VALAIS, rfVlic' (Ger. Wallis), A southern canton of Switzerland, bounded by the cantons of Bern and Vaud on the north. rri. Ticino, and Italy on the cast, Italy on the south, and France on the west (Map: Switzerland. 11 2). Area, 2027 square miles. It consists of the valley of the l(hone and a number of lateral valleys along its tributaries, inclosed by the Bernese Alps on the north and the Valais Alp on the south. Valais abounds in glaciers which occupy about one-fifth of its area. The highest point is the Dufour Peak on Monte Rosa, over I5,000 feet. Valais contains many kinds of minerals, prin cipally lead, gold, iron, anthracite, marble, and limestone. Most of these minerals are worked. The canton is chiefly pastoral, vineyards and orchards being found only in the deep valleys. The wines of Valais are well known. The chief manufactures of the canton are soap, glass, sugar, and dynamite. The Constitution of Valais provides for a legislative assembly (Grant/ Conseil) elected directly at the rate of one mem ber for every 1000 inhabitants. The capital is Sion (q.v.). Population, in 1900, 114,155, almost en tirely Roman Catholic. The French-speaking inhabitants, who form about two-thirds of the population, inhabit the western part of the can ton and the German-speaking the eastern.
The valley of the Upper Rhone, the Tullis Pcrnina of the Romans, was conquered by the Romans in B.C. 57, and later incorporated with Rhtetia. On the dissolution of the Roman Em pire the region was occupied by the Burgundians, whose rule was supplanted by that of the Franks. After the disruption of the Frankish realm. at the close of the ninth century, it formed part of the Kingdom of Transjurane linrgundy and then of the Kingdom of Arles. Later the bishops of Sion and the counts of Savoy held sway in Western or Lower Valais, contending with each other for dominion, while Upper Valais was colonized by Germans, Who founded a number of independent communities or 'tithing,: Finally, in the fifteenth century, Upper Valais, after join ing the Swiss Confederation, secured control of Lower Valais, which was ruled as a subject terri tory. In 1798 the whole region became part of the Helvetic Republic. In 1502 Valais was made an independent republic by Napoleon. who an nexed it in 1810 to France ap the Department of Simplon. It was freed in 1514, and in 1815 was constituted a canton of the Swiss Confederation. It took part in the League of Sarnen as well as in the Sonderbund.