Toggenburg

Toggenburg occupies the Thur valley and surrounding uplands of northeastern Switzerland. When the last count of Toggenburg died in 1436, disputes over his inheritance contributed to conflict among neighbouring powers. The county passed to the lords of Raron, and in 1468 Petermann von Raron sold it to the prince-abbot of St Gall.

From 1524 the local council introduced the Reformation, influenced by Huldrych Zwingli, who was born in Wildhaus. Questions of faith became closely tied to the valley's relationship with the abbey. Later disputes contributed to the Second War of Villmergen in 1712; a religious peace followed in 1718, when the abbot's authority was restored with greater local autonomy.