Obergoms

Geschichte

Obergoms is the upper part of the Goms and a municipality in the district of Goms in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. It was formed on 1 January 2009 when the three municipalities Ulrichen, Obergesteln and Oberwald merged.HistoryObergesteln is first mentioned in 1322 as castellione. In 1415 it was mentioned as obergestillen. Oberwald is first mentioned in 1386 as Superiore Valde. In 1419 it was mentioned as Oberwaldt. Ulrichen is first mentioned in 1235 as Vlrighingen. In 1240 it was mentioned as holriquinguen.The area around Ulrichen was the site of two battles during the Middle Ages. The First Battle of Ulrichen in 1211 was a decisive defeat of Bernese troops under Duke Berthold V of Zähringen by the army of the Canton of Valais under the Bishop of Sion Landrich von Mont. Many details about the battle are uncertain or questioned by historians. The Second Battle of Ulrichen in 1419 was between the Old Swiss Confederacy lead by Bern and Valais. The second battle was a Valais victory and negotiations after the battle led to the end of the Raron affair.