21 March

It is the feast day of Nicholas of Flüe, Swiss hermit and ascetic who is the patron saint of Switzerland.

Above: A 1513 illustration of the events of the Treaty at Stans in 1481, which resolved the latent conflict that had arisen in the wake of the Burgundy Wars between the rural and urban cantons of the Old Swiss Confederacy.

The conflict was resolved when the pastor of Stans, Heini Amgrund, brought a message from Niklaus von Flüe. (Top panel)

Upon reception of the message, the quarrels were laid aside. (Bottom panel)

The content of the message is unknown.

Also born on this day, Eric Rohmer.