Unterwalden

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Unterwalden Imperial Valley of the Holy Roman Empire ← ? – 1648¹ →   → Flag Coat of arms Unterwalden, shown within the modern cantonal borders of Switzerland Capital Stans (Nidwalden), Sarnen (Obwalden)² Language(s) Swiss German Government Principality Historical era Middle Ages  - Established Uncertain  - To Counts of Habsburg 1173  - Co-founded Swiss     Eidgenossenschaft   1291  - Gained Reichsfreiheit 1324  - Swiss independence     recognised by The Empire   1648 1: The Old Swiss Confederation was not internationally recognised until after the Peace of Westphalia in 1648. In 1291, the two halves of Unterwalden were founding members of the Confederation. 2: Unterwalden never really existed as a single entity, usually being governed as the two half-cantons of Unterwalden ob dem Wald (Unterwalden over the woods, Obwalden) and Unterwalden nid dem Wald (Unterwalden under the woods, Nidwalden).

Unterwalden is the old name for what is now two cantons in central Switzerland, south of Lake Lucerne. It consists of two half-cantons, an upper part, Obwalden, and a lower part, Nidwalden.

Unterwalden was one of the three participants in the 1291 alliance with Uri and Schwyz, considered the origin of the Swiss Confederation.