Basel
In 1382 the constitution reserved four seats of the Council for the noble families. From the next century the corporations and thus the town's citizens took the power. The noble families of this time preferred to leave Basel which consequently will have a corporative system. The nobility was then prohibited in Basel. An exception was made for the "barons Wieland" in 1816 under the condition that they will not use their title in Basel. However there are some noble families whose nobility and titles are earlier to their reception as citizen of Basel.
The canton of Basel had in place of a nobility a patriciate, that dominated its politcal life. Its most prominent members were the families Vischer, Sarasin, Bernoulli, Burckhardt, Merian, Iselin and Liechtenhan.
Read more about this topic: Swiss Nobility