The District of Davos

	The Province of Davos, another name sometimes given to 
this district, comprises the region of Laret and the whole 
catchment area of the river Landwasser as far as the gorge of 
Brombänz below the Silberberg.  The district is the same as 
the territory of the largest commune of the Grisons, Davos, 
which is also one of the largest in Switzerland, having a 
surface of 253 sq. km, thus surpassing the area of the Canton 
of Appenzell - Ausserrhoden by 10 sq. km.  The province is 
divided into the upper part (Wolfgang - Church of St. Johann), 
the middle part (Church of St. Johann - Church of Glaris) and 
the lower part (Church of Glaris - Zügen).

	The name Davos is derived from Latin "tubus" meaning 
gorge, or "tovatum" meaning covered by deposit, which points to 
the slopes of scree in the gorges of Schia and Alberti.

	In historic times the route from Chur to Vintschgau via 
Strela-Davos-Flüela-Ofen was of great importance for the 
import of salt and corn from the Tyrol.  This is the reason why 
the few prehistoric finds - weapons dating from the Bronze Age 
- were discovered along the Flüela route (Lake of Davos, 
Drusatscha, Flüela pass).

	The valley was already settled by Romansh people before 
the immigration of the Walsers, as proved by the first 
documentary evidence dating from 1213 about the rent for an 
estate "Kristis . . . in Tavaus valle". But the proper 
cultivation of the land only started when the first Alemanni 
appeared; they were settled by Walter V of Vaz in the whole 
territory of the present commune, i.e. at Davos, Frauenkirch, 
Glaris, Monstein and Sertig.  The document of 31st August 1289 
formally declared that Johannes, Donat, and Walter of Vaz and 
their kinsmen Duke Hugo II of Werdenberg make known to all 
those who see or read this letter that we have given Wilhelmen, 
the magistrate, and his men and their rightful heirs the estate 
at Tafas as legal fee at a rent fixed by our deceased Uncle, 
Walther of Vatz. . . .  The bill of enfeoffment guaranteed to 
the settlers personal freedom, a free hereditart fief, the 
lower jurisdiction, and their own magistrate.  Similarities in 
language point to the fact that the Walsers at Davos came from 
the region below Brig, contrary to those who settled in the 
Rheinwald.

	The Barons of Vaz were the feudal lords and held the 
High Court, after they died out the Dukes of Toggenburg 
followed them and from 1436 onwards the Montfort - Tettnangs.  
On 5th Februart 1438 the people of Davos were given a charter 
in which the League of Ten Jurisdictions and the charter of 
1289 were confirmed, and in which they were given a number of 
new rights.  Thus they were given the right of arbitration in 
disputes between the jurisdiction and other courts of the 
Montforts.  Later, in 1466, the sovereign rights went to 
Austria, from which the provincee bought them in 1649.

	On 8th of June 1436 the League of Ten Jurisdictions was 
sworn and sealed at Davos.  The leading part Davos played is 
made clear by the fact that the land and jurisdiction of Davos 
with the magistrate Ulrich Beeli is mentioned in the first 
place, and that Davos was chosen as the place for the League's 
meetings.  The magistrate of Davos was always the president of 
the League, who between the meetings had to look after the 
affairs and who took the chair at the meetings.  Davos took 
care also of the common banner and the archive.  In turn with 
Chur and Ilanz, Davos later became the meeting-place of the 
general assembly, i.e. of the highest common body of the Free 
State of Rhaetia.

	In 1526 the people of Davos accepted the new faith.  
During the turbulent times of the Rhaetian Free State, Davos 
gave the country a number of important men.  Buol, Guler, and 
Sprecher are names of families that are not only found in the 
lists of the magistrates of the League of Ten Jurisdictions but 
also in the lists of the officers in foreign service.

	The foreign service, emigration of tradesmen above all 
of confectioners in the 18th century, the traffic with 
pack-horses as far as the Tyrol, and mining in Glaris-Monstein 
were means of earning and income that for a long time were 
skillfully exploited.  The economic basis was totally changed 
when Davos became an internationally-known health resort in the 
second half of the last century, and later became a well known 
sports centre.

	In 1851 Davos became a district, but without Arosa 
which was joined to the district of Schanfigg.

	Davos has been German-speaking since the settlement of 
the Walsers.

	Famous people from Davos:

	Fortunat Sprecher von Bernegg (1585-1649).  He studied 
at Orleans where he received his degree as doctor of law.  He 
was a statesman and a diplomat in the service of the republic 
of the Three Leagues.  His most important achievement however 
is the work he did as a chronicler and writer of history.  In 
his "Pallas Rhaetica armata et togata" (Rhaetian wisdom in arms 
and law) he gives a concise survey of the Rhaetian history 
known at that time.  In his "historia motuum et bellorum . . ." 
(History of the wars and conflicts that arose in Rhaetia in the 
past) he gives a picture of the Rhaetian wars.  Although on the 
side of the Frnech party, he sought the truth and was the first 
real historiographer of the Grisons.

	Alexander Spengler (1827-1901), doctor of medicine, 
from Davos.  In 1849 at the time of the Revolution he came to 
Switzerland from Baden to study medicine.  In 1853 he settled 
at Davos as a practising doctor and discovered the healing 
effects of the climate at that altitude.  Thus he became the 
founder of the health resort at Davos.

	District Coat of Arms:  Quarterly azure and gold with a 
cross quarterly countercoloured.  Blazonry:  The seal of the 
League of Ten Jurisdictions dating from 1802 and the seal of 
the province dating from 1803 both show a quartered cross with 
countercolours, which since have become generally accepted.  
District colours:  blue-yellow.