From the Early Middle Ages to the Ancien Régime
Berchtold V, Duke of Zähringen, who wanted to build
a stronghold on the River Aare, founded the city in 1191.
According to legend, he named the town after the first
animal he killed - a bear - while hunting in the wooded
surroundings of his new town.
By the Middle Ages, Bern had become by force of arms one
of the most powerful city states north of the alps, extending
its influence eastwards towards Austria, southwards to
Milan and, significantly, annexing French-speaking Vaud
to the west.
Horror of war
The exhibition, in Bern’s history museum, takes
visitors from battle to battle, with models and contemporary
paintings which pull no punches in illustrating the horror
of war.
“In recent years many museums have put their old
weapons into storage because they didn’t want to
show war in a country which has been at peace for 200
years,” museum director Peter Jetzler told swissinfo.
“I believe it’s very important to show both
sides. Swiss soldiers were once the cruellest in Europe,
killing their prisoners as they fought.
“This is a fundamental part of Swiss history. The
country probably became peaceful because it had such a
cruel past.”
Ambitious project
But the exhibition, which Jezler says is one of the most
ambitious in which he’s been involved, devotes only
one of its five sections to war.
The others trace the social and political history of Bern
up to the late 18th century, when it was occupied for
a time by French revolutionary forces.
Napoleon’s troops toppled the “ancien régime”,
a small group of privileged families who had ruled the
city since the 17th century, thereby ending Bern’s
position of authority.
Before their withdrawal, the invaders helped lay the foundations
for the Switzerland of today.
Council chamber
The museum has recreated the ruling elite’s council
chamber, as well as rooms such as the salon of a typical
well-to-do family.
Gold, silverware and porcelain objects are on display,
and the walls are lined with contemporary portraits of
army generals and members of the noble families.
One fascinating object is a drinking vessel in the shape
of a leopard, made by a Bernese goldsmith in 1690.
It was commissioned by King William III of England and
presented as a gift to the Swiss Confederates in a bid
to recruit mercenaries from their ranks to support his
army.
This somewhat expensive bribe failed to win them over,
but Bern kept the leopard and it’s been public property
ever since.
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