A few days ago the old Helvetians ran through the Swiss Midlands and Southwestern Germany. From Lake Geneva to Lake Constance, up to Böckingen/Heilbronn.

As a Celtic tribe, they influenced history from the first century before Christ, as a highly developed and socially structured community. There was not much going on with motorways, public transport and airlines at that time. So they settled near navigable rivers, lakes and Alpine crossings – in the fruitful regions well situated for trade.

This was followed by a few decades of battles. After the revolt against the Romans in 68/69 A.D., peace and quiet returned. Romanisation took place and Helvetic self-government ended. However, the Celtic colloquial language, the gods and traditions survived.

After the withdrawal of the Romans in the 5th century, the Helvetians left the party shortly. Then came the Alemanni and with them the Alemannic dialects.

By the way, in 1848 – when the federal state of Switzerland was founded – the addition “Confoederatio Helvetica” was added. You know it already. The abbreviation for this is CH – as on the Swiss stickers on the back of the cars – and CHF – the Swiss franc.

The Swiss map shows the settlements of the Helvetians at that time.

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