VII
BASEL AND COLMAR
Basel
After traversing several of the Swiss cantons, the Rhine leaves Switzerland at Basel. After the breaking up of the vast empire of Charlemagne, Basel came first under the authority of the Emperors of Germany, and then under that of the kings of the second house of Burgundy, until 1032, at which time the city became definitely incorporated into the German Empire.
Rudolph of Hapsburg besieged the city in 1274, and through the fourteenth and well into the fifteenth century it was the theatre of many struggles between the bishops and the emperors.
In 1061 and 1431 important councils of the Church were held here.
In 1489, at the village of Dornach, scarce half a dozen miles from Basel, took place that battle between six thousand Swiss and[{84}] fifteen thousand Austrians which made possible the future independence of Switzerland.
During the sixteenth century Basel enjoyed a glorious era with respect to science and art.