Zurich Timeline
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Zurich
Real World Zurich History
Please be careful when adding real-world information to this wiki page. The Dark Places Wiki is designed mostly as a resource for IC information. The brief history below is included primarily to give players inspiration for their characters.
A global city and one with the highest standard of living in the world, Zurich is the economic capital of Switzerland. During the Roman period, Zurich was a tax-collection point for the area. In the 9th century C.E., a castle and a monastery were both built by Charlemagne's grandson, Louis the German. Later, the abbess of the convent was made the virtual ruler of the city, thanks to the granting of certain rights and privileges. In 1234, the abbess of the convent was made a duchess, and given the power to select the mayor of the city. This persisted for a century - the convent's power slowly began to decline with the advent of the guilds.
Zurich joined the Swiss confederation in 1351. However, the city came into conflict with another and was expelled from the confederation in 1440, defeated in war in 1446, and re-admitted in 1450. Zurich was also the epicenter of Zwingli's Swiss Reformation of the Roman Catholic Church.
Due to the overall prosperity of the city, it was only mildly affected by the rebellions of the mid-19th century. It was also only tacitly involved in World War II - the city was bombed, but it was accidental.
Zurich in the World of Darkness
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Who's Who
(Include in this section a list of notable supernatural residents, past and present. For particular populous cities, this section may be divided by venue.)
Customs and Rules
(Include in this section a list of customs and rules which would be known to supernaturals. I.E., if the Prince has strict feeding laws or if the Summer King of the Freehold demands tribute from each visitor).
Prehistory & Roman Rule, to approx 600 c.e.
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(Feel free to customize this section according to the specific history of the city in question. This section is primarily intended to chart how PCs have interacted with the city)
Medieval Era, 600 c.e. to 1500 c.e.
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The Renaissance, 1500 c.e. to 1700 c.e.
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Age of Enlightenment, 1700 c.e. to 1915 c.e.
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- 1712 -1803: The spillover from the French Revolution wiped out Invictus power in the city, forcing them to fight their way back up from nothing. They backed Napoleon, a tyrannical dictator-in-the-making, and slowly regained much of what they had lost. A young vampire named Rachel Vaud is among the "revolutionaries," gaining significant political influence among her covenant, the Invictus. [R]
- 1805: Racheline du Diesbach neé Vitelion is granted full Princeship of the territory of Zürich and surrounding environs. To consolidate her power in the mortal world as well as in the eyes of vampires, Vaud and her liege attempt to subtly manipulate some of the decisions of the Congress of Vienna by ghouling one of decision-making members and a few scattered assistants of others. The European powers recognize Switzerland's perpetual neutrality. [R]
- 1805 - 1847: The Invictus in Switzerland encourage industrial growth, pushes for the forward-movement of Switzerland's economic and trade development. Her sponsor in France destroyed, Racheline du Diesbach neé Vitelion becomes a fully independant power. Despite the advancements and enlightenments she brings to her country and her court, she is a tyrannical prince, flaunting her power and her independence at every turn. Her methods are harsh and cruel; more than 200 vampires suffer torture, humiliation, torment or destruction at the hands of her court and Sheriff. [R]
- 1847: Growing tensions, both mortal and vampiric, come to a head in the "Sonderbund War." At the end of a brief campaign, the conservative cantons in Switzerland capitulate. Behind the scenes, Racheline's jealous Invictus Harpy leads the revolt, bringing the tyrant Prince metaphorically to her knees. It is determined that Racheline will be tied to a stake and left for the sun to destroy. Racheline du Diesbach neé Vitelion is reported dead, the matter finished. [R]
The Great War and World War II, 1915 c.e. to 1945 c.e.
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- 1938: The leadership of the Swiss vampires has waned; some killed by the war or factionalism, and others simply fallen into torpor. The current Prince of Zurich is destroyed by Nazi-sympathetic vampires. Switzerland is ill-prepared to defend itself against a Nazi invasion, should one come. Something must be done – and in desperation, the Gangrel's allies, Swiss nationals (vampires), reveal that Racheline du Diesbach neé Vitelion is not dead, but instead, lies torpored in the Swiss alps. The vampires of Zurich vote, and decide it is better to have the evil that they know. They locate and revive Racheline. Some of them are the vampires who wanted to kill her in 1847 – but now she is their best hope, and the very things they attacked her for (her ruthlessness, her cruelty, her absolute devotion to destroying her enemies) are the qualities that Switzerland needs in this time of trouble. Racheline knows how to be a Prince, knows how to fight an insurrection and how to win. She agrees to take the Princeship of Zurich once more, but this time under a new name - Rachel Vaud - and swears her loyalty publicly to the Lancea Sanctum. [R]
- 1942: Sister Giovanna assists Rachel Vaud, Prince of Zurich, in defending the city and the country from the attack of Nazi Kindred. Some of the only successful incursions are directed by Leon Vogel. [R]
Modern Day, 1945 c.e. to Present
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- 1947: Rachel Vaud steps down from her second Princeship of Zurich, to a sigh of relief from the populace (who thought, now that the war was over, she would return to her tyrannical ways). She vanishes westward, and does not return to Switzerland therafter; leaving her beloved Zurich in the hands of a new Prince.
Rumors
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