Why is Switzerlands Latin name Helvetia still being used?
As the modern name Schweiz (and its transcriptions) always evoke the notion of a leading role of German speaking canton Schwyz within the Swiss confederation, some minority groups are not especially pleased with it. Switzerland’s old latin name Helvetia on the other hand tries to focus on the older tradition that unites French and German speaking regions stretching from Lake Geneva in the southwest to the Lake of Constance (Bodensee) in the northeast of the country, that was once inhabited by the celtic tribe named Helvetians. Learn more about the Helvetians. In French language, helvetique (for Swiss) is being used quite often, and the 1798 Swiss Revolution, demanding for equal rights for all Swiss inhabitants and for the French speaking minority in the west of the country in particular, proclaimed the Helvetic Republic, referring deliberately to the old latin name Helvetia.
