Canton of Oberland explained

Native Name:Kanton Oberland
Conventional Long Name:Canton of Oberland
Common Name:Oberland
Today: Switzerland
Subdivision:Canton
Nation:Helvetic Republic
Status Text:Canton of the Helvetic Republic
Year Start:1798
Year End:1803
Event Start:Helv. Rep. proclaimed
Date Start:April 12, 1798
Event End:Helv. Rep. disestablished
Date End:February 19, 1803
P1:Canton of Bern
S1:Canton of Bern
Image Map Caption:The Helvetic Republic, as at the constitution of 12 April 1798, showing the canton of Oberland in brown. The Canton of Bern (purple) is directly north of Oberland and the Canton of Wallis (olive) is south.
Capital:Thun

Oberland (German for Highlands) was the name of a canton of the Helvetic Republic (1798–1803), corresponding to the area of the Bernese Oberland, with its capital at Thun.

History

After the Napoleonic invasion of Switzerland in 1798, the old Bernese order was broken up and the Oberland separated from the rest of the canton. Within the new canton, historic borders and traditional rights were not considered. As there had been no previous separatist feeling amongst the conservative population, there was little enthusiasm for the new order.

The 1801 Malmaison Constitution proposed reuniting the Oberland with Bern, but it was not until the Act of Mediation, two years later, with the abolition of the Helvetic Republic and the partial restoration of the ancien régime, that the two cantons were reunited.

Districts

During its short-lived existence, the canton was administered in ten districts, each named for the district seat, except where shown: