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Melchior Russ ( – 20 July 1499) was a Swiss historian.

Biography

Russ was born in

Lucerne Lucerne ( ) or Luzern ()Other languages: ; ; ; . is a city in central Switzerland, in the Languages of Switzerland, German-speaking portion of the country. Lucerne is the capital of the canton of Lucerne and part of the Lucerne (district), di ...

in , into an old noble family. In 1473, after having studied for at least two years in

Basel Basel ( ; ), also known as Basle ( ), ; ; ; . is a city in northwestern Switzerland on the river Rhine (at the transition from the High Rhine, High to the Upper Rhine). Basel is Switzerland's List of cities in Switzerland, third-most-populo ...

, Russ left the

University of Basel The University of Basel (Latin: ''Universitas Basiliensis''; German: ''Universität Basel'') is a public research university in Basel, Switzerland. Founded on 4 April 1460, it is Switzerland's oldest university and among the world's oldest univ ...

for the

University of Pavia The University of Pavia (, UNIPV or ''Università di Pavia''; ) is a university located in Pavia, Lombardy, Italy. There was evidence of teaching as early as 1361, making it one of the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, oldest un ...

with the intention to study law.Müller, P. L. "Melchior Russ." (1881) ''Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie'' 14. pp. 9–11. After his studies at the University of Pavia, Russ served as a soldier in the

Burgundian Wars The Burgundian Wars (1474–1477) were a conflict between the Burgundian State and the Old Swiss Confederacy and its allies. Open war broke out in 1474, and the Duke of Burgundy, Charles the Bold, was defeated three times on the battlefield in th ...

, participating in the battles of Grandson,

Murten Murten (German language, German, ) or Morat (French language, French, ; ) is a bilingual Municipalities of Switzerland, municipality and a city in the See (district of Fribourg), See district of the Cantons of Switzerland, canton of Fribourg (can ...

and Nancy. In 1478, Russ was furthermore involved in a campaign of his hometown Lucerne against the city of

Bellinzona Bellinzona ( , ; ; is a municipality, a List of towns in Switzerland, historic Swiss town, and the capital of the canton of Ticino in Switzerland. The town is famous for its Three Castles of Bellinzona, three castles (Castelgrande, Montebello, Sa ...

. On occasion of the following peace negotiations between the

Swiss Confederation Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located in west-central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerlan ...

and the Dukes of

Milan Milan ( , , ; ) is a city in northern Italy, regional capital of Lombardy, the largest city in Italy by urban area and the List of cities in Italy, second-most-populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of nea ...

, Russ probably seized the chance to make a journey to

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

. According to the

Swiss Swiss most commonly refers to: * the adjectival form of Switzerland * Swiss people Swiss may also refer to: Places * Swiss, Missouri * Swiss, North Carolina * Swiss, West Virginia * Swiss, Wisconsin Other uses * Swiss Café, an old café located ...

historian

Jean-François Bergier Jean-François Bergier (; 5 December 1931, Lausanne, Vaud – 29 October 2009, Blonay) was a Swiss historian. He was a professor at the University of Geneva from 1963 to 1969 and at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich until his re ...

, Russ was appointed magistrate and diplomat of the city of Lucerne around 1476.Bergier, Jean-François. ''Wilhelm Tell: Realität und Mythos''. Munich: Paul List Verlag, 1990. p. 76 After his election to the council of Lucerne in 1480, Russ was furthermore promoted to the position of bailiff of

Ebikon Ebikon is a Municipalities of Switzerland, municipality in the district of Lucerne (district), Lucerne in the Cantons of Switzerland, canton of Lucerne (canton), Lucerne in Switzerland. History Ebikon was first mentioned during the late 9th centur ...

and

Rotsee __NOTOC__ The Rotsee (previously known as Rootsee) is a natural Rowing (sport), rowing lake on the northern edge of Lucerne, Switzerland. It is regarded as one of the best rowing venues in the world. Description and location The lake and its sur ...

and, later on, to the position of bailiff of

Malters Malters is a municipality in the district of Lucerne in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland. History Malters is first mentioned in second half of the 9th Century as ''in Maltrensi marcha''. In 1238 it was mentioned as ''villa Malters''. Geogra ...

and

Littau Littau is a former municipality, and now part of the city of Lucerne, in the district of Lucerne in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland. On 1 January 2010 the municipality of Littau merged into the municipality of Lucerne. History Littau is f ...

. In 1480, Russ, who had never resigned from his post as a chronicler, was commissioned by the council of Lucerne to chronicle the history of his hometown. As Russ neared completion of his '' Chronicle of the City of Lucerne'', he was appointed to a three-men delegation sent to the Hungarian

King Matthias Corvinus Matthias Corvinus (; ; ; ; ; ) was King of Hungary and King of Croatia, Croatia from 1458 to 1490, as Matthias I. He is often given the epithet "the Just". After conducting several military campaigns, he was elected King of Bohemia in 1469 and ...

, whose service Russ entered in 1488. After King Matthias' sudden death in 1491, the heavily indebted Melchior Russ, who had never been recompensed for his work at the Hungarian court, was deprived of his two possessions

Sins In religious context, sin is a transgression against divine law or a law of the deities. Each culture has its own interpretation of what it means to commit a sin. While sins are generally considered actions, any thought, word, or act considere ...

and Rüssegg. Deeply in despair, Russ entered the services of the elector palatine Philipp the Upright in 1491. After having signed a contract beyond the scope of his power, Russ was dismissed as Philipp's ambassador after only two years of service. In 1496, Melchior Russ, who had resumed his post as a magistrate of the city of Lucerne, became involved in a lawsuit with the influential mayor Ludwig Seiler. As a result of this lawsuit, Russ was permanently banned from his hometown Lucerne on 18 May 1498. During his exile from Lucerne, Russ, who had found a new place of residence in the

canton of Uri The canton of Uri ( ; ; ; ) is one of the cantons of switzerland, 26 cantons of Switzerland and a founding member of the Switzerland, Swiss Confederation. It is located in Central Switzerland. The canton's territory covers the valley of the Reuss ...

, participated in the war between the

and the

Holy Roman Empire The Holy Roman Empire, also known as the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation after 1512, was a polity in Central and Western Europe, usually headed by the Holy Roman Emperor. It developed in the Early Middle Ages, and lasted for a millennium ...

. Despite repeated petitions of his comrades in arms to revoke his banishment from the city of Lucerne, Russ was never allowed to return to his hometown. Melchior Russ was killed in an ambush by the earl Eitelfritz von Zollen near

Rheineck Rheineck is a municipality in the ''Wahlkreis'' (constituency) of Rheintal in the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland. History Rheineck is first mentioned about 1163 as ''castellum Rinegge''. In 1218 it was mentioned as ''Rinegg''. An older ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Russ, Melchior 1499 deaths University of Pavia alumni 15th-century Swiss nobility Year of birth uncertain