Switzerland is a country located in both Western Europe and Central Europe, with Bern being the seat of the federal authorities; Zurich and Geneva are two other important cities in the country. Switzerland was first founded on 1 August 1291 with the creation of the Swiss Confederacy, and the nation won its independence from the Duchy of Austria at the Battle of Morgarten on 15 November 1315. Switzerland was home to the famed Swiss Pikemen, who were hired as mercenaries during the French Wars of Religion and Italian Wars. In 1815, Switzerland began a period of neutrality that would last over 200 years, as it was the center of European (some would argue, world) finance. Switzerland has a population of 8,211,700 people, having a diverse population; most are descended from Germans, French, Italians, and native Swiss Helvetic people, with German, French, Italian, and Romansh being the four official languages.
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