In 1723, the village of Cully witnessed an event which changed the history of the canton of Vaud. Major Davel, born in the commune, tried to throw the Bernese out of the area, which they had occupied for almost 200 years. He left with his troops from Cully’s Place d’Armes, but was quickly arrested. The Vaud magistrates, fearing reprisals from the Bernese, preferred to hand him over to them, and he was promptly beheaded.

However, Major Davel’s actions triggered the process that led to the liberation of the Vaud region, which went on to gain its independence in 1798.