Federal Charter of 1291

The Federal Charter or Letter of Alliance (German:Bundesbrief) documents the Eternal Alliance or League of the Three Forest Cantons (German:Ewiger Bund der Drei Waldstätten), the union of three cantons in what is now central Switzerland. It is dated in early August, 1291 and initiates the current August 1 national Swiss holiday. This agreement cites a previous (lost or most likely not existent in written form) similar pact. It is currently exhibited at the archives of the Swiss Charters of Confederation in Schwyz.