Berne

The city of Berne {{IPA|}} (Bernese German Bärn {{IPA|}}, German Bern {{IPA|}}, French Berne {{IPA|}}, Italian Berna {{IPA|}}, Romansh Berna {{IPA|}}), is the "Bundesstadt" (administrative capital) of Switzerland, and is the fourth most populous Swiss city (after Zürich, Geneva and Basel).

History

Duke Berthold V of Zähringen founded the city on the River Aare in 1191 and allegedly named it after a bear (Bär in German) he had killed. It was made a Imperial Free City by the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II in 1218 after Berthold died without an heir. In 1353 Bern joined the young Swiss Confederation, becoming a leading member of the new state. It invaded and conquered Aargau in 1415 and Vaud in 1536, as well as other smaller territories, becoming the largest city-state north of the Alps. It was occupied by French troops in 1798 during the French Revolutionary Wars, and was stripped of most of its territories. In 1831 the city became the capital of the canton Bern and in 1848 it additionally became the Swiss capital.

Related Topics:
Duke - Zähringen - Aare - 1191 - Bear - Imperial Free City - Holy Roman Emperor - Frederick II - 1218 - 1353 - Confederation - Aargau - 1415 - 1536 - City-state - Alps - French - 1798 - French Revolutionary Wars - 1831 - 1848

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The city grew out of the peninsula on the river Aare towards the west. The Zytglogge tower was on the western boundary of the city from 1191 until 1256, then the Käfigturm took this role until 1345 and was then succeeded by the Christoffelturm (close to today's train station) until 1622. During the time of the Thirty Years%27 War two new fortifications, the so-called big and small Schanze (entrenchment), were built that protected the whole area of the peninsula. The area protected by these edifices was sufficient for the growth of Bern up to the 19th century.

Related Topics:
Zytglogge - Thirty Years%27 War - 19th century

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