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GERSAU

Origin/meaning:
Gersau was a separate canton from 1390-1798 and from 1814-1817, from 1798-1814 and since 1817 it forms part of the canton Schwyz. The villagers of Gersau declared themselves a republic in 1390, and in 1433 Emperor Sigismund declared that Gersau was a free territory, only responsible to the Emperor itself. It has always been a very small canton and not much is known about its seals and arms.

In the early 15^th century the charters and documnets were sealed by the council of Luzern, but in 1431 the council had its own seal. The seal shows the patron saint of the canton, St. Marcellus on a throne. A second seal is known from 1436 and shows the same composition. Both were used until the 18^th century.

Gersau participated in many battles together with the other Swiss cantons. The canton also assisted Luzern and Schyz and Unterwalden in different struggles and revolts. It is described that the Gersau soldiers had their own banner, but there is no information on the colours or design of the banner.

The colours are first known from an 18^th century war banner of Gersau, and are red and blue. The arms are also only described as per pale red and blue, but no proper coloured images exist. The arms thus are identical to the arms of Ticino

Literature : Mattern, G. ARMA 1328-1331.

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