Timeline of Bern

The following is a timeline of the history of the municipality of Bern, Switzerland.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries.

Prior to 19th century

• 2nd-3rd century CE - Roman settlement abandoned.[1]
• 1191 - Bern set up as military outpost by Berthold V, Duke of Zähringen.[2]
• 1218 - Bern becomes a free imperial city of the Holy Roman Empire.[3]
• 1219 - Zytglogge (tower) built.[1]
• 1223 - Theto von Ravensburg becomes Schultheiss von Bern.
• 1256 - Käfigturm (tower) built.
• 1268 - Nydegg Castle demolished (approximate date).
• 1270 - Felsenburg (castle) built (approximate date).
• 1285 - Predigerkirche (Bern) (church) built.[1]
• 1289 - April: Battle of Schosshalde takes place; Bern successfully resisted Rudolph of Hapsburg.[3]
• 1298
  • Bern allies with Biel, Murten, and Solothurn.[2]
  • Bern expands to include Bolligen, Muri, Stettlen, and Vechigen.[1]
• 1331-1333 - Gümmenenkrieg (Fribourg-Bern war).
• 1339 - Battle of Laupen.[2]
• 1345 - Golatenmatttor (tower) built.
• 1346
  • Black Death plague.[2]
  • Äussere Neustadt (Bern) area developed.
  • Christoffelturm (tower) and Nydeggkirche (church) built.
• 1353 - Canton of Bern joins the Swiss Confederacy.[4]
• 1380 - Public clock installed (approximate date).[5]
• 1383-1384 - Burgdorferkrieg (Kyberg-Bern war) takes place in the County of Burgundy.
• 1417 - Rathaus (Bern) (town hall) built.[1]
• 1421 - Bern Munster construction begins.[6]
• 1430 - Konrad Justinger writes Chronik der Stadt Bern, a history of the city.
• 1470 - Tschachtlanchronik (Bern history) compiled.
• 1489 - Untertorbrücke (bridge) built.
• 1494 - Antoniterkirche (Bern) (church) rebuilt.
• 1513 - Town begins to keep bears in the Bärenplatz.[6]
• 1525 - Printing press in operation.[7]
• 1528 - Berner Disputation.
• 1530 - Astronomical clock installed in the Zytglogge.[1]
• 1532 - Bernese Synod adopted.[8]
• 1543 - Gerechtigkeitsbrunnen (Bern) (fountain) erected on Gerechtigkeitsgasse.
• 1544 - Simsonbrunnen (fountain) erected.
• 1546 - Fountains Anna-Seiler-Brunnen (on Marktgasse) and Pfeiferbrunnen (on Spitalgasse) erected.
• 1573 - Munster construction ends.[6]
• 1615 - Schallenhaus (prison) in operation.
• 1700 - Population: 14,219.[9]
• 1718 - Kornhaus (Bern) (granary) built.[1]
• 1729 - Church of the Holy Ghost, Bern rebuilt.[1]
• 1752 - Erlacherhof (mansion) built.[1]
• 1759 - Ökonomische Gesellschaft (scientific society) founded.[10]
• 1798 - 5 March: Battle of Grauholz takes place in canton; French in power.[4]
• 1799 - Stämpfli (publisher) in business.

19th century

• 1803 - City library active.[11]
• 1815 - Bernischen Musikgesellschaft (music society) founded.[12]
• 1817 - Rathaus zum Äusseren Stand (government building) rebuilt.
• 1818 - Population: 18,997.[9]
• 1830 - Eidgenössisches Schützenfest held in Bern.
• 1832
  • Karl Zeerleder becomes mayor.
  • Canton becomes administratively independent of city.[1]
• 1834 - University of Bern established.[6]
• 1837 - Population: 24,362.[9]
• 1844 - Nydeggbrücke (bridge) built.
• 1846 - Historical Society of the Canton of Bern founded.[13]
• 1848 - Bern becomes capital of Switzerland.[3]
• 1850
  • Der Bund newspaper begins publication.
  • Population: 29,670 in city; 407,765 in canton.[14]
• 1851 - Tiefenaubrücke (bridge) built.
• 1857 - Bundeshaus (Bern)[1] and Bärengraben (bear pit) built.
• 1858
  • Bern railway station opens.
  • Musikschule Konservatorium Bern founded.[12]
• 1863 - Bernischen Juristenverein (lawyers' association) founded.
• 1864 - Catholic Church of St. Peter and Paul, Bern built.[1]
• 1868 - Chocolat Tobler in business.
• 1874
  • International Weltpostkongress 1874 (postal union meeting) held in Bern; "Treaty concerning the formation of a General Postal Union" signed.
  • Christian Catholic Church of Switzerland headquartered in Bern.[15]
• 1877 - Bern Symphony Orchestra established.[16]
• 1879 - Conche machine invented by chocolate maker Rodolphe Lindt.
• 1880
  • Engehalbinsel oppidum ruins discovered near city.
  • Population: 44,087 in city; 471,991 in canton.[14]
• 1886 - International "Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works" signed in city.[3]
• 1888 - Berner Tramway-Gesellschaft founded.
• 1891
  • August: 700th anniversary of city founding.[3]
  • State Archive of Bern founded.
• 1893
  • June: Labour unrest.[3]
  • Johanneskirche (Bern) (church) built.
• 1894 - Bern Historical Museum built.
• 1900 - Städtische Strassenbahn Bern (public transit operator) and Gutenberg Museum (Bern) established.

20th century

• 1902 - Federal Palace of Switzerland building expanded.[6]
• 1903 - Albert Einstein moves into Einsteinhaus on Kramgasse.
• 1905
  • St. Paul's Church, Bern built.
  • Akademischer Alpenclub Bern (hiking club) formed.[17]
• 1906
  • "International Convention respecting the Prohibition of the Use of White (Yellow) Phosphorus in the Manufacture of Matches" signed in Bern.
  • Anglican St Ursula's Church, Berne built.
• 1910
  • Eidgenössisches Schützenfest and Swiss Aviation Exhibition held.[18]
  • Population: 90,937 in city; 578,381 in canton.[14]
• 1914 - Schweizerische Landesausstellung 1914 (national exposition) held in Bern.
• 1915 - March: International socialist anti-war women's conference held in Bern.[19]
• 1918
  • Elfenau park now belongs to city.[20]
  • Haupt Verlag (publisher) in business.
• 1919
  • Bümpliz becomes part of city.[9]
  • February: Second International conference held in Bern.[19]
• 1920 - Friedenskirche (Bern) (church) built.
• 1928 - Schweizeische Ausstellung für Frauenarbeit (women's rights event) held in Bern.
• 1929
  • Bern Aerodrome begins operating.[18]
  • Alpar AG airline headquartered in Bern.[18]
• 1930 - Population: 111,783 in city; 623,665 in canton.[14]
• 1933 - Bern Trial begins.
• 1936 - National Party of Farmers, Traders and Independents headquartered in Bern.[21]
• 1939
  • Tierpark Dählhölzli (zoo) opens.[22]
  • Berner Zeitschrift für Geschichte und Heimatkunde (history journal) in publication.[23]
• 1940 - Trolleybus begins operating.
• 1947 - Städtische Verkehrsbetriebe Bern (public transit operator) established.
• 1949
  • Zytglogge Theater founded.[24]
  • Felsenaubrücke (bridge) and Petruskirche (Bern) (church) built.
• 1950 - Population: 146,499 in city; 731,550 in canton.[14]
• 1951 - Burgerbibliothek of Berne (public library) foundation established.[11]
• 1955 - February: Romanian embassy seized.
• 1963 - Camerata Bern founded.
• 1969 - Szeemann's art exhibit "provokes a national scandal."[25]
• 1970 - Population: 162,405 in city; 901,706 in canton.[14]
• 1977
  • Gurtenfestival of music begins.
  • Albert Einstein Society founded.
• 1979
  • French-speaking Canton of Jura secedes from mostly German-speaking Canton of Bern.[26]
  • Berner Zeitung (newspaper) begins publication.
• 1982 - 6 September: Polish embassy occupied.[27]
• 1983 - Old City of Bern designated an UNESCO World Heritage Site.[1]
• 1984 - Regional Transport Bern-Solothurn established.
• 1990 - March: Demonstration against federal government keeping secret files on citizens.[15]
• 1993 - Klaus Baumgartner becomes mayor.
• 1995 - Bern S-Bahn railway in operation.
• 2000 - Population: 128,634 in city; 957,197 in canton.[14]

21st century

• 2002 - House of Religions founded.[1]
• 2004 - Buskers Bern Street Music Festival begins.[28]
• 2005
  • Paul Klee Centre built.
  • Alexander Tschäppät becomes mayor.
• 2007
  • 4 August: Kulturzentrum Reithalle bombing.[29]
  • October: Political unrest.[30]
• 2008 - June: UEFA Euro 2008 Group C football contest takes place in Bern.[31][32]
• 2009 - Bärenpark Bern opens.[33]
• 2013 - Population: 137,980.[34]

See also

• History of Bern
• List of mayors of Bern
• List of cultural property of national significance in Switzerland: Bern
• Timelines of other municipalities in Switzerland: Basel, Geneva, Zürich

References

1. Leo Schelbert (2014). Historical Dictionary of Switzerland (2nd ed.). Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. ISBN 978-1-4422-3352-2.
2. Leo Schelbert (2014). "Chronology". Historical Dictionary of Switzerland (2nd ed.). Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. ISBN 978-1-4422-3352-2.
3. Benjamin Vincent (1910), "Berne", Haydn's Dictionary of Dates (25th ed.), London: Ward, Lock & Co. – via HathiTrust
4. "Bern (Kanton)" [Bern (canton)], Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz (in German), retrieved 30 October 2015
5. Gerhard Dohrn-van Rossum (1996). History of the Hour: Clocks and Modern Temporal Orders. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 978-0-226-15510-4.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
6. "Bern", Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.), New York, 1910, OCLC 14782424
7. Henri Bouchot (1890). "Topographical index of the principal towns where early printing presses were established". In H. Grevel (ed.). The book: its printers, illustrators, and binders, from Gutenberg to the present time. London: H. Grevel & Co.
8. Glenn Ehrstine (2002). Theater, Culture, and Community in Reformation Bern: 1523 - 1555. Brill. ISBN 90-04-12353-9.
9. "Bern (Gemeinde)" [Bern (municipality)], Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz (in German), retrieved 30 September 2015
10. James E. McClellan (1985). Science Reorganized: Scientific Societies in the Eighteenth Century. Columbia University Press. ISBN 978-0-231-05996-1.
11. Hans A. Michel (1985). "Das wissenschaftliche Bibliothekswesen Berns vom Mittelalter bis zur Gegenwart". Berner Zeitschrift für Geschichte und Heimatkunde (in German) (47): 167–234 – via ETH-Bibliothek.
12. Gustav Grunau (1908). Gedenkschrift zum 50-jährigen Bestehen der Berner Musikschule (in German). Bern: Grunau.
13. "Archiv des Historischen Vereins des Kantons Bern". DigiBern (in German). Universitätsbibliothek Bern. Retrieved 30 September 2015. (links to fulltext publications of the society)
14. Evolution de la population des communes 1850-2000 (xls) (in French), Swiss Confederation, Federal Statistical Office, 2005
15. "Switzerland". Europa World Year Book. Taylor & Francis. 2004. ISBN 978-1-85743-255-8.
16. Colin Lawson, ed. (2003). "Orchestras Founded in the 19th Century (chronological list)". Cambridge Companion to the Orchestra. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-00132-8.
17. A.J. Mackintosh (1907). "Mountaineering Clubs, 1857-1907". Alpine Journal. UK (177).
18. "History". Bern Airport. Flughafen Bern AG. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
19. James C. Docherty; Peter Lamb (2006). "Chronology". Historical Dictionary of Socialism (2nd ed.). Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-6477-1.
20. "Russische Fürstin wirkte Wunder in Bern", Berner Zeitung (in German), 15 September 2012
21. Andreas Ladner (2004). Stabilität und Wandel von Parteien und Parteiensystemen: Eine vergleichende Analyse von Konfliktlinien, Parteien und Parteiensystemen in den Schweizer Kantonen (in German). Springer Fachmedien. ISBN 978-3-322-80995-7.
22. Vernon N. Kisling, ed. (2000). "Zoological Gardens of Switzerland (chronological list)". Zoo and Aquarium History. USA: CRC Press. ISBN 978-1-4200-3924-5.
23. "Berner Zeitschrift für Geschichte". DigiBern (in German). Universitätsbibliothek Bern. Retrieved 30 September 2015. (links to fulltext)
24. Don Rubin; et al., eds. (1994). "Switzerland". World Encyclopedia of Contemporary Theatre: Europe. Routledge. pp. 828+. ISBN 9780415251570.
25. "Germany and Switzerland, 1900 A.D.–present: Key Events". Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
26. "Switzerland Profile: Timeline", BBC News, retrieved 30 September 2015
27. "Polish rebels seize embassy in Bern", The New York Times, 7 September 1982
28. "Switzerland: Bern City Guide", Time Out, UK, retrieved 30 September 2015
29. "Sprengstoffanschlag auf Reitschule: Prozess könnte noch heuer stattfinden", Der Bund (in German), Bern, 25 June 2015
30. "Switzerland reeling as radicals create havoc at rightwing political rally", The Guardian, UK, 7 October 2007
31. Back to normality for Berne after Dutch invasion, Reuters, 10 June 2008
32. Berne police fired pellets on rowdy fans, Reuters, 12 June 2008
33. "Chronologie: Ein Park mit einem zehnjährigen Auf und Ab", Berner Zeitung (in German), 2 July 2010
34. "Bevölkerung", Jahrbuch 2014 (in German), Stadt Bern

This article incorporates information from the German Wikipedia and French Wikipedia.

Bibliography

in English

• William Henry Overall, ed. (1870). "Berne". Dictionary of Chronology. London: William Tegg.
• "Berne". Switzerland. Grieben's Guide Books (2nd ed.). Berlin: Albert Goldschmidt. 1912.

in German

• Eduard von Rodt (1886). Bernische Stadtgeschichte (in German). Bern: Huber & Comp.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
• Berchtold Weber (1976). Historisch-topographisches Lexikon der Stadt Bern (in German) – via DigiBern. (fulltext)
• Peter Meyer (ed.). Illustrierte Berner Enzyklopädie (in German) – via DigiBern. 1981-1987 (fulltext)
• J. Sulzer; et al. (1989). Stadtplanung in Bern (in German).
• "Festschrift zum 800-Jahr-Jubiläum der Stadt Bern". Berner Zeitschrift für Geschichte und Heimatkunde (in German) (53). 1991 – via ETH-Bibliothek. (fulltext)
• Ch. Lüthi; B. Meier, eds. (1998). Bern: eine Stadt bricht auf (in German).

External links

• Bibliografie der Berner Geschichte [Bibliography of the History of Bern] (in German), Burgerbibliothek of Berne 1995–present