Vad är country code switzerland
From licence plates and road signs to postage stamps and Swiss francs , the abbreviation CH is omnipresent across Switzerland. The code itself stands for Confoederatio helvetica , the Latin name for the Swiss Confederation. The word Confoederatio or confederation is used in the Swiss country code because of how the country is constructed as a state. From its first origins in , the Swiss cantons that made up the country wanted the new nation to act as a confederacy.
What is the 2 letter country code for Switzerland?
Before , this meant that while the country did act in unison on occasion, tax , social, internal and most external affairs were controlled by individual cantons. Indeed, if you asked someone from Switzerland where they were from before the 19th century, most would say their home canton before calling themselves Swiss. This would change in following the Sonderbund Civil War.
When the modern state was founded in its aftermath, the Swiss franc, national citizenship and a centralised government were all created, stripping the cantons of much of their autonomy. However, with the 26 regions still holding a large amount of influence over domestic affairs, the modern Swiss state still describes itself as a confederation, hence why Confoederatio is still used.
Typically pictured in Romanesque clothing with a Swiss cross , wreath and shield, Helvetia would come to symbolise the alpine nation from the 17th century onwards.
How to call Switzerland from the USA & Canada:
However, Helvetia's use to describe Switzerland itself long predates the lady found on Swiss franc coins. Helvetia gets its name from the Latin name Helvetii. Before the Roman conquest of the lands we now know as Switzerland, much of the territory was occupied by a Gallic tribe, who were first called the Helvetii in an account by the Roman politician Cicero. The tribe itself was conquered by Julius Ceasar as part of his invasion of Gaul modern day France in the first century BC.
Once incorporated into the Roman Empire, the new province was called Helvetia, with its capital in Aventicum modern-day Avenches, Canton Vaud. This name stuck long after the Romans left in the fifth century AD and the lands came to be occupied by Frankish and Germanic tribes. CH was first used to describe the nation in when the Old Swiss Confederacy formed, and has not been replaced since.
Why is Switzerland “CH”? Behind the Swiss Country Code
Part of the reason that Switzerland still uses CH today is due to practicality. For instance, S, SE and SW are all taken by Sweden, so if Switzerland were to use any of these, it could cause people to confuse the two countries even more than they already do. With CH being the Latin designation for Switzerland, it also means that the country can avoid having to pick a country code from one of the four language regions - SE for German and CS for all other languages.
CH also makes Switzerland quite unique as it is one of the few countries that uses something other than its name to create its country code. By clicking subscribe, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy. For more information, please visit this page.
Why is Switzerland CH? The Swiss country code explained
Editor for Switzerland at IamExpat Media. Though born in York, Jan has lived most Expat Info News. Why is Switzerland CH? Why is Confoederatio part of Switzerland's country code? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies. Author Jan de Boer. Read more.