15th century Canton of Bern

map of modern canton of vaud, annexed bern 1536 until 1798

the lands around northern shore of lake geneva , between lake neuchâtel next area bern expanded. region had been part of carolingian empire. then, in 1032 zähringens of germany defeated burgundians, replaced counts of savoy in 1218. under counts of savoy area given political unity, , established barony of vaud. however, power of savoys declined @ beginning of 15th century land occupied troops bern. 1536 area annexed. reformation started co-workers of john calvin, including viret, engaged in famous debate @ cathedral of lausanne; decisively implemented when bern put full force behind it. vaud french-speaking region in german-speaking canton, caused several uprisings.

both château-d Œx , saanen part of county of gruyère. both districts had quite bit of independence , entered treaties against , best interests of counts. in 1340 saanen valley concluded peace treaty simmental, provided arbitration in disputes. entered treaty in 1393 valais. in 1401, count rudolph of gruyère entered treaty bern included saanen. 2 years later saanen , château-d Œx negotiated own alliances bern. due bernese alliance, saanen sent troops, under own banner, support bernese invasions of aargau in 1415 , valais in 1418. military losses , taxes following old zürich war led saanen support evil league (böser bund) in 1445 against bern.

siege , execution of garrison @ grandson

in 1475, during burgundian wars, mountain regions of saanen , pays-d enhaut, allied bern, attacked , burned tower of aigle castle. gave aigle town , surrounding district bern in exchange not having pay one-third of income bern. in treaty of fribourg 1476, fribourg received rights on aigle district, gave bern in 1483. bern rebuilt aigle castle in 1489 , made seat of bailiwick of aigle. in 1475, confederation attacked , captured grandson castle. in next year, charles bold retook castle , executed bernese garrison. in 1476, @ battle of grandson, charles forces retreated , bernese retook grandson. after charles defeat @ battle of murten, grandson became shared territory between bern , fribourg. each city appointed vogt five-year periods. aigle , grandson first french speaking regions in canton of bern.

during burgundian war in 1475, saanen, troops château-d Œx , simmental captured savoy district of aigle bern. saanen , surrounding district enjoyed great deal of independence during 16th century.

however, in 1555 last count of gruyère lost both districts bern when county went bankrupt. bern took on entire saanen valley in following year , introduced protestant reformation. incorporated pays-d enhaut château-d Œx new bernese district of saanen.