Why is Ticino Part of Switzerland? Conflicts, Commons, and the Commermorative Politics of Belonging, 1798-1898

Nowadays, the Canton of Ticino is considered as Swiss as anywhere else in Switzerland. However, it wasn’t always like that: putsches, revolutions and independence movements once posed serious challenges to the status of the south-lying canton as part of Switzerland. So, how is it that Switzerland’s borders ended up south of the Alps? The answer lies not only in political upheaval and a desire to preserve local autonomy, but also in the symbolic integration of the canton into the national narrative. Over time, figures like William Tell and events like the uprising of 15 February 1798 became powerful tools of commemoration. Through slogans, monuments, and myths, Ticino’s Swissness was not only defended – it was actively constructed.