 1926 Jakob Wyrsch junior (8x)
1926 - 1927 Hans von Matt (4x)
1927 - 1928 Anton Zgraggen 1873 - 1933
1928 - 1929 Hans von Matt (5x)
1929 - 1930 Anton Zgraggen (2x)
1930 - 1931 Hans von Matt (6x)
1931 - 1932 Anton Zgraggen (3x)
1932 - 1933 Theodor Gabriel 1875 - 1951
1933 - 1934 Anton Zgraggen (4x)
1934 - 1935 Theodor Gabriel (2x)
1935 - 1936 Werner Christen 1895 - 1969
1936 - 1937 Remigi Joller 1891 - 1960
1937 - 1938 Werner Christen (2x)
1938 - 1939 Remigi Joller (2x)
1939 - 1940 Werner Christen (3x)
1940 - 1941 Remigi Joller (3x)
1941 - 1942 Werner Christen (4x)
1942 - 1943 Remigi Joller (4x)
1943 - 1944 Werner Christen (5x)
1944 - 1945 Remigi Joller (5x)
1945 - 1946 Werner Christen (6x)
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