A city caught between an empire and an emergent nation.
As the enemy closes in, the city's defenders stand their ground and then take the battle to the invaders.
A state of cities begins its journey to freedom.
Story in the evening ...
A once powerful nation was divided into many parts for many centuries.
And then a thousand marched to reunite the country.
Story in the evening ...
Adrian von Bubenberg was born around 1434 to Heinrich von Bubenberg, Schultheiss of Bern and Lord of Spiez, and Anneli von Rosenegg. The Bubenbergs were a prominent family of Bern and had been holding the post of Schultheiss (Similar to a Mayor) on and off since 1235. 1/10
Bern was part of the territory ruled by the Zähringens in the Holy Roman Empire. When the ruling Zähringen line died out in 1218, places like Bern began to exert their independence. Their cause was aided by general chaos in imperial rule after the Hohenstaufens died out. 2/10
In 1338, the Bubenbergs acquired the Spiez castle. Bern was also growing by the time. But things were stabilizing in the empire though, and there was another stronger power in the region to contend with - the Habsburgs who had tasted royalty couple of times. 3/10
Bern was not alone in resisting Habsburg domination in the region. Three cantons, Schwyz, Uri and Unterwalden, had allied together and defeated the Habsburgs in 1315. Bern joined their ranks in 1353. The Confederation defeated the Habsburgs again in 1386. 4/10
Both the Confederation and Bern expanded at the expense of the Habsburgs. However, there was soon internal strife when Zürich backed by the Habsburgs went against the Confederation. Bern too had its battles against neighbouring Fribourg, with Savoyard support. 5/10
Heinrich von Bubenberg played an important role in the Peace of Einsiedeln in 1450 that closed Zürich's war with the Confederation. By the time Adrian succeeded his father in Spiez, he had to deal with another growing power in the region - the Burgundians of France. 6/10
Adrian von Bubenberg became Schultheiss of Bern in 1468 for the first time. To the west of the Confederation was the Burgundian lands ruled by Duke Charles, who was looking to expand his domains. Adrian sought a peaceful resolution, but reality turned out very different. 7/10
The city of Bern chose to side with France against Burgundy. In 1475, while Burgundy was occupied in Köln and Lorraine, Bern invaded Vaud, held by a Burgundian ally. Charles retaliated after taking Lorraine but was defeated by the Swiss at Grandson. 8/10
But Charles advanced on to Bern. Bubenberg, who had been exiled in 1474, returned to lead the Bernese force besieged at Morat, near Bern. It was yet another defeat for the Burgundians. Charles would later die in battle in 1477, attempting to retrieve Lorraine. 9/10
Bubenberg died in 1479 and was succeeded by his son in Spiez. The Confederation became de facto independent soon afterwards (Formal independence happened only in 1648). Bern continued to grow annexing Vaud by 1536, while the Swiss Confederation added more cantons. 10/10