Editing Bern (section)

=== Early history ===
[[File:Untertorbrücke Tschachtlanchronik.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Construction of the [[Untertorbrücke]] (Lower Gate Bridge) in Bern, [[Tschachtlanchronik]], late 15th century]]

No [[archaeological]] evidence that indicates a settlement on the site of today's city centre prior to the 12th century has been found so far. In antiquity, a [[Celts|Celtic]] ''[[oppidum]]'' stood on the ''Engehalbinsel'' (peninsula) north of Bern, fortified since the second century BC (late [[La Tène period]]), thought to be one of the 12 ''oppida'' of the [[Helvetii]] mentioned by [[Commentarii de Bello Gallico|Caesar]]. During the [[Germania Superior|Roman era]], a [[Gallo-Roman]] ''[[vicus]]'' was on the same site. The Bern zinc tablet has the name ''Brenodor'' ("dwelling of Breno"). In the Early Middle Ages, a settlement in [[Bümpliz]], now a city district of Bern, was some {{convert|4|km|0|abbr=on}} from the medieval city.

The medieval city is a foundation of the [[Zähringer]] ruling family, 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 an heir, Bern was made a [[free imperial city]] by the ''[[Goldene Handfeste]]'' of [[Holy Roman Emperor]] [[Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor|Frederick II]].