Bern in der Endtgnoschafft/an dem Wasser Nar gelegen/figuriert nach ihrer gelegenheit

Title

Bern in der Endtgnoschafft/an dem Wasser Nar gelegen/figuriert nach ihrer gelegenheit

Bird's eye view of the city of Bern with the title banner and Bern's coat of arms.

ca. 1550

Artist

Münster (1489-1552)

Sebastian Münster (1489–1552) was a leading Renaissance cosmographer. His most famous work, the Cosmographia (1544), was a comprehensive description of the world with 24 maps, based on research dating back to 1528. Continuously revised, the 1550 edition already included many new maps. It was the first scientific yet accessible world description published in German, illustrated with numerous woodcuts by artists such as Hans Holbein the Younger. Between 1544 and 1650, the Cosmographia appeared in 46 editions (27 in German) and was translated into several languages. Münster’s work combined the knowledge of scholars, artists, and travelers and remained influential long after his death.

Historical Description

The city is the de facto capital of Switzerland. The medieval city is a foundation of the ruling dynasty of Zähringen, which rose to power in Upper Burgundy in the 12th century. According to 14th century historiography (Cronica de Berno, 1309), Bern was founded in 1191 by Berthold V, Duke of Zähringen. In 1218, after Berthold died without heirs, Bern was elevated to the status of a free imperial city by the Golden Handfeste of the Roman Emperor Frederick II. In 1353 Bern joined the Swiss Confederation and became one of the eight cantons of the founding period from 1353 to 1481. Bern conquered Aargau in 1415 and Vaud in 1536, as well as other smaller territories, becoming the largest city-state north of the Alps. The city spread west of the peninsula formed by the Aare River.