Sonderbund Defeated in 1847: Swiss Catholic Cantons Lose the Civil War
Wait — this is the wrong century. The Sonderbund War happened in 1847, not 1777. But let's find the human moment buried inside it. Dufour gave his troops one direct order: minimize casualties. Both sides. He'd trained officers from *both* factions at his military academy — including enemies he'd face across the battlefield. The war lasted 26 days. Fewer than 100 deaths total. And when it ended, modern Switzerland was born. The man who could've crushed his opponents chose mercy instead. That's why it lasted less than a month.
November 29, 1777
249 years ago
Key Figures & Places
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