Alois von Reding

Josef Fridolin Vinzenz Aloys Reding von Biberegg (6 March 1765 – 5 February 1818) was a Swiss patriot, military officer and politician. He is best known for leading an early revolt against the Helvetic Republic.

He was born in Schwyz, the son of aristocrat Josef Rudolf Reding von Biberegg (1726–1799). His brother was a general, Theodor von Reding (1755–1809).

Until 1788, Alois von Reding served in the Schwyzer regiments in the service of Spain, rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel. After he returned to Switzerland, he became a national captain of the canton of Schwyz.

When the Helvetic Republic, imposed by the French, was introduced in 1798, he led a revolt made up of forces from Schwyz, Unterwalden, and Uri. Many of the cantons resented being denied the right to self-government and the limits on the freedom of worship imposed by the new regime. Heavily outnumbered, von Reding was forced to submit to French General Schauenburg on 13 May.

Von Reding formed a Tagsatzung after the collapse of the centralist Helvetic Republic in the Stecklikrieg of October 1802.

In the years leading up to the French Revolution, the spiritual and religious council of the Canton of Schwyz began preaching against the non-Catholic elements of the French Revolution. People were urged to be absolutely against and non-cooperative towards the newly formed Helvetic Republic. After the French Invasion in 1798, cantonal sovereignty and feudalism was abolished. In response, Von Reding led an army of 10,000 men from the Cantons of Uri, Schwyz and Nidwalden against the French. He was able to gain control of Lucerne and marched across the Brünig pass into the Berner Oberland to support the armies of Bern. Despite winning several battles and capturing several territories, Reding was forced to surrender to the French due to the French gaining control of Settel; a move that allowed the French to pose the threat of capturing Schwyz.

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