During the 13th century the
people living in the
Alps were becoming increasingly unhappy with their
government.
The mountain people had their own
customs and
institutions. These were being interfered with by the rulers of the
Holy Roman Empire, of which the Alps formed a part. On 1 August, 1291, representatives from the areas of Uri, Schwyz and Nidwalden met in the
Meadow of Rutli. They formed the League of Uri in which they declared themselves to be
independent of the Empire. Years of hard fighting lay ahead for the mountain men, but they
eventually won their
freedom and formed the
nation we today call
Switzerland.