Muttenz History

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND cont

16th Century - Era of the Reformation

Jörg Haas, the school-master of those days, attempted to fight the old-fashioned priests. People of Muttenz yelled at the church paintings and were condemned for this ill-behaviour. A meeting of the villagers, bearing the purpose of opposing the priest, was thwarted; the 'modern fellow-believers' were locked into their assembly-room. It was only after the 'stormy carnival' in Basle of 1529 that the Council gave way, and on April 1, the New Religion was officially installed. In Muttenz, all the church utensils were disposed of and Heinrich Schön was established as the first protestant clergyman. The inside of St. Arbogast church was white-washed and all the paintings, now considered objects of idolatry, disappeared under a coat of whitewash. The worship was now transferred from pictures to the needy living people who - according to the new doctrine - were the true pictures of the Lord and should be supported and comforted.

Before the time of Reformation, there was one Convent (Engental) 1268 - 1525 and one Monastery (Rotes Haus) at the outskirts of Muttenz. Upon request of the villagers, the Council of Basle informed the nuns on February 13, 1525, that they were free to leave the Convent. It is not known how many took advantage of this opportunity. On May 3, revolting peasants marched toward Basle, plundering the Convent Engental as they passed by. They ate and drank all the provisions the nuns had. On July 16, the Council issued a prohibition for all Convents and Monasteries to accept novices. On September 26, by praising the advantages of profane life the Council again encouraged both nuns and monks to leave. Within one year, three nuns had left. They claimed back their dowry as well as a pay for the work performed over the years. Beginning of 1533, a mere four nuns remained within the walls of Engental. The Council of Basle worked out a pension plan for them and a year later they had all left the Convent. The cattle were sold and the premises destroyed.

Our local artist-painter, Karl Jauslin, illustrated the scene of the 'Eloping of the Nun', which took place 1487. A miller from Würzburg (Germany) by the name of Johann Seyffert, came for his beloved Barbara who managed to escape with the help of an old nun.

The Monastery Rotes Haus and its monks had a similar fate. After the last monk had left, premises and land were sold to citizens of Basle for 1,200 'Gulden'(guilders). They frequently changed hands and were finally bought by the world-renowned Chemical Concern Geigy who built huge factory complexes on this land and took up operation in 1938 under the name of 'Geigy Schweizerhalle'.

In 1534, the parsonage was built. It is one of the oldest buildings of Muttenz, still in use. The new Reformation rules contained both the Parochial Constitution and Moral Laws in one. Magistrates, clergyman and some sort of supervisors 'Bannbrüder' jointly watching over faith and good morals were sustained by a great majority of the community.

Already before the Reformation Muttenz has had its own school. From then on the village was granted a 'Depütanten Schule' with a teacher of somewhat higher standards, as well as a financial contribution from the State.

After the Reformation

After the Reformation, the Aristocracy, who sat in the Council of Basle, took over all rights on the properties from the monasteries and churches.

Both the old and new Religions maintained a rather peaceful co-existence throughout the country. The worship of Mary was not forbidden, and as late as 1571, a new church bell at St. Arbogast was decorated with the relief of Mary. Quite a few members of the Muttenz congregation maintained their habit of bowing to where the painting of St. Mary was under the coat of whitewash.

The clergyman of that time was a severe man who opposed strongly to bowling and card-playing. A frightening neckring, fastened to the church-gate, was a great support to him in keeping up moral and good order within his congregation. People -men, women and youths- who had been caught blaspheming, cursing or wishing evil to someone, were condemned to stand by the churchgate fastened to the neckring on the following Sunday through the time of the service, thus being openly exposed to the churchgoers. On top of this humiliation, they were fined two shillings.

17th Century

The Thirty Years' (or Religious) War (1618-48)

The Religious War had started in Prague, spreading to Germany and France and raged practically all over the Northern part of Europe for 30 years. Muttenz not only suffered under the burden of foreign refugees, but also from the Plague that first broke out in 1628. In the year 1629, 112 villagers died from it, equaling 1/7th of the population. But also a new handicraft was brought into Basle and its rural districts by the fleeing 'Huguenots' (7): the 'Posamenten' - the weaving of silk ribbons. A new possibility of making a living! In later years, the City of Basle experienced a never-known prosperity thanks to this new industry, which also initiated the now world renowned Chemical Industry, through the need of developing new dying systems. There are still a small number of ribbon factories left, both in Basle and the Upper Baselbiet, exporting their goods also to oversea's countries. Hundreds of small farmers throughout the Baselbiet used to have a loom in their living room and the entire family took part in the ribbon making. Nowadays but a handful of home-weavers are left.

When the Religious War was over, both village and villagers were badly off and many a farmer sold land to a rich townsman. In 1674, the Plague returned to Muttenz and raged for four years. It was in September 1674 that Arbogast Spänhauer, aged 58, preceded in death four of his children, aged between 11 and 20 years. They all died within 8 days! Up to the year 1678, another six Spänhauers died from the Plague.

The Post-War Years

The 'Bauernkrieg', the peasants' rebellion of 1653 is one of the most unpleasant happenings in the Swiss history. The country people opposed to the hard sovereign of the towns and, after an unsuccessful revolt, were punished inhumanely. The Council of Basle appeared to be the most cruel of all toward their country subjects: 7 prisoners were decapitated, 1 hanged, 10 condemned to the penitentiary and 3 to the galleys. These unjust cruelties, never forgotten by the country people, started their passive resistance that endured up to the year 1833 when, after a battle between town- and countrymen, Basle Town (Baselstadt) and Basle Country (Baselland) became two independent Cantons. (see: 'Separation from the town of Basle') To make the ill-feeling complete, the town of Liestal (today's Capital of Baselland) was deprived of its acquired rights and freedom.

In the year 1660, a regular school-system was installed and the going to school became compulsory for all the children. In those days, schooling was sponsored by the church.

The Swiss were renowned for being excellent warriors and sharp-shooters. Thus, on September 24, 1663, King Louis XIV of France proposed a pact to the 13 Swiss Cantons of that epoch, offering casing in custom's duties and other trade privileges, provided they be willing to allocate him 16,000 soldiers. The Swiss sovereigns were only too pleased to countersign this pact on behalf of their poverty-stricken country. The domestic army of those days was so terribly short of funds, that the soldiers were bound to produce their own clothing and arming. The rank of officers was awarded to townsmen exclusively. One more flaw in the constitution! Also hunting licenses were a privilege of the townsmen, another source for ill-feeling for the country people. However, what they resented most was the inconsiderate habit of the gentlemen hunters to chase the animals across their meadows and cornfields.

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