Cantons of Switzerland Cantons of Switzerland The 26 cantons of Switzerland (, , , ) are the member states of the Swiss Confederation. The nucleus of the Swiss Confederacy in the form of the first three confederate allies used to be referred to as the Waldstätte. Two further major steps in the development of the Swiss cantonal system are referred to by the terms "Acht Orte" ("Eight Cantons"; between 1353 and 1481) and "Dreizehn Orte" ("Thirteen Cantons",during 1513–1798); they were important intermediate periods of the Ancient Swiss Confederacy. Each canton, formerly also From 1833, there were 25 cantons, increasing to 26 after the
Flags and arms of cantons of Switzerland church. Losing the banner to an enemy force was a great shame and invited mockery from other cantons. Pope Julius II in recognition of the support he received from Swiss mercenaries against France in 1512 granted the Swiss the title of "Ecclesiasticae libertatis defensores" and gave them two large banners, besides a blessed sword and hat. Papal legate Matthias Schiner in addition gave to the Swiss cantons and their associates a total of 42 costly silk banners with augmentations, the so-called "Juliusbanner". Some of these banners survive, of the cantonal ones notably those of Zürich and Solothurn. The fashion of