Fürstenland
Fürstenland or Alte Landschaft is the name of a historical territory of the Swiss canton of St. Gallen, corresponding to the modern districts of St. Gallen, Wil and Rorschach.
It was a subject territory of the Abbey of St. Gallen until 1798.
Its population, known as the Gotteshausleute, came into conflict with the Abbey after the Swiss Reformation, during 1525-1531.
After the defeat of Zürich in the Second War of Kappel, the Fürstenland was forced to return to Catholicism.
After the French Revolution, the territory was granted increased autonomy in a treaty of 1795, and in 1797 additionally its own seal and the right to elect a local parliament.
On 14 February 1798, it constituted itself as a "Free Republic", which was absorbed into the Canton of Säntis three months later.
