Between 1000 and 1350 AD, Europe experienced a population growth, increase of agriculture and growth of cities, a relatively mild climate and advances in culture. The people of the Alps shared in this prosperity. It also resulted in a movement of various groups of people including the Walsers who founded Triesenberg in Liechtenstein.
The Walsers come from the Alemanni who had spread through the Alps settling in the alpine valleys around 500 AD. What is today the Swiss Canton of Wallis, was settled in the 8th and 9th centuries. The Alemanni also settled in the present day Liechtenstein valley and the Voralberg wherever they found arable land. By the 12th century they were thinly scattered over many small valleys including the upper Wallis. As their numbers grew and they developed an alpine culture of sorts, they began to look for more unpopulated land. By this time there were only the lofty alpine meadows suitable for grazing sheep and cattle available.
The farmers who settled higher areas of the Canton of Wallis, and specialized in animal husbandry, became known as the Walser. Living in isolated farmsteads in the mountains, such as later at Steg and Malbun, they became fiercely independent. Local feudal lords encouraged these hardy and industrious people to settle in these remote alpine areas. The Walsers also earned money by serving as soldiers, running pack trains between various mountain communities and buying and selling cattle. They also developed a distinct culture suited to the high alpine areas and their homes and buildings were uniquely built to withstand the mountain climate. While Roman Catholic, the Walsers also venerated their patron Saint Theodul to almost the level of a cult, according to some historians.
The pressure to find new pastures, the increase of population, and apparently some persecution because of their religious views drove the Walsers to move on. They headed out in at least three different directions on what has been called the Walser Paths. In the 12th and 13th centuries the Walsers moved north to Bernese Oberland, west to the French part of Chablais, and south to the highest Italian alpine valleys. Others traveled to Raetia, the Grisons Oberland and other areas around the High Rhine River such as St.Galler Oberland, Liechtenstein, Tirol and Voralberg.
One group of Walsers settled in the highlands above the villages of Triesen, Vaduz and Schaan, buying whole mountains to herd their sheep and cattle on. Up until this time the locals living by the Rhine River only used these meadows and high alpine valleys during the summer. The Walsers built their scattered homesteads and stayed the whole year. In time they congregated in small villages at Planken, Triesenberg, Steg and Malbun. Local rulers encouraged these settlers giving them special rights such as personal liberty, free homes and free inheritance, where a person's possessions went to his heirs who paid the same interest as before without further penalties. The coat of arms of Triesenberg has a bell on it that is the symbol of St. Theodul, patron saint of the Walsers, who is also the protector of the chapel at Masescha.
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