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| 300px Lake Zug as seen from Zug (August 2004 image) |
| 300px Sunset Lake Zug as seen from Zug (September 2004 image) |
Zug, capital of the Swiss canton of that name, a picturesque little town at the northeastern corner of the lake of Zug, and at the foot of the Zugerberg (3255 ft.), which rises gradually, its lower slopes thickly covered with fruit trees. Population: 6508 ( 1900), 23'000 ( 2004), mainly German-speaking and Romanists.
The lake shore has been embanked and forms a promenade, whence glorious views of the snowy peaks of the Bernese Oberland, as well as of the Rigi and Pilatus, are gained. Towards its northerly end a monument marks the spot where a part of the shore slipped into the lake in 1887. The older part of the town is rather crowded together, though only four of the wall towers and a small part of the town walls still survive. The most striking old building in the town is the parish church of St Oswald (late 15th century), dedicated to St Oswald, king of Northumbria (d. 642), one of whose arms was brought to Zug in 1485. The town hall, also a 15th century building, now houses the Historical and Antiquarian Museum. There are some quaint old painted houses close by. A little way higher up the hill-side is a Capuchin convent in a striking position, close to the town wall and leaning against it. Still higher, and outside the old town, is the fine new parish church of St Michael, consecrated in 1902. The business quarter is on the rising ground north of the old town, near the railway station. Several fine modern buildings rise on or close to the shore in the town and to its south, whilst to the southwest is a convent of Capuchin nuns, who manage a large girls' school, and several other educational establishments.
The town, first mentioned in 1240, is called an "oppidum" in 1242, and a "castrum" in 1255. In 1273 it was bought by Rudolph of Habsburg from AnnaThere are a number of people named "Anna": Anna was the sister of Dido in Roman mythology and later literature. See Dido and Anna Perenna with whom Ovid identitfied her in one account. Anna Perenna, the Roman goddess Queen Anne I of the United Kingdom, so, the heiress of Kyburg and wife of Eberhard , head of the cadet line of HabsburgHabsburg (also spelled Hapsburg was one of the ruling houses of Europe: rulers of Austria (as dukes 1282 1453, archdukes 1453 1804, and emperors 1804 1918), kings of Bohemia 1526 1618 and 1621 1918, kings of Spain ( 1516 1700), and Holy Roman Emperors for, and in 1278 part of its territory, the valley of Aegeri, was pledged by Rudolph as security for a portion of the marriage gift he promised to Joanna, daughter of Edward I of EnglandYork Minster King Edward I of England ( June 17, 1239 July 7, 1307), popularly known as Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots , achieved fame as the monarch who conquered Wales and who kept Scotland under English domination. He reigned from 1272 to 1307,, who was betrothed to his son Hartmann, but whose death in 1281 prevented the marriage from taking place. The town of Zug was governed by a bailiff, appointed by the Habsburgs, and a council, and was much favoured by that family. Several country districts (Baar, Menzingen, and Aegeri) had each its own " LandsgemeindeThe Landsgemeinde is one of the oldest and simplest forms of direct democracy practised in Switzerland. Eligible citizens of the canton meet on a certain day in the open air to decide on laws and expenditures by the council. Everyone can debate a question" but were governed by one bailiff, also appointed by the Habsburgs; these were known as the "Aeusser Amt," and were always favourably disposed to the Confederates.
On June 27June 27 is the 178th day of the year (179th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 187 days remaining. Events 1709 Peter the Great defeats Charles XII of Sweden at the Battle of Poltava. 1759 General James Wolfe starts siege of Quebec. 1844 Joseph 1352Events June 4 Glarus joins the Swiss Confederation. June 27 Zug joins the Swiss Confederation. December 18 Innocent VI is elected Pope. Morroccan traveller Ibn Battuta reports the existence of the ngoni and balafon instruments at the court of Mansa Musa. both the town of Zug and the Aeusser Amt entered the Swiss Confederation, the latter being received on exactly the same terms as the town, and not, as was usual in the case of country districts, as a subject land; but in September 1352 Zug had to acknowledge its own lords again, and in 1355 to break off its connection with the league. About 1364 the town and the Aeusser Amt were recovered for the league by the men of SchwyzThe town Schwyz is the capital of the Canton of Schwyz, Switzerland. As of 2002 its population is 14'045. With the territory of 53. 17 km², the population density is 264/km². The main town square is located at 47°03' N, 8°37' E on 516 m above sea level., and from this time Zug took part as a full member in all the acts of the league. In 1379 the Holy Roman Emperor Wenceslaus exempted Zug from all external jurisdictions, and in 1389 the Habsburgs renounced their claims, reserving only an annual payment of twenty silver marks, which came to an end in 1415. In 1400 Wenceslaus gave all criminal jurisdiction to the town only. The Aeusser Amt then, in 1404, claimed that the banner and seal of Zug should be kept in one of the country districts, and were supported in this claim by Schwyz. The matter was finally settled in 1412 by arbitration and the banner was to be kept in the town. Finally in 1415 the right of electing their landammann was given to Zug by the Confederates, and a share in the criminal jurisdiction. was granted to the Aeusser Amt by the German king Sigismund.
In 1385 Zug joined the league of the Swabian cities against Leopold III of Austria and shared in the victory of Sempach, as well as in the various Argovian ( 1415) and Thurgovian ( 1460) conquests of the Confederates, and later in those of Italy ( 1512), having already taken part in the occupation of the Val d'Ossola. Between 1379 ( Walchwil ) and 1477 ( Cham) Zug had acquired various districts in her own neighbourhood, principally to the north and the west, which were ruled till 1798 by the town alone as subject lands. At the time of the Reformation Zug clung to the old faith and was a member of the Christliche Vereinigung of 1529. In 1586 it became a member of the Golden League. In 2001 members of the local (cantonal) parliament were shot at in Zug by an assassin.
The Museum of Zug houses an important collection of archaeological remains, especially from the late Bronze Age ( urnfield culture) settlement of Zug-Sumpf .