1656 The first Villmergen War results. Christopher Pfyffer of Lucerne with a body of Catholics defeats the Protestants at Villmergen. A treaty is concluded which provides for the individual sovereignty of each member of the confederation in religious matters. 1663 The confederation makes a treaty with Louis XIV of France, by which Protestant Swiss mercenaries are taken into the king’s pay. 1668 As the result of encroachments by Louis in the Franche-Comté the confederates provide for joint action against outside enemies by putting into execution the agreement known as the Defensionale. French Protestant refugees find shelter in Switzerland. THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY 1707 Pierre Fatio at the head of a committee of the council at Geneva demands a more liberal government. 1712 The abbot of St. Gall by his oppressions rouses the people of Toggenburg to insurrection. The second Villmergen War (or war of Toggenburg) between Catholics and Protestants from these troubles. The Catholics are defeated at Villmergen. The Treaty of Aarau assures the “common bailiwicks” religious liberty and gives advantages to the Protestants. 1715 The Catholic members of the confederation by the Truckli Bund agree to put France in the position of guarantor of the confederation. A period of decline. The confederation has little unity. Unsatisfactory relations of the classes. 1723 The conspiracy of Davel to free Vaud from the oppression of Bern is crushed. 1729 The “_Harten_” (hard ones) opponents of the government, and the “_Linden_” (soft ones) at Zug struggle for supremacy. 1732 The “Harten” gain a victory over the “Linden” in the Outer Rhodes of Appenzell. 1737 The democrats win a victory for liberal government in Geneva. 1744 Demands for a more liberal government are made in Bern. 1749 Hentzi’s conspiracy attempts in vain to overthrow the oligarchy at Bern. 1748 Discontents of the common people cause disorder in Neuchâtel. 1755 Popular uprisings in the Leventina are crushed by the government of Uri. 1762 The Helvetic Society is founded and fosters aspirations for liberty. Rousseau, then a citizen of Geneva, publishes the _Contrat Social_. These books are publicly burned by order of the city government. The popular party wins in the Outer Rhodes of Appenzell. 1764 The “Harten” are victorious in Zug. 1768 Armed intervention of France, Zurich, and Bern in Geneva to suppress popular revolts of the “natives.” Disorders occur in the patriciate of Lucerne. 1770 The “natives” rise in revolt in Geneva. 1777 All of the thirteen states of the confederation join in making a new alliance with France. Political disturbances occur in Zurich. 1780 The meetings of the Helvetic Society are forbidden.