Rauracian Republic facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rauracian Republic
République rauracienne
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| 1792–1793 | |||||||||
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| Status | Client state of France | ||||||||
| Government | Republic | ||||||||
| Historical era | French Revolution | ||||||||
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• Republic proclaimed
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17 December 1792 | ||||||||
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• Integration into France
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23 March 1793 | ||||||||
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The Rauracian Republic was a small country that existed for a very short time. It was set up by France in parts of what is now Switzerland, near the Jura mountains. This area used to be the northern part of the Prince-Bishopric of Basel, which was a territory within the Holy Roman Empire.
The Rauracian Republic only lasted for a few months. It was officially started on December 17, 1792. Then, on March 23, 1793, it became part of France. Much later, in 1815, the land of the former republic was divided between two Swiss areas: Basel and Bern.
The name "Rauracian Republic" came from the Latin name of an old Celtic tribe called the Raurici. This tribe lived in the southern part of the Upper Rhine region. The Raurici were related to another tribe, the Helvetii. The Helvetii later gave their name to another country created by France, called the Helvetic Republic.
How the Republic Started
After the French First Republic was formed in September 1792, things became unsettled in the lands ruled by the Prince-Bishop of Basel. People started forming "revolutionary committees." These groups wanted change.
On December 17, 1792, the Rauracian Republic was declared. It was the first "Sister republic" of revolutionary France. A "Sister Republic" was a country that France helped create and control.
Becoming Part of France
The Rauracian Republic had two different national assemblies, but they both failed. A third assembly then voted to join France. It is believed that France put pressure on them to make this decision.
This joining happened on March 23, 1793. The Rauracian Republic became a new part of France, called the Department of Mont-Terrible. Its main city was Porrentruy.
What Happened Next
Over the next twenty years, the borders of this area changed several times. When the wars finally ended, the territory of Mont-Terrible, which used to be the Rauracian Republic, was divided. This happened at a big meeting called the Congress of Vienna. The land was split between the Swiss areas of Bern and Basel.
Unlike other "Sister Republics" of France, the Rauracian Republic never had its own national flag. However, it did have a special coat of arms. This symbol showed the old Lictors' Bundle. This bundle of rods was a popular symbol of power in the ancient Roman Republic. You can still see it today in the seal of the French government and on the shield of St. Gallen in Switzerland.
