1898 Ennetmoos
Actual 45 mm size by Eduard Zimmermann, Ennetburgen
Obverse.
Behold the forlorn man of Nidwalden, clad in the humble garb of his pastoral realm. With a heart heavy and weary, he casts his gaze in sorrowful direction toward the east. His arm, clenched in a gesture of grief, is raised across his chest, whilst the other hand doth cling to the timeworn barrel bands of his steadfast musket, a symbol of his unwavering fidelity.
In a scene of poignant lament, a matronly dame doth wail in deep mourning, her heart shattered as she strives to rouse the lifeless form of a fallen comrade. Her earnest endeavors and sorrowful visage, steeped in despair, speak volumes of her boundless devotion and love for the departed gentleman. Her actions, a testament to grief, reflect the profound ache of her heart.
Yonder in the distance stands a venerable farmhouse, emblematic of the land’s tradition, beside the famed parish chapel of St. Jakob. This hallowed shrine, a revered waypoint for pilgrims journeying to Santiago, stands as a beacon of spiritual pursuit. Behind this sacred sight, the resplendent Swiss Cross doth shine with rays of independence and liberty, emblematic of the cherished values that bind the Confederacy.
Inscriptions
IM KAMPF FÜR'S VATERLAND 9. SEPT. 1798. – Fighting for the Fatherland 9thSeptember 1798
Reverse
Behold the noble blazon of Nidwalden’s arms, resplendent with the double key upon its richly adorned shield. This hallowed emblem, graced with intricate artistry, doth display a verdant array of flora, native to the canton, woven into its design.
Background.
On April 12, 1798, 12 cantons in Aarau constituted the Helvetic Republic under pressure from a possible invasion by France. Not represented were the Cantons Uri, Schwyz, Nidwalden, Glarus and Zug. They wanted to hold on to the cantonal sovereignty at all costs and interfered with the liberal order of the new constitution, especially with regards to religious freedom; on the other hand, the Helvetic Constitution provided that the services would be under police supervision and that the sermons would be censored if necessary.
In view of the military superiority of the French, the rural communities of central Switzerland decided to adopt the constitution of the Helvetic Republic. As a punishment for the resistance, the Central Swiss cantons were merged to form the new Swiss canton Waldstätte and did not remain as independent cantons as originally planned. The most important consequence of this measure was that the weight of the vote in conservative central Switzerland in the Senate, the second chamber of the Helvetic Republic, was drastically reduced.
On 29 August, however, the rural community of Nidwalden refused to be incorporated into the new canton of Waldstätte. The Directorate of the Helvetic Republic decided to seek help from France and to intervene militarily in Nidwalden to prevent the rebellion from spreading to the rest of the Helvetic Republic.
On September 9, around 10’000 Frenchmen under General Henri Antoine of Schauenburg attacked Nidwalden from all directions. From a military point of view, resistance was meaningless. About 1’600 Nidwaldner fought against the French troops and the desperate resistance made a great impression on General Henri Antoine. He reported on the incredible obstinacy of these people, who were willing to fight aggressively against such odds.
The bitter resistance of the Nidwaldner made the French troops respond contrary to the instructions of their leader, with attacks on the civilian population. Large parts of Nidwalden were looted. The towns of Ennetmoos, Stansstad and Buochs were devastated, and the capital of Stans was partly destroyed
The battle and the subsequent massacre killed about 400 victims from Nidwalden, including over one hundred women and 26 children. The French are said to have lost in this battle, according to legend, about 2’000 men. Numerous villages and hamlets of Nidwalden were devastated, 600 houses and many churches burned down, the people robbed. The misery of the survivors was so great that even the opponents under the war-hardened hardened General Henri Antoine were overcome by pity and distributed food among the population, financed by the victory fee of the General of 60'000 francs. The board of directors in Paris made a voluntary "love tax", and the solidarity in the other cantons was great.
The uprising in Nidwalden, renowned at that time by the reporting on the suffering of the Nidwalden people went far beyond the borders of Switzerland; their fighters were celebrated as heroes in countries hostile to France.
In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Nidwalden uprising and in recognition of the courageous confederates who valiantly sacrificed themselves in their struggle for independence and civil liberties.