Berchtold's Day
Berchtold's Day is observed on January 2 in Liechtenstein and Switzerland, commemorating Berchtold V, the duke of Zähringen, who founded the Swiss capital of Bern in 1191. This celebration honors Berchtold's significant role in the region, as he was appointed by the German emperor Lothar II to serve as one of the chancellors of Burgundy. His responsibilities included defending the land against rebellious nobles and protecting important mountain routes that connected Germany and Italy. The establishment of Bern occurred in Upper Burgundy, near the Aare River, where Berchtold constructed his city around Nydegg Castle. A popular legend states that during a hunting expedition, Berchtold vowed to name the city after the first animal caught, which turned out to be a bear, leading to the naming of Bern. There is also an alternative theory suggesting that Bern may have derived its name from the ancient city of Verona. Overall, Berchtold's Day serves as a cultural reminder of the historical significance and heritage of this region.
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Berchtold's Day
Berchtold's Day
Berchtold's Day, celebrated in Liechtenstein and Switzerland on January 2, pays tribute to Berchtold V, duke of Zähringen, who founded Switzerland's capitol, Bern, in 1191. Berchtold was appointed by the German emperor Lothar II to be one of the chancellors of Burgundy, which included not only present-day Burgundy in France but also the territory west of the river Aare in the French-speaking area of present-day Switzerland. These chancellors defended the land from rebellious nobles while safeguarding a strategically important mountain route from Germany down through Italy. Berchtold decided to build his city in Upper Burgundy, on the Aare in the area surrounding Nydegg Castle, a fortress built perhaps in the 11th century and around which a small village had grown.
Legend has it that, during a hunt in the woods surrounding the village, Berchtold said he would name the city after the first animal that was killed. That animal was a bear, or bern in German, and thus the capitol of Switzerland is named Bern. However, some believe that Bern may have been named for Verona, which was called Bern or Welsch Bern in German during the Middle Ages.