Walser Migrations
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The Walser migrations ( German: ''Walserwanderungen)'' ( Italian: ''Migrazioni Walser'') were a series of migrations by the Walser people from the Upper Rhône Valley in
Valais Valais ( , ; ), more formally, the Canton of Valais or Wallis, is one of the cantons of Switzerland, 26 cantons forming the Switzerland, Swiss Confederation. It is composed of thirteen districts and its capital and largest city is Sion, Switzer ...
to areas of the
Alps The Alps () are some of the highest and most extensive mountain ranges in Europe, stretching approximately across eight Alpine countries (from west to east): Monaco, France, Switzerland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Germany, Austria and Slovenia. ...
. The migrations lasted from c.1150 to c.1450 and represented one of the last large movements of people in the
Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and ...
.


Background

The Alps had been viewed as hard to live in for centuries with the Romans calling the alps te Cursed Earth (
Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...
: ''terra maledicta)''. With this inhospitality being due to their isolation, cold climate, and high elevation. Due to these factors the Alps had and continue to have a low population. But by 1000 AD the
Medieval Warm period The Medieval Warm Period (MWP), also known as the Medieval Climate Optimum or the Medieval Climatic Anomaly, was a time of warm climate in the North Atlantic region that lasted from about to about . Climate proxy records show peak warmth occu ...
led to better climate conditions allowing for population growth. The region of Upper Valais where the Walser people originate from had been conquered by the
Roman Empire The Roman Empire ruled the Mediterranean and much of Europe, Western Asia and North Africa. The Roman people, Romans conquered most of this during the Roman Republic, Republic, and it was ruled by emperors following Octavian's assumption of ...
. But as Rome collapsed during the
Migration Period The Migration Period ( 300 to 600 AD), also known as the Barbarian Invasions, was a period in European history marked by large-scale migrations that saw the fall of the Western Roman Empire and subsequent settlement of its former territories ...
the area was conquered by the
Burgundians The Burgundians were an early Germanic peoples, Germanic tribe or group of tribes. They appeared east in the middle Rhine region in the third century AD, and were later moved west into the Roman Empire, in Roman Gaul, Gaul. In the first and seco ...
. After the Burgundians in the 5th century the area was conquered by the
Alemanni The Alemanni or Alamanni were a confederation of Germanic peoples, Germanic tribes * * * on the Upper Rhine River during the first millennium. First mentioned by Cassius Dio in the context of the campaign of Roman emperor Caracalla of 213 CE ...
7th and 8th centuries.


Causes

The reason for the Migration are the subject of frequent debate. Though overpopulation in the Rhône Valley, and the end of the
Medieval Warm Period The Medieval Warm Period (MWP), also known as the Medieval Climate Optimum or the Medieval Climatic Anomaly, was a time of warm climate in the North Atlantic region that lasted from about to about . Climate proxy records show peak warmth occu ...
in 1300 AD, and forced migration by feudal lords, ecclesiastical and feudal rivalries likely contributed to the migration. With other factors like plague, desire for adventure, and natural disasters being possibilities. The overpopulation theory is supported by the fact the areas the Walsers settled were often sparsely inhabited or uninhabited and the Medieval Warm Period allowed for areas previously with few to no inhabitants to support significant populations. And the forced migration theory is supported by the fact that feudal lords in the area are recorded as having often relocated populations to ensure their control of territories.


The Migration

After leaving the Conches valley, most of those migrating passed through Val Formazza in
Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
on their way to the Rhaetian alps. This path has been called "The Great Walser Route" and several similar variations. From their origins in Valais, the Walsers migrated to areas in modern-day
Aosta Valley The Aosta Valley ( ; ; ; or ), officially the Autonomous Region of Aosta Valley, is a mountainous Regions of Italy#Autonomous regions with special statute, autonomous region in northwestern Italy. It is bordered by Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Fr ...
,
Vorarlberg Vorarlberg ( ; ; , , or ) is the westernmost States of Austria, state () of Austria. It has the second-smallest geographical area after Vienna and, although it also has the second-smallest population, it is the state with the second-highest popu ...
,
Bavaria Bavaria, officially the Free State of Bavaria, is a States of Germany, state in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the list of German states by area, largest German state by land area, comprising approximately 1/5 of the total l ...
,
Ticino Ticino ( ), sometimes Tessin (), officially the Republic and Canton of Ticino or less formally the Canton of Ticino, is one of the Canton of Switzerland, 26 cantons forming the Switzerland, Swiss Confederation. It is composed of eight districts ...
, Uri,
Bern Bern (), or Berne (), ; ; ; . is the ''de facto'' Capital city, capital of Switzerland, referred to as the "federal city".; ; ; . According to the Swiss constitution, the Swiss Confederation intentionally has no "capital", but Bern has gov ...
, and
Grisons The Grisons (; ) or Graubünden (),Names include: * ; *Romansh language, Romansh: ** ** ** ** ** **; * ; * ; * . See also list of European regions with alternative names#G, other names. more formally the Canton of the Grisons or the Canton ...
,
Savoy Savoy (; )  is a cultural-historical region in the Western Alps. Situated on the cultural boundary between Occitania and Piedmont, the area extends from Lake Geneva in the north to the Dauphiné in the south and west and to the Aosta Vall ...
, and possibly
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 ...
. It is recorded that the communities set up were given the right to settle areas freely and have independent courts. In exchange they had to pay an interest and to serve in the military. This was known as the ''Walserrecht'' or ''Walser right''. The independent courts were effective at managing their own affairs and as such were only completely abolished in
Switzerland 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. Switzerland ...
in 1805.


Aftermath

The migration of the Walsers would significantly influence the areas the Walsers migrated into. In the Three Lagues the Walsers would fill important military and political positions. They would also weaken the prince-bishops of Sion and local feudal lords through force. Additionally they serve important roles seasonal laborers and travel through the Alps. The Walser community in
Grisons The Grisons (; ) or Graubünden (),Names include: * ; *Romansh language, Romansh: ** ** ** ** ** **; * ; * ; * . See also list of European regions with alternative names#G, other names. more formally the Canton of the Grisons or the Canton ...
would significantly divide the pre-existing Romansh communities resulting the emergence of separate Romansh dialects. But at the same time the Romansh and Walser communities would have a significant amount of cultural contact and intermarriage. A similar pattern can be observed across the areas of migration where Walsers would form pockets of Germanicism among a larger population of Romance people. With significant amount of assimilation, intermarriage, and cultural contact. During and after the migration many communities collapsed due to the difficult lifestyle and end of the medieval warm period. Over the centuries many of the communities would assimilate to the nearby Swiss, Austrian, and Italian cultures. Two examples are the skiing and resort town of
Davos Davos (, ; or ; ; Old ) is an Alpine resort town and municipality in the Prättigau/Davos Region in the canton of Graubünden, Switzerland. It has a permanent population of (). Davos is located on the river Landwasser, in the Rhaetian ...
first settled by Walsers in 1289, c.1985 2% of the 10,000 inhabitants spoke Walser German, and the settlements in
Savoy Savoy (; )  is a cultural-historical region in the Western Alps. Situated on the cultural boundary between Occitania and Piedmont, the area extends from Lake Geneva in the north to the Dauphiné in the south and west and to the Aosta Vall ...
which assimilated centuries ago. Centuries after the migration many famous skiing resorts and mountain would be in lands settled by the Walsers.


Settlements

During their migrations the Walsers founded and settled many areas. Switzerland: Simplon, Bosco Gurin, Obersaxen, Vals, St. Martin, Versam, Valendas, Tenna,
Safien Safien is a former Municipalities of Switzerland, municipality in the district of Surselva (district), Surselva in the Switzerland, Swiss Cantons of Switzerland, canton of Graubünden. The municipalities of Valendas, Versam, Safien and Tenna, Swi ...
, Medels, Nufenen, Splügen, Sufers, Hinterrhein, Avers,
Arosa Arosa is a List of towns in Switzerland, town and a municipalities of Switzerland, municipality in the Plessur Region in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland. It is both a summer and a winter tourist resort. On 1 January 2013, the former mu ...
, Langwies, Mutten, Schmitten, Wiesen,
Davos Davos (, ; or ; ; Old ) is an Alpine resort town and municipality in the Prättigau/Davos Region in the canton of Graubünden, Switzerland. It has a permanent population of (). Davos is located on the river Landwasser, in the Rhaetian ...
, Klosters, Furna, Says, St. Antönien, Valzeina Italy: Gressoney-La Trinité, Gressoney-Saint Jean, Issime, Gaby, Formazza, Macugnaga, Alagna Valsesia, Rima San Giuseppe, Rimella Austria: Blons, Fontanella, Raggal, Sankt Gerold, Sonntag, Thüringerberg, Mittelberg, Brandnertal, Silbertal, Laterns,
Schröcken Schröcken is a municipality in the district of Bregenz, in the westernmost Austrian state of Vorarlberg. Geography Schröcken is in the Austrian Alps, at an altitude of 1,269 meters. 12.4% of the area are forested, 39.4% Alpine area. History ...
, Lech, Warth, Galtür Liechtenstein:
Triesenberg Triesenberg () is a Municipalities of Liechtenstein, municipality in Liechtenstein with a population of 2,636. Its area of makes it the largest municipality in Liechtenstein. The center of the municipality rests at an elevation of . History Tri ...


References

{{Reflist Historical migrations Medieval history of Italy Medieval history of Switzerland