When the Swiss were royalists ...
Except in rare exeptions, democratic republics by nature grow dull, dull, abstract . By this yardstick, the Swiss system, which also dates back only to 1848, has reached a kind of "perfection" where anonymity confined to absence, where transparency and probity are confused with empty ... In this "confederation", now we vote on everything and nothing, to the absurd: the sorting of garbage, Prices of "dog training" to owners of big dogs, the return of grades in primary school, etc.. However, the leader of the largest party was the firm landed Berne for wanting to reintroduce a pinch of nationalism in politics ...
Cursed "nationalism" without which, however, Switzerland would not exist! Switzerland, which formerly was even before the royalist outweigh the heirs of the archer Republican (yet ultra-nationalist ...) Guillaume Tell.
" was when Queen Bertha was spinning "," was at the right time of Queen Berthe . These popular phrases heard in Geneva, in the mouth of a "peasant lady" bearing the name of Hugo's Cosette once put us on Tracking the Helvetic monarchism now concealed.
We went then to the magnificent Romanesque abbey of Payerne (Vaud) where the tomb of this legendary queen (nothing in common with the Grand Bertha foot, mother of Charlemagne) at the point of today alone personify the old royalist Swiss. And indeed, it marked his time. The character who lived from circa 905 to circa 978 and reigned as the only wife of the King, 922-940, has been beautifully restored by the Swiss author who was unknown yet, without doubt, the greatest essayist romand of the first part of the twentieth century, most original in all cases: Cingria Charles Albert (1883-1954).
Immersed in ancient authors, even forgotten that he, like Bishop Liutprand, Father Dey, or Poupardin Muret, Cingria has given rise to the legend that mistress woman who did not hesitate to be represented with his royal crown and also his distaff, a symbol of femininity (Hence also the figurative expression " fall distaff " for hereditary rights granted to a woman, without a male heir ...). Daughter of the Bourcard Swabia, Duke of Alemania (always called "speaking" speaking Switzerland), successively married Bertha Rudolph II, King of Burgundy (the kingdom was then the center part of modern Switzerland) and Italy and Hugh of Arles, Count of Provence and King of Italy, The Annals Sangallenses left us this image of the bride going through the Alps, " in a palanquin and sleigh "in the Italian states of her husband. The second of them distinguished himself by his harem of four wives made" legitimate "(which Bertha) and six concubines. The Saracens who in those days, were still raiding to Chur (Graubünden) does not last be disoriented by the mores of the Christian monarch ...
Among the children of the first bed of the future imagined Bertha St. Adelaide , wife of Otho, the first Holy Roman Emperor, and their daughter Emma became "Queen of France" by marrying the Carolingian Lothair IV. Their son Louis V was the last of this line to reign, before the Capetian (987). Interdynastiques marriages have no doubt that blood circulates today berthien in the veins of French princes.
The "queen spinner" (or "spinner") played a role especially socio-political peacemaker in an active retirement about 40 years. Located in the Pays de Vaud, the dowager sema behind monasteries, churches and various benefits under the aegis of the Holy Mayeul Avignon (906-994), abbot of Cluny and Payerne. Bertholo tower at Lutry (Vaud), still perpetuates the memory of that sovereign very Christian, called to the end "Queen by the grace of God." It may be beautiful and modest village of Colombier sur Mortuaries in the backcountry around Lake Geneva, which is shared by the landscape a bit of the atmosphere berthienne. It is also said that holders of the surname "Berthollet" refer in one way or another in remembrance of Queen Berthe. When the Swiss were royalists ...
- Péroncel-Hugoz, in The NRH # 41 (March-April 2009) -